The Washington herald., 1908-03-05

United States Senator Redheld Proctor.
formerly governor Of the Green Mountain
State, ana Secretary OF War under Presi-
dent Harrison, died suddenly at o'clock
yesterday afternoon IN his apartments at
the Champlain. 1924 x street northwest,
Of pneumonia and pleurisy after q weeks
illness.
His death was brought informally to
the attention OF the Senate at $40 O'Clock.
and resulted in immediate adjournment
No formal announcement OF the passing
OF the Grand Old Man Of Vermont was
made TO the Senate. for the reason that
his colleague. Senator Dillingham;. was
absent
The formal announcement VIII be made
10 Congress to-day. and both branches
viii Immediately adjourn out OF respect
TO the memory Of one Of the most distin-
guished members OF the Upper Branch OF
the national legislature.
Announced by Secretary.
The announcement OF Senator Proctor's
death was made through his private sec
retary, Ernest F. Holbrook. to Col Dan
iel NJ. RsnsdeI. and when It was quietly
brought 20 the attention of the Senate,
that body was IN the midst Of discus
sion Of the Warren bill TO increase the
pay OF the enlisted men OF the army. a
branch Of the public service IN which
Senator Proctor had always been deeply
interested. The news came as a distinct
shock, since st was not generally known
that the senior Vermont Senator was Sc
riously III.
The gravity Of his condition had been
kept quiet. and only a few close New
England friends were aware OF the fact
that lie was expected to expire at almost
any hour IN the afternoon.
| Senator Proctor haj not been in the best
OF health this winter. but had not been
complaining. He had the hardy physique
iof most men Of the Green Mountain State.
and was believed 70 be good for many
more years. although he had announced
he was not a candidate for reelection az
the expiration OF his service N March,
lIsn-
Senator Proctor was last seen az the
Senate end OF the Capitol last Thursday
lafternoOn. He was taken III the following
lday, and the services OF Dr. Thomas A
lClaytor, OF 1915 New Hampshire avenue,
were engaged. The case was diagnosed as
pneumonia, with pleuraI complication, but
in order not TO unduiy alarm the Senator.
he did not know up 20 the moment OF his
death that he had pneumonia, which IS
generally fatal when II seizes men Of his
iage. II was not. however, until last night
that there was a sudden change for the
verse.
Sons Mt the Bedside.
The Senator's sons. Gov. Fletcher Proc
tor. OF Vermont, and Redheld Proctor.
jr.. Of that State. we're both summoned
several days ago. and were in constant
attendance upon him. Gov. Fletcher
Proctor, the latter's wife, and few
family friends were present at the mo-
ment Of death, and the Senator was con-
scious practically TO the end The Sen
ator's wife. Mrs. Proctor. and their only
daughter. Miss Emile D. Proctor. both
Of whom have been invands were not
] mere 4laEF AAetA hNEAt eA -1hcfNfNAr ~. ..
on account Of their health Il was said
last evening they would not come TO
Washington. but would proceed direct for
their home at Proctor. VI. in order to
avoid the S6ng journey TO Washington and,
thence TO Vermont
Senator PrOctor-s body viii probably be
shipped 10 Proctor. Vt late this after
noon and the funeral viii be held FRI
day or Saturday
ON both of the evenings prior TO his last
day IN the Senate Senator Proctor attend
ed banquets. lie attended the one given
hy Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson on
Tuesday evening. February - 10 the
President. this being one of the last OF
the Cabinet functions of the winter sea-
son. He was invited TO that dinner by
reason of his position as chairman Of the
! Senate Committee on Agriculture and
Forestry. in which capacity he had led
the fight on the door OF the Senate FOR the
adoption OF the meat-inspection amend
ment 10 the agricultural appropriation bill
two years ago.
On the following evening. Wednesday.
February 25 Senator Proctor attended
the dinner given in connection with the
national gathering Of educators in this
city. II IS believed by his friends that ex-
posure 10 the night air on his way from
one OF these bsnquets resulted In the con-
traction Of pneumonia, which he vas un-
able 10 shake on. in spite OF his hardy
physique. on account OF his age and By
reason Of the fact that for the past nine
months he had not been in the best OF
health
Succeeded senator Edmunds.
Senator Proctor was the successor 10
the venerable George F. Edmunds in the
United States Senate, and was probably
the wealthiest man in Congress at the
time OF his death, being rated at Sl5.ooo.-
CO., Much has been said Of the wealth
OF Senator's Many OF them have been
styled Croesuses, but such millionaires
as are in the Senate looked upon Sena-
tor Proctor as the richest Of their number.
For a while his fortune was topped by
that OF the Copper King" former Sena-
tor William A Clark. OF Montana. but
since the retirement OF the latter. Senator
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