Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
SENATOR BRYAN DEAD
End Came Yesterday Morning
at Providence Hospital.
BUT SEVENTY-THREE DAYS
His Time in Office, Thirty-Thr
Fighting Typhoid Fever.
YOUNGEST MEMBER IN SENATE
The Seventh to Be Lost by Death in
the Sixtieth Congress-Sketch
of His Career.
YOUNGEST MEMBER IN SENATE

William James Bryan of Florida, after
seventy-three days as United States sena-
tor. thirty-three of which he spent fight
ing typhoid fever. died yesterday morning
at $3.50 o'clock at Providence Hospital
He was the youngest member of the Sen
:, ate. being thirty-two years of age. just
past the constitutional limit for sena-
tor. When he came to this city to take
his seat Mr.. Bryan said he was going to
try to be the best senator his state had
ever sent to the National capital He
came with the best wishes of his state and
a splendid future ahead of him.
Several times since Mr.. Bryan went to
the hospital his friends despaired of his
recovery. but as late as Saturday night
bulletin was given out at the hospital
that he was slightly better. The end
came as great shock to his friends and
associates in the Senate.
He was conscious until a few minutes
before his death. He spent a restless
night Saturday. and about o'clock Sun
day morning his condition became sud
denly worse. His wife and his private sec
rotary, Mr.. A. T.. Lewis were summoned
to the bedside. When Mrs. Bryan leaned
over the bed the young senator smiled
weakly, but almost at once lapsed in
condition of semi consciousness. few
minutes later he rallied and remained
cOgnlZant Oh MS SuITOunQlilSS until o
O'Clock.
Tried to Speak to His Wife.
few moments before ne died he raised
his wife's hand to his lips and tried TO
speak TO her. In this respect he
said but his voice failed. and he sank
back on the pillows utterly exhausted.
In physique Mr.. Bryan was untitled to
withstand a protracted fever He was
slight of build and of nervous tempera
ment Re came TO Washington early in
January from the warm climate of Flor
ida and from the day of his arrival was
far from we'll. Finally he was compelled
TO give up and was taken To Providence
Hospital During the last few days of
his illness he was attended by DIR. Charles
White superintendent of Emergency
Hospital. DIR. George Acker. DR.. McAfee
of the hospital staff. and DIR. Samuel
Fry. his family physician. Baltimore
specialist was called in consultation sew
eral days ago.
yesterday TO Wright's undertaking estao-
lishment. and at q o'clock this morning
the funeral party left on special train
over the Southern railway for Jackson
willie, Fla. where interment will be made
Wednesday. An unusual feature of the
ceremony will be that the House of Rep
resentatiyes will not be represented at
the funeral and the Senate will. 1t was
sional party be dispensed with, but it
was later decided that there should be d
committee of senators. The Vice Presi-
dent last night appointed the following
members. who left this morning on the
special Senator Talliaferro. Mr.. Bryan's
colleague from Florida. Bacon OF Georgia.
Stone of Missouri. Daniel of Virginia,
Clark of Wyoming. Scott of West VIZ
einia. Carter of Montana, Clapp of Min
nesota.
Action of Senate.
The Senate today. for the fifth time in
the present session. adjourned because
death had robbed the body of one of its
members. The announcement that Sera-
tor William James Bryan OF Florida died
yesterday was made by Senator Clay Of
Georgia in the absence of Senator Tdlia-
ferro. who left Washington early today
as a member OF the committee which ac-
companied the body TO Jacksonville.
The untimely death OF Senator Bryan.
who was Familiarity known as the baby
OF the Senate. title in which he took
pride, came home TO the senators with
more force than any which had preceded
il. The seven sorrows that have come
Upon this branch of Congress since ad-
journment a year ago were a matter of
solemn comment today. There was no
other subject of conversation prior to and
after the session than the fact that the
mortality record of the present session al
ready is greater than in any previous en-
tire Congress.
In submitting the usual resolutions pro-
yidins for adjournment out of respect 10
the memory OF the late senator, Mr.
Clay said:
He vas the younger member Of this
body-had rot esched his thirty-second
Y ar AT the time OF his death. His friends
thought he he'd before him career OF
great usefulness Had his life been
spared. doubtless their most sangulne eX-
pecta,ions would have been realized. He