New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-21
GENERAL BOOTH DEAD
Tho Veteran Evangelist Passes
~ Away After Long Illness.
opIGINALLY A WESLEYAN
,.,vation Army, Now Millions
: Strong, His Conception and
His Weapon for Good,

Ms W
Aug. 2O.-The Rev. William
neral and commander in chief
BoO."' salvation Army. passed away at
.n.tg o'clock tonight.
W. ve,oran salvation Army leader
IL, ..orscious for forty-eight hours
""' $50 70 his death. The medical
F ',ot,ns had not revealed the serious
Da If the generals condition, Wh'en
ness ii, mast IL is now admitted.
Vas hopeless. Go, poo,h
,.u-ent an operation for the re
"a, NJ a cataract in his LETT eye
T ror tvo days after the operation indi-
~ justified hope for the gen
~. .ocoverv. Then. however, sep
q o. no,son,ng set in. and from that
IN. w With the exception Of occasional
lilies the patients health steadily de-
.rnsd The general realized that the
"a "s was near and often spoke OF his
cork as being finished.
r,rouehout the commander IN chiei
r.oss his son. Bramwell Booth. ch'et
.no etaff of the Army, and Mrs.
y o-.n,,eu Booth. gave their unremit-
,rg attentions to him both night ana
day. ,,s,
The aged evangelist died at ms resi-
,.nce The Rockstone, Hadley WOOD
come eight miles from London where
Nd bssn confined TO his bed ever
since tina operation. Present at the
hods,da when the end came were Mr..
nd Mrs Bramwel Booth and their
laughter and son. Adjutant Catherine
Booth and Sergeant Bernard Booth;
the generals youngest daughter Com
,,,ssioner Mrs. Booth Helbert, Com
missioner Howard Colonel kitchinG
and Dr. Wardlaw Milne.
public interest now centres in the
question Of a successor TO the com
msnder. Under the constitution OF the
salvation Army the general dominates
,,s successor. This General Booth did
several years ago, placing the name III
4 sealed envelope which was deposited
NTH the Salvation Army's lawyers.
With The instructions that 1t should not
he opened until after his death. While
nobody knows what name the envelope
ipelcses. the general belief among the
salvation Army is that the name Will
prove 10 be that Of Bramwell Booth,
who for thirty years has been its chief
Of staff
Where General Booth will he buried
has not vet been decided. While every
English member Of the Salvation Army
is convinced that no man was more
worthy Of interment in Westminster
Abbey. II is not expected that that
honor will be awarded to General
Booth by the Abbey authorities. II is
the general belief that the commander
in chiefs last resting place will lie
alongside that Of his wife who eleven
Years ago was buried in Abney Park.
Stoke NeVington.
Almost the last words Of General
Booth were uttered Just before he lost
Consciousness. He was referring 10
Gods promises. and, speaking with
great difficulty, said:
They are sure--they arc sure-if
you will only believe"
It is probable that the obsequies
vii include tho lying in-state for sew
sral days at Congress Hall. Clapton.
which will be followed by a big me-
mortal service and a procession from
London 10 Abney Park
Brsmwell Booth said tonight that
just before the general died message
had been received from John Wanna
maker, which read:
Farewell 10 thee. who never
thought Of thyself but only of others"
Colonel Kitching said that up 70
Saturday General Booth showed solicit
tude for the work Of the armv
We had not expected the end quite
50 soon Colonel Kitching continued.
The general died very peacefully and
quietly. without the slightest struggle.
His breathing simply became less and
less until i, ceased altogether. / think
The operation may have accelerated
death, but / do not believe il was the
cause OF his demise. / think perhaps
the disappointment following the non
return Of the generals sight was d
Greater strain upon him than the oper-
Atom Itself. He was very buoyant un-
W Three weeks ago, when a decided
mango for the worse occurred. After
ulst TINE he gradually sank.
When General Booth said from time
Tine tina: when the wires flashed
around the world the news Of his death
'aey would also carry the name Of his
successor Colonel Kitching added. "he
'poke metaphorically. The announce
"eht Of his successor probably will be
"doe In a day or two"
:" me list Of those who have unselhshly
-..'led their entire lives 10 the uplifting
humanity no name stands higher than
-. Of General William Booth. His field
Aoof was the World, and peoples Of