Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1904 — W. C. WHIT NEY IS DEAD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

W. C. WHIT NEY IS DEAD

Ex-Secretary of the Navy Passes After an Operation for Appendicitis. HE HAD JUST TAKEN ETHER For a Second Operation JVhen the End Came—Was Taken 111 at the Opera. New York, Feb. 3.—William Collins Whitney, ex-secretary of the navy,died a few minutes after 4 p. m. yesterday at his home 871 Fifth avenue. He died while under the influence of ether administered preparatory to a second operation for appendicitis. By his bedside were bis son, Harry Payne Whitney, and his daughter, Dorothy Whit-

ney, as well as Dr. William T. Bull, the chief surgeon in attendance. Whitney was in his 04th year. He was taken ill Friday night at the performance of Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera House, and had to leave before the opera ended. Socoad Operation tbe Only Hopo. Dr. Walter B. James, the Whitney family family, was summoned, and found that tbe condition of tbe pa-

tjent was such that after consultation an operation was decided upon and was performed by Dr. BulL The patient rallied so well that it was fully believed he would recover. Whitney’s condition was very grave, however, on Sunday and Monday, and at a consultation held yesterday afternoon the conclusion was reached that the only hope for the patient lay Jn a second operation. Alarming Symptoms Appear. A bulletin issued in the morning stated that there had been a slight improvement in the patient’s condition, but shortly before 3 p. m. alarming symptoms were noted and hurried preparations were made for a second ! operation. Whitney was placed under ! the influence of ether, but whether the operation was proceeded with or I not is unknown. Diroct Causa of the Death. The direct cause of Whitney’s death I was peritonitis and blood-poisoning resulting therefrom. The funeral date is not yet fixed, but the interment will be at Woodlawn, where his wife lies. The services will be at Grace church.

FATHER OF OCR SEW NAVY

Be Began the Work of Building Whllo a Cabinet Member. William Collins Whitney was born in Conway, Mass., on July 5, 1841. He was descended from John W hitney, who came to New England in 1636 with Sir Richard Saltonstall. On his mother’s side, Whitney’s descent was equally distinguished, beginning with Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth colony. His street railway and gas Investments in various cities represent millions, SDd his battle tor the traction supremacy of New York city was the story of millions, in which the greater array of millions won. Whitney was the father of the modern United States navy, having been, while secretary of the navy, getive in laying the plans which are still being carried out in the matter of building new ships of every class. Aside from bis service under Cleveland as secretary of the navy, his only other public office was that of corporation counsel in 1875 in New York city. The interests of Whitney were many and extensive. He bad been the moving . spirit in one of the greatest street railway combinations in the world. Be had spent millions for art, and equally large sums in conducting racing stables and maintaining yachts. In addition to all of these varied interests, Whitney had in the last few years, accumulated in enormous interest Id various publications, daily, weekly and monthly, most of which were conducted from New York. Over these be had kept a personal supervision, and bad not spared money when he felt he could advance them by liberal expenditures.

WILLIAM C. WHITNEY.