The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-10-18
v | BUCHANAN DIES
SUDDENLY IN
LONDON
Connected With important Dip
IOmatic Work
WAS STRICKEN ON STREET
Found Lying on Sidewalk and Died
Before Ambulance Could be
Summoned

London, Oct. 1S.-William |. Blu
chanan of Buffalo, n. Y, former Am
erican minister to the Argentine Re
public and Panama who had been
closely identified with several impor-
tant American diplomatic missions,
met a tragic death Saturday night on
a London street. He was discovered
lying on a sidewalk in Park Lane,
near the American embassy in dy-
ing condition, few minutes before
~ O'Clock and was carried to st.
Georges hospital, a short distance
away. But life was extinct when the
ambulance reached the hospital. The
cause of death is not known but 1t Is
supposed that 1t resulted from heart
disease or apoplexy.
No Marks of Violence on Body
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
were notified. The identity of the
man was discovered during the after
noon through inquiries sent out by
the management of the hotel where
Mr.. Buchanan was staying.
Last Seen of Mr.. Buchanan
Mr.. Buchanan who had come 20
London on a mission for the United
States government in connection with
the Venezuelan claims had been here
for several weeks. He previously
had visited Berlin and Paris. He
took up quarters at Claridge's hotel.
one of the most fashionable in the
city, which is located about half a
mile from Park Lane. He left the
hotel last night for dinner early in
the evening attired in evening dress.
| No one has yet been found who
knows where he spent the evening,
but it is supposed that he was walk
| ing home when stricken. Park Lane
is a particularly quiet street on Sun
day nights when most of the resi-
dents are out OF town. 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.
The Body Identified
The name of wv. |. Buchanan" was
found on the clothing, which was rec
ognized to be of American make.
The initials were engraved on the
iewelry. here was no other means
of Identification. The police circula-
ted these particulars and the mana
GER of the hotel and officials from the
American embassy called at the hos
pital and identified the body.
Mrs. Buchanan Notified
cablegram was sent to Mrs. Blu
chanan at Buffalo, notifying her OF
the death of her husband and asking
for instructions. The American EN-
bassy and the coroner took charge OF
Mr.. Buchanans effects at the hotel,
which are supposed to include 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 state that Mr..
Buchanan usually dined out, fire.
ouently returning at midnight or la
ter. Therefore his failure to return
was not noticed until this morning.
Cause of Death
Physicians who examined the body
state that death apparently was due
to heart disease or apoplexy ana that
there was no indication whatever OF
foul play, which was suggested In
certain quarters.
Mr.. Buohanan's Official Career
Buffalo. Oct. 18.--William Insco
buchanan was Sc years old, and ma
tive of Ohio. During the last hiteeh
wears he has been sent by the state
denartment on several important mis-
sions TO Central and South American
Countries where he was very success
full in the adjustment of diplomatic
matters. 90,
Mr.. Buchanan was born near GOV.
ineton. Miami county, ONO, put
much of his active business Ire was
sn,nt in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1898
he was appointed chief OF the ue
of agriculture, forestry anu
lives. ock at the worlds fair III Oni
caeo and he was connected WIN the
fair also as Democratic member ior
Iowa of the worlds Colombia com,
mission. The high commentator
given his work at Chicago li'uuCou
The directors of the Pan-Amerlcah
exposition held at Buffalo TO invite
him TO accept the Office OF ulrecIoi
general. Mr.. Buchanan was tnen
serving as minister to the Argentine
Republic. He was appointed by IRE.
sident Cleveland and his services
were so satisfactory to the govern
ment that he was continued in the Oh
fee by President Mckinley, lie won
he especial gratitude of the Argeh,
tine government by his diplomatic
sascess In the settlement OF the ru-
ma boundary disagreement with Cnile,
He resigned the ministry in l9uO 10
become director general of the ran,
American exposition, which opened
in Buffalo the following spring III
1902 he was United States delegate
to the second Pan-American CONFER tso
ence in Mexico and was sent as tne
drst minister from the United states
IN the republic of Panama, since
then he has been to South America
on several important missions Tor me
state department. Mr.. Buchanan -
survived by widow, SON. Donaiu
buchanan and a daughter, Mrs. Chas'