Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-21
DEATH Of GENERAL
WILLIAM BOOTH
Thousands Of kilograms of
Sympathy Received by
His Family.
NO PERSONAL ESTATE.
Bramwell Booth Will Succeed His
Father as Leader of the Salvation
Army.

London, Aug. 21.-Thousands OF
kilograms of sympathy with him in the
loss of their leader General William
Booth, were received by the Salvation
Army heads today. Several rulers of
fashion nations, and scores of men and
women, world famous in many differ
ent lines expressed their grief at the
Generals death, and their apprecla-
ton of his greatnes.
That the Generals son and chief OF
staff, Bramweh Booth, will succeed his
father, Salvationists today considered
a foregone conclusion. The will in
which the dead commander many years
ago told his lawyers he had named the
individual to whom he wished to be-
oueath his baton will be opened pos
sibly today, as it is important that the
break in the army's leadership be
made as brief as possible.
The son, however, is already ad-
dressed by the members of his fathers
staff as their "chief" so sure are
they that the late general will be
found to have named him for the
post.
, Arrangements are already being
made for the removal of General
Booths body from his home at He'd
leywood near London, to the Saliva
tion Army Congress Hall in London
district of Clapton, where it will lie
in state for week before irterment,
presumably, beside his wife at Abney
Park, Stoke Newington. An effort is
being made in several influential quar-
ters to have the great salvationist
laid to rest in Westminster Abbey,
but the Abbey authorities, it is said,
are opposed to the suggestion. AS a
"dissenter" and a religious leader
along lines which "hign church" Eng
land looked on as to say the least de-
cidedly unconventional.
General Booth left practically no
personal estate. Vast sums were con-
tributed to him or earned by him
through his writings, but all of it went
toward the support and upbuilding OF
the army. His death was directly due
to septic poisoning and the shock of an
operation for the removal of cata-
ract from his left eye but his physi-
clan said today that really he sue
cumbed to old age and the wear and
tear of long life time of incessant
work.
1t is understood that the day he died
cable message was received express
ing the love and sympathy of his son,
Ballington Booth, from whom he had
long been estranged, but the Gen.
eral was unconscious when it arrived
and died without knowing of his sons
overture toward reconciliation.
BramweA Booth, who it is taken for
granted, will succeed his father as
commander-in-chief, is Sc years old,
General Booths oldest son. He was
born at Halifax, England. He grew up
in the Salvation army and devotion to
its interest completely Saturates his
nature Though without his fathers
fire, Magnetism and marvellous elo-
quence, he is a man of sound common
sense and an efficient executive
He worked his way up through the
Salvation army ranks, toiling with his
hands like the humblest recruit, early
in his career, until he reached the rank
of chief of staff in 1880. He is widely
travelled, well educated, and very pop
ular with the Salvationists.
His wife, whom he married in 1882
issa native of Plymouth, England. She
is commissioner and leader of wo-
mems social works of the Salvation
army in Great Britain.