Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-14
DEATH ENDS SERVICE
OF ETHELBERT WATTS
PhiIadeIphian, Long a Consul,
Was on Duty at Halifax
Explosion


activity in the consular service of the
United States. during which time he
was decorated by the khedivc Of Egypt
and the emperor of Japan, Ethclbert
Watts. of Ogontz. died Saturday night
at the University Hospital.
Mr.. Watts's health began to fail while
Iat his last post. Hamilton. Bermuda.
where during the closing months Of the
war he was most acceptable to the Brit
ish authorities and formed close
friendship with Sir James WiIlcorks.
the governor general After asking leave
OF absence. he came to Philadelphia last
May. where he spent the last few
months Of his life.
Mr.. Watts. who was the second son
of Henry Miller Watts. was born in
Philadelphia. February -. 1915. lie
was educated in the preparatory schools
of Paris, afterward Mt tho University
of Pennsylvania and finally at the Uni
vcrsity of Freiberg. Saxony. Germany.
At the age of eighteen he abandoned mis-
studies at the University of Pennsylva
! MIA and enlisted as a private in the
| tnion army. but was not destined to see
| much active service. After considerable
| time spent abroad he returned to Phil
adClphia and for some years was en-
gagged in the iron business. in which his
father had extensive interests. While
engaged in his consular duties he was
elected n memier of the Philadelphia
81 | n i
vCrsity awarded him his degree.
In March. 1906, President Cleveland
appointed Mr.. Sz:ta = ~, frss ;'?''
! in the United States consular service.
that at Horgen, Switzerland. From
| Switzerland he was appointed, in lSo''
vice consul at Cairo. Egypt, where he
was alone in charge during the Spanish =
American war. One especially valuable
service he performed there was in pre-
venting the Spanish fleet from coaling
before going through the Suez Canal
Before leaving this post he was deco
rated by the khcdive with the Order OF
OSmaniPh.
While on duty in Prague. Bohemia
in 1903. he was offered the important
post of American consul general at st
Petersburg. now Petrograd. Here hi
lived four years in the midst o
stirring and dangerous times. In rec
ognition of his services in protecting
Japancsc interests in Russia during thu
Russo japanese war he was decorated
by the emperor of Japan with the Order
of the Rising Sun, and also of thu
Sacred Treasure.
More important duties were await
, ing him in 1907. when he was rendered
. the post of consul general at Brussels
Both before and after the German oc'
cupation of the city Mr.. Watts PLAYED
an important part in looking after thu
interests of American citi2c IS as wei
| as representing and caring for British
and japanese interests and those o
other belligerents. What he accom-
plshcd along these lines was much ap
preciated. by the State Department
l When the United States entered tn
war all the consular offices in Belgium
were discontinued. and Mr.. Watts wa
ordered home.
While in Philadelphia awaiting fur
ther orders there was temporary va
tdntN at l1dIlldA, anu lie WAS sent tuef
to take charge. He had been ther
, only few weeks when the tremendou
e explosion and fire took place. durin
, which the consular offices We're wrecke,
and Mr. Watts's life was saved b.
almost a miracle. From his post h
twas sent to Bermuda.
In 1871 Mr.. Watts married Emil
Pepper, sister of the late DR.. WiliiaI
Pepper, of the University of Ppnnsyl
vania. There are four surviving chill
dren by this marriage-Nlrs. Clark Mel
len. Pelham Manor. New York: Mis-
Marian Watts. Washington, d. c.
Henry Miller Watts. Philadelphia. an
Captain William c. Watts, Unite
States navy.
In 1895 he married Katherine l.
Gregg. daughter of William II. Gregg
of Philadelphia. by whom two childrel
l are living-Mrs. Theodosius Stevens
/ New York. and Ethelbert Watts, Jr.
Philadelphia.
Besides his widow and children, h
is survived by his brothers. John S. an
| Charles w. Watts, and three sisters
= Mrs. Clark Merchant. Mrs. Richar
w. Ormerod and Miss Anna Watts.
PLAN NEW BANK BUILDING