Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-21


House At Time, While Son Hurry.
ing to London-continued At His
Post, Despite illness, Until Thurs.
day-Long Been Before the Public.
LONDON, Dec. I6.-Whitelaw Reid
the American Ambassador to Gerat
Britain sine 1905. died at his London
residence, Dorchester House, shortly
after noon Sunday, from pulmonary
sedema. The end was quite peaceful.
Mrs. Reid and their daughter, Mrs.
John Hubert Ward, were at the bed
side.
The Ambassador had been uneon-
scious since 8 o'clock in the morning,
and at intervals during the previous
"a hours he had beer slightly delir-
ious as a result of the drugs admins
tered to him to induce sleep. ;
Sir Thmoas Barlow, physician to
the King, who was called in last
week when Mr.. Reid's illness became
acute and his regular physician, DR..
William Hale White, issued the fol-
lowing bulletin as to the cause of
death:
"A fortnight ago the American
Ambassador had a slight bronchial at.
tack, similar to others from which he
had suffered at considerable inter
walls. On Wednesday last asthma su-
pervened and the asthmatic paroxy-
m became very severe, leading TO
extreme exhaustion. II was hoped
that he might rally, as no pneumonia
symptoms had appeared. With diff
Guilty the paroxysms of asthma were
got under control, but Sunday morn
ing the exhaustion became extreme,
and he died from pulmonary sedema
at 1910 p. M"
Royalty's Condolences Prompt.
The Honorable John Hubert Ward.
who with his wife had been at Dor
chester House continually since the
Ambassadors condition became SER
ious, notified the staff of the Embassy
when the patient began to sink, and
when death came he sent word to the
King n Queen at Buckingham Pal
ace, the Queen-Mother Alexandra at
Sandringham, and the officials at
court.
Almost Immediately the King sent
his equerry, Sir Harry Legge, to ex-
press the coincidence of himself and
the Queen. During the afternoon mes
sages conveying the warmest SYM
pathy were received from the Queen
Mother Alexandra and other mem
bers of the Government and of the
various Embassies and Legations.
while many who had learned of the
news of the Ambassadors death or
who had seen the flags at half-mast
on Dorchest er House, rallied at the
Embassy.
A wireless message was also sent
to Ogden Reid, son of the Ambassa-
dor, who left New York yesterday in
the hope of reaching his fathers bed
side before death.
King Offers Royal Chapel.
IL has been stated that King George
who telegraphed his condolences to
Mrs. Reid early in the afternoon, in
timated that the chapel Royal at St.
James would be placed at the dis
posal of the family for the service,
but In view of the late Ambassadors
exceptionally wide circle of friends
and of the position he held in London
the chapel Royal would be made
Quate, it is thought, for such a cere-
monial.
Coincidence to Widow.
To Mrs. Reid the President rabled:
Mrs. Taft and l extend to you our
deepest sympathy in our great sor-
row. This country has lost IA most
o able and loyal public servant. MIR.
Reds death ends one of the most
notable of the careers of the great
men who have represented this ma
ton in London.
He has exercised a personal in
fiuence that was exceptional in main
tanning the close friendship of the
two countries, and he has been sue
cessful | ma remarkable degree in the
two very heavy branches of his duty
the n OF pure diplomacy, and the
other the Offering to the thousands of
Americans, who have frequented Lon.
don during his incumbency, a friend
ly hospitality that made all OF them
feel at home.
We hope that the thought of the
great name he leaves will In time miti
gate your grief.
Sketch Of His N-ife.
For the past two years Mr.. Reid
had suffered serious attacks of iniu-
enza, all of which, 1t was said had UNI
dermined his health. His last attack
from this source came on December
2, and Immediately after he was plac-
ed in bed In his London home,
lie had made no public appearance
since. His illness caused a postpon
ment OF a reception he had planned
to give at his country house at Wrest
Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire. one Of the
most beautiful estates Of England for
which he maid a1moSt Cog 0Q0 q vaar