The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-07-17
SURPRISE IN BOSTON.
Only Two or Three Officers Aware of General BIackma ms Serious Illness.

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 Boston, Mass, July 16.-Except to two or three officials of the c. A. R. the news of the death of Commander in-Chief Wilmoh W. Blackmar was re- eeived with great surprise in this city. The home of General Blackmar was in this city, and since his elevation to the position of commander-in-chief the headquarters of the organization have been here. .a, Gen. Blackmar is succeeded by John R. King of Washington, senior con- 1nander-in-ehief.
 John E. Gilman of this city, adjutants general of the Grand Army, was deep " grieved when informed of the death of Gen. Blackrlar. MT. Gilman was aware that the commander-in-ehief was in a critical condition, as this af- ternoon he received a despatch from Mrs. Blackmar informing him that her husbands. death was only. a question of hours. Few persons, however, out side of the immediate family and MT. Gilman knew that General Blackmar' illness was serious. Two weeks ago the comnandere-in-chi broke down and was ordered to bed at his summer home in Hingham by his physician At the time his indispoaiton was regarded, as of slight nature. On July b. Gen. BIacknar's condition had apparently improved, and his doctor decided to permit him to continue his visits to western departments which he had be- gun early in the year.
 Gen. Blackmar had intended after visiting Idaho to go to Portland, Ore., Tacoma and Seattle, Wash, and Sitka, Alaska. In less than a year he had inspected practically every department in the country. The, exhausting trips which these visits made necessary af" fected hirs physical condition, and some time before he broke down his friends considered that he was over- working himself.
 Adtutant General Gilman said to- night that Gen. Blackn1ar was so wed- ded to his duties that he gave his life for the Grand Army. He said that the general had been unusually popular with all the departments and that, he WAS loved and honored by his associ- ates. When Gen. Blackmar reached Chicago, on his journey to Boise, MT. Gilman said, he was warned not to un- dertake the full itinerary, but the con- nnander-in-chief said he would go on, as he had determined to visit every department.
 Assistant Adiutant General F. B.. sti1lings, commander of Kinsley post 113 of this city, of which Gen. Black mar was A member will leave Boston +o.roorrov for the west. He will as- sist Mrs. Blacknar in arranging for the funeral, which probably will De held in this city.
 Gen, Blackmar was a graduate of the Harvard Law School and for many 1aars nracticed his profession here.
 Gen. Blackmar had held numerous offices in the Massachusetts depart ment. G. A. R. He was department commander at the time of the Grand Army encampment in this city, Au- gust 1904, and then was elected com noander-in-chief iof the organization, succeeding Gen. John C, Black of llli- nois, Gen. Blackmar had no children sRaeret at Woman's Relief Headquarters
 
 Concord, N. H., July 16-At the na- tional headquarters of the Woman's Relief Corps, the auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, the news of the edeath of General Blackmar caused m deep regret. National Presi- dent Mrs. Fanny Minot and Nationa Secretary Mrs. Helen Ayres were great " shocked. In speaking of his death Mrs Minot said that the womans re- lief corps had lost very "esl i.t ie.iu ..tI and that the society sSit'L'e' 'ltlItu ,t WI, "i.i tiie et e,,. gnu aia "a 4,,o+ general otler would be issued to the menipe1s /. .ns ie.ro' t-.,s corps tomorrow payl1ls z ~ .il,s'l al i'' ute to General Blackmif iiAeiloiS'