The Washington times., 1909-04-09
Former Secretary of the In
terror Succumbs to Kid
ney Trouble.
FIRST AMBASSADOR
TO RUSSIAN EMPIRE
His Shrewdness and Enterprise
Still Felt in Administration
of Public Lands.

Ethan Allen Hitchcock. great-grand-
son of Ethar Allen. of Vermont. the
hero of Ft- Ti,onderoga, first anabas-
sador from the United States to Rus
sia, Secretary Of the Interior for nine
years. the longest period for which any
/ Secretary held that Cabinet post died
at II O'Clock this morning at the home
Of his son-in-law and daughter, Com
mander and Mrs. William s. Sims. 1zzS
+ Seventeenth street northwest. OF urae-
mic poisoning and the ailments due 10
/ Lis advanced age
/ Mr.. Hitchcocks death was expected.
since he had been Ill for the last six
weeks and had been very low since
Sunday last. He was seventy-three
years old
Mrs. Hitchcock. Commander and Mrs.
Sims. Mr. and Mrs. John S. ShepIey.
Miss Mary Hitchcock. and George c.
Hitchcock were present when the for
/ mer Secretary passed away. Mrs. Shep-
ley and Miss Hitchcock. as well as
Mrs. Sims. are daughters George
| Hitchcock is a relative who lives in St
Louis
The funeral arrangements have not
been made. but 1t is probable that the
body wiz he taken TO ST. Louis tomor-
row. where Mr. Hitchcock lived for
many years before he came into thu
Governments service. Interment will
be made there.
Health Always Coed.
Although throughout his life Mr..
Hitchcock was an unusually busy man.
up until few weeks aga he enjoyed
remarkably gooC health and was sell
dom i'll or absent from duty
About six weeks ago. however, while
in St Louis, ne contracted a severe
cold, which he was unable to shake OF.
and which ultimately affected the heart
and kidneys.
When Mr. Hitchcock returned to
Washington several weeks ago ne was
still i'll. but at that time his condition
was not alarming. On Sunday. how
ever, DYs. Thomas A Claytor and W
G. Morgan held 4 consultation and an
nouncNd afterward that Mr. Hitchcock
could live but a few hours morS
Since Sunday Mr.. Hitchcock had
several sinking spells and the phys
icians realizing that the end was near 9
This morning the former Secretary
began to sink and the end came peace-
The news of Mr Hitchcock's Illness
crested a great deal OF comment In
Washington and his condition was
hundreds.
Distinguished Lineage.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock. best known,
perhaps through his answering prose
cutiou ~ big men who were caught in
the net which he spread for far western
land-frauders, was peculiarly fitted for
the many important posts IN the United
States service. which different PresI-
dents gave him.
a descendant of Ethan Allen, the
chIeftan Of the Green Mountain boys.
who In the war of the Revolution cap
tured. in spectacular fashion. the al
most impregnable fortress at Ticondero-
ga, New York, Ethan Allen HItchcock
brought to his work a knowledge OF AL
parts Of the country, which made him
especially valuable.
Mr. Hitchcock was born in Mobile.
Ala. September 1S. 1885. not quite
seventy-four years ago. Shortly aftsr
MS birth the HitchcOcks moved to New
Orleans, where the boy stayed one year.
The next removal was 10 NASHVILLE,
Tenn. where young Hitchcock attendeG
private schools. He completed his edu-
cation in the North. at a military schooi
in New Haven. Conn, in 1888.
Goes To China
After graduation at the New Haven
school, Mr.. Hitchcock went to St
Louis, where his family was then Hv-
ing. He became interested IN the mer-
camille business. and then. after fvs
years experience in the Missouri me-
tropoliS. he went to China to enter the
commission house Of Olyphant * Co.
Of which firm he was made a partner in
1866
After six years in active business Mr..
Hitchcock retired and took a long Eu-
rOpean trip, which lasted two years. and
which gave him the complete rest he
desired. Upon his return. in 1874. he
again took up active work. and vas
president OF several large railroad and
mining concerns in the Middle West
for the next score of years.
In 1897 President mckinley asked Mr..
Hitchcock to assume the post of en-
pOtentiary from the United States 10
Russia. The MissOurian left the preSi-
deny of the Pittsburg Glass Company,
OF ST Louis, and accepted the post IN
this country's diplomatic service.
First Russian Ambassador
The appointment TO Russia was made
in August and in December Mr.. Hitch
cock was in St. Petersburg. Two months
later. on February II. 1885 the Russian
legation was made an embassy and
Mr.. Hitchcock thereby becoTning the
first ambassador accredited from the
United States 70 Russia.
on December p, 1888. Mr.. Hitchcock
was appointed by President Mckinley
to the Secretaryship Of the Interior De
partment to succeed Cornelius n. Bliss
The Senate, on u;e same day, confirmed
the appointment and a few months later
he took over the work OF the depart
ment in which he gained his greatest
measure of fame
Mr.. Hitchcock was reappointed Sscre-