The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-18
FOUND DEAD IN STREET.
w. e. buchanan of Diplomatic Service
Dies Suddenly in London.

Dies Suddenly in London.
London, Oct. 1s.-Wi1liam E. Blu
rhanan of Buffalo, N. Y, who has been
n Europe for some time in connection
with an important diplomatic mission
FOR the state department at Washing
ton, was found unconscious near the
American embassy early Sunday and
1ied before medical aid could be rem
dered
The cause of death is not known, but
it is supposed it resulted from heart
disease or apoplexy. There were no
marks of violence on the body, nor had
robbery been committed. The body
was placed in the hospital mortuary
and the police notified. An inquest
will be held.
Mr.. Buchanan, who had come to
London on mission for the United
States in connection with the Venezue-
Ian claims. had been here for several
weeks He previously had visited Ber-
lin and Paris He took up quarters at
Claridges hotel, one of the most fash
ionable in the city, half a mile from
Park Lane He1eft the hotel Saturday
night for dinner.
No one has yet been found who
knows where he passed the evening,
but it is supposed that he was walk
ing home when stricken. A passerby
found the diplomat lying on the side
walk. A policeman was summoned and
he quickly called an ambulance, but it
was too late for medical aid.
A cablegram was sent to Mrs. Blu
chanan at Buffalo, notifying her of the
death of her husband, and asking for
Instructions. The American embassy
and the coroner took charge of Mr.. Blu
chanan's effects which are supposed to
1rclude papers of great value. 1t is
customary in such cases in England
to perform an autopsy but the American
embassy has requested that this be
waived. The hotel management states
that Mr.. Buchanan dined out frequent
~, returning at midnight or later, there
fore his failure to return was not no
ticed until morning.
An autopsy was held this afternoon
following which it was officially an
nounced that Mr.. Buchanan had died
of heart failure
Official Washington Is Shocked.
Washington, Oct 1s.-News of Mr..
Buchanan's death came as a great
shock to his many friends in official
Washington. Since President Cleve-
lands last administration Mr..
Buchanan had, with very short in
tervals of intermission, been con-
nected with the department of state
in some of the most important dip
lomatic work that has engaged the at
tention of the department. The uni
form success that has attended his I'M
dertaking has caused him to be re-
garded as one of the foremost Amer
lean diplomats.
Mr. Buchanan was born in Coving-
ton, Ohio, September 10, 1853 He
went to Sioux City. Iowa, when about
"a years old, where he entered bus1-
ness as a merchant. So well did ne
manage the corn palace exposition IN
that city that he was called upon TO
represent his state at the World
Columbian exposition in Chicago.
Mr.. Buchanan was appointed Unit
ed States minister to the Argentine
1884 He devoted himself to extend
ing and improving American trade
with South America generally and
with the Argentine Republic especial
ly. Incidentally. he negotiated a re-
and America that gave great promise
Of mutual benefit, to the business IN
terests of the two countries, but TINS
failed of ratification by the United
States senate. One of his most i'm
portant achievements while in Buenos
Ayres was his settlement of a fierce
boundary dispute between Argentina
and Chile which threatened to IN
volve the two countries in war.
Mr.. Buchanan, as director general,
successfully managed the Buffalo Pan
American exposition.
Scarcely had he finished his service
as a delegate to the second Pan-Ameri-
can conference held In Mexico Guy IN
1902 before he was again drafted into
the diplomatic service to become the
first United States minister to Panama
where owing to his tact, he was able
to adjust many difficult1es. Nolun-
tarily relinquishing that post when his
work was done, Mr.. Buchanan went
later to Europe as representative OF
large business concerns. But soon an
other call came from the state depart
ment and he went first to the Rio con-
ference and then to Venezuela. Ameri
can concessions and diplomatic bust
ness generally were in bad shape In
that country and Mr.. Buchanan sue
ceeded in arranging for a private set
Element of four of the five great Ameri-
can claims against Venezuela, and for
the reference to The Hague tribunal of
the fifth. He had been named as agent
for America in the presentation OF this
case-that of the Ornoco Steamship
company to The Hague tribunal. when
he left New York for London, recently,
ard was in conference with the state
department almost up to the day of his
death in regard to that business.
Seattle Exposition Made Money.
Seattle, Oct. 1S.-The total attend