The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-11-16
BOOKER 7. WASHINGTON
OF TUSKEGEE, ALA, DEAD
Death Due to hardening ef
Arteries Following Nervous
Breakdown.
WAS BORN IN SLAVERY.
Hurried From North Last Week
to Die at Home.

Tuskegee, Ala, Nov. 14.-Booker
T. Washington, the noted negro edu-
Gator and founder of Tuskegee Insti-
tute, died at his home here early to-
day four hours after his arrival from
New York. Death was due to hard
ening of the arteries fonSs-ing a ner-
vous breakdown.
The negro leader had been in fail
ing health for several months, but
his condition became serious only
last week while he was In the East.
He realized the end was near, but was
determined to make the long trip
South to bear out his oft-e1pressed
statement that he had been "born in
the South, have lived all my life in
the South and expect to die and be
buried in the South"
Accompanied by his ,etfe, his sec
retary and a physician, Washington
left New York for Tuskegee Friday.
He reached his home last midnight
Specialists who had examined
Washington said he was suffering
from nervous breakdown and harden
ing of the arteries. His last public
appearance was at the national con-
ference of congregational churches,
where he delivered lecture Octo-
ber 25.
Washington is survived by his wife,
three children and four grand-chil-
dren. His brother, John w. Washing
ton, is superintendent of industries at
Tuskegee Institute.
The funeral will be held at Tuske-
gee Institute Wednesday rcorning at
10 o'clock
Washington was born in slavery
near Hale's Ford, Va. in 1857 or
1858. After the emancipation of his
race, he moved with his family to
West Virginia. He was an ambitious
boy and saved his money for an edu-
cation. When he was able to scrape
together sufficient funds to pay his
stage coach fare to Hampton, Va, he
entered General Armstrong; School
for Negroes there and worked his way
through an academic course, gradual
ing N 1875. Later he became a teach.
er in the Hampton Institute, where
he remained until 1881 when he or
ganized an industrial school for ne
groes at Tuskegee. He remained
principal of thsi school up to the time
of his death.
The institute started in rented
shanty church and today it owns
$500 acres of land in Alabama, and
has nearly 100 buildings valued at
100000.
Washington won the sympathy and
support of leading Southerners by a
speech in behalf Of his race at the
Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta
in 1895. OF undoubted ability and
breadth Of vision. his sane leadership
enabled him to accomplish more for
and among the negroes OF the United
States than any negro of his time.
In addition to his prominence as an
educator, Washington gained consid.
cradle fame as an author. He receiy-
ed an honorary degree of Master OF
Arts from Harvard University In 1896
and was given an honorary degree OF
doctor of laws by Dartmouth College
in 1901
An incident Of Washington's career
made him figure of national promi.
nence during the administration OF
President ROOSEVELT. He sat down
TO lunch with the President at the
White House either by formal ON in
formal invitation. There was a
storm of protest. particularly from
the South. but in spite OF the result
ing hostility shown toward him by
many white persons. Washington con-
tinued to exert widespread infiu-
ence toward the betterment of his
people.
kilograms OF coincidence on the
death Of DIR. Washington poured into
1.-THE institute all day and. .late into
the night. Leaders of thought and
endeayor In all walks of life are rep
resented in the messages arriving.
William G.. Wilcox, treasurer ot
the investment committee. Of the
board of trustees. wired
"His death is a national calamity
but his spirit Will still live to inspire
As.I g..