The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-17
COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF IS DEAD
Gen. ". ". BlaCkmar Died In.
speCting G. A. R. Posts.
hEPHRITlS WAS The CAUSE
Mrs. Blackmar and Her Sister With Hin
When Death Cana Gave Life for
The Grand Army.
NEPHRITlS WAS THE CAUSE

Boise, Idaho, July lD-ien. W. w.
Blackmar, commander-in-chief OF the G..
A. r., died yesterday Of nephrltis. His
wife was with him during the illness The
body will be embalmcd and taken to the
home Of the family In Bostov
Cen. Blackmar arrived here on July
10 on an inspection tour of Grand Army
posts throughout the northwest. He was
ill when ne arrived and gradually failed.
The seriousness Of his condition was kept
from the public at the request OF his wife.
SIR. VICE KING SUCCEEDS HIM
Boston. July l1.-EXccpt 10 two or three
officials OF the Grand Army. the news of
the death OF Commander-in-ChiefW Wilmon
W. Blackmar was received with great sur
prise in this city
The home OF Gen. Blackmar was I'm this
city, and since his elevation 10 the posi-
tion OF commander r-in-chief the head
quarters OF the organization have been
here.
Gen. Blackmar L. succeeded by John
r.. King OF Washington, senior vice COM
mander-i -in-chief.
Two weeks ago the commander-n-chef
broke down, and was ordered 10 bed at
his summer home I'm bingham by his
physician At the time his indisposition
| a
on July Gen. Blackmar's condition had
apparently improved. and his doctor de-
cided To permit him 10 continue his visits
10 western departments, which he had be-
gun early in the year
The general was accompanied on his
last trip by Mrs Blackmar and her sister
Miss Fannie Brewer. The department of
Idaho had arranged campfire for July
10 and soon after the commander-in
chief reached the city he was obliged 10
again engage the services of a physician.
GAVE LIFE FOR q. A. r.
General Blackmar had intended. after
visiting Idaho TO go 10 Portland, ore,
Tacoma and Seattle. Wash, and sitka,
Alaska. II is claimed that since his cleo
tion TO officy he has visited Grand Army
departments and posts oftener than any
Of his predecessors and I'm less than a
year he had inspected practically every
department i'm the country The exhaust
ing trips which these visits made neces.
sary affected his physical condition. and
some time before he broke down his
friends considered that he was overwork-
ing himself
AdJutant General Gilman said last nigh
that General Blackmar was so welded 10
his duties hat he gave his life for the
Grand Army. lie said tat the general
had been unusually popular AZ all the
departments. ana tnAt ne was lONtu an
honored by his associates
When General Blackmar reached Chi
cago on his journey 10 Boise. Mr.. Gilman
said, he was warned not 10 undertake the
fun itinerary. but tho commander in chief
said ne would go on as he had deter
mined 10 visit every department.
Assistant Adjutant General r. Il Still
ings. commander Of kinsley post. No. l1S,
OF this city. OF which General Blsckmar
was also a member. will leave Boston az
y. m. tomorrow for the west. He will
assist Mrs. Blackmar in arranging for
the funeral. which probably will be held
in this city.
RELIEF CORPS TRIBUTE.
Concord y H.. July l7.-At the ma
tiowil headquarters Of the Womens Re
lief corps. the auxiliary To the Grand
Army Of the Republic. the news Of the
death OF Gen Blackmar. commander in
chief Of the latter society. came as a
surprise 20 National President Mrs Fanny
Minot and National Secretary Mrs. Helen
| NJ. Ayres.
In speaking OF his death. Mrs. Minot
ssi that the Womens Relief corps had
lost very warm friend and that the
society sympsthized with the Grand Army
! i'm the loss Of it's leader. She said that
/ a general order would be issued 10 the
members OF the relief corps today an
nouncing the death and paying formal
tribute 10 Gen. Blackmars memory.
his CAREER
Gen. Backmar was born at Bristol.
! Pa July %. 1s41 His father was a
Ma ssa chusetts clergyman and his mother
native Of Andover, y. II. When the
! civil war broke out young Blackmar was
preparing for college but he volunteered
! Immediately as private in the Fifteenth
! PENNSYLVANIA cavalry.
He was engaged IN % actions, includ-
/ ing Antietam. Chickamauga, Chatta D.
| nooga Hunters Ridge. Lynchhurg.
! Clarksburg and the Shenandoah Valley
campaign under Sheridan and came out
| captain. In 1873 he was appointed
! Judge advocate general OF the Massachu-
setts militia, continuing in this Office for
| ten years.
Gen. Blsokmar has held numerous Of
/ fees In the Massachusetts department.,
| G. A. r. He was department commander
at the time OF the Grand Army encamp-
ment In this city. August. 1904. and a,
/ that time was elected commander in 81
chief OF the organization. succeeding Gen