Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-18
!. BLAVATSKY LIEUTENANT
With Her He Founded the Society in
1875 in New York.
ONCE A PROMINENT LAWYER
End Came as Result of an Accident
on a Steamer-A Life Of
Seclusion.

NEW YORK. February 1S.-Col. Henry
Steel Olcott,. co-founder with the late Nine.
Blavatsky of the Theosophical Society. died
yesterday at Adyar, India. His death was
announced here by Alexander Fullerton.
secretary of the American branch of the
Theosophical Society.
Col Olcott, who visited this country last
year, sailed for India in October. On the
voyage he fell down the hatchway OF the
steamer and was confined for month in
hospital at Genoa. Subsequently he recov-
cred sufficiently to continue his journey.
but upon his arrival at Ceylon he suffered
relapse, and since then had been in a
precarious state of health.
There are few in America, even among
the Theosophists, who ever knew Col. OIL
colt personally. He sometimes left India to
attend a big convention Of the Theosophical
Society, but most of his travelling was In
the orient, where he was known from Japan
to Ceylon. There are still many Theoso-
phists who have a vivid recollection OF the
extraordinary personality Of Nine. Blavat-
sky, and Mrs. Annie Besant Is almost as
we'll known In America as In England, Out
Henry Steel Olcott has somehoW been re-
garded as holding himself In Mahatma-hke
SecluSiOn.
Born in New York.
He was born In this city seventy-hve
years ago, and inherited small fortune.
With this, in 1855, he started school OF
scientific agriculture at Mount Vernon. He
wrote a book on sugar cultivation. which
went through seven editions. and devoted
much attention to sorghum as cheap SUBJ
stitute for the sugar cane.
The school did not pay. and Olcott gave
it I'D and became a writer on agricultural
subjects for the New York Tribune When
the civil war began he enlisted, ana was
invaded after years service. Cn ms
recovery Secretary Stanton selected MIN 70
investigate certain fraudulent practices IN
the mastering and disbursement once IN
New York He did this so well that ne was
afterward instructed to investigate abuses
in navy yards.
was admitted. Before long he was making
a large income as an expert in customs
and revenue cases. So far as any one
knew. there was nothing to distinguish OIL
colt from any other capable. hard-headed
American Of position and affairs.
Joined Mime. Blavatsky.
When he met Nine. Blavatsky in 1874.
this prosperous lawyer, this trained lnves-
tigator of fraud. threw everything else up
to join her in spreading the TheosopMcai
cult. The Theosophioal Society was found
ed in this city in 1875 by Nine. Blavatsky
and Col. Olcott. The late w. Q. Judge was
one OF the earliest ucHDctS. Ah GO 90 q
afterward Olcott and Nine. Blavatsky
moved to India. establishing the head
quarters of the society in Madras.
The story Of the astonishingly. rapid
spread of Theosophy. of Mr.. Sinnetts two
books, which brought thousands or con-
yerts, the investigation ON behalf OF the
Society for Psychical Research and the sub
seouent report on the tricks OF Nine.
Blavatsky is by now a familiar one. 1t Is
sufficient to say that through 1t all Olcott
never lost his faith in Nine Blavatsky.
That he was always perfectly sincere him.
self has been admitted even by some OF the
worst enemies Of the TheosOphists.
soeiety's Business Head.
olcott did not pay much attention to the
mystical side Of the cult. He was the bust
ness head of the Theosophical Society, a
great organizer, alert and ciear-headed He
was essentially lovable man, and those
who came into contact with him In India
have spoken of his gentle manners and his
kindness In connection with the Theo-
sophical Society he founded various fnsti.
buttons of a philanthropfc character, and
there is no doubt that these, whatever one
may think about Theosophy., have done a
great deal Of good.