River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-20
THOMAS LORDS DEATH.
4 life Of Com lardtipe SectustoIa litter HIS
Marriage a Year Ago 10 Mrs. Htehs--it-
Iusfo,ts IF Hts Old ABe-His Last Illness.

Il LiTe or t0Wpufdttre Hect"Sto" <ijteT nv"
Marriage Year Ago 10 Mrs Hieks--ft-
IusioaS IF HtS Old Age-His Last Illness.
New York Sun.
Although long looked for, the death of 6r
Thomas Scott Lord yesterday morning was
surprise to his family and to his physician, DIR,
Thomas O. Chalmers. At o o'clock on Friday
evening Dr. Chalmers visited his patient, and
found him tritile stronger than he had been
for twenty four hours past and he went back
to his home thinking that Mr.. Lord would live
through the night. Still, the end was evidently
coming. The doctor had been gone not more
than twenty minutes when Mr. Lord was at
tackled by a fit of coughing that weakened him
greatly. Everything that careful thought
could suggest was done by Mrs. Lord and her
servants to give the dying man rellef, but he
gradually grew weaker. messenger was sent
for DIR. Chalmers about midnight but before
he arrived Mr. Lord was dead. Thee was no
one present but Mrs. Lord aud her servants.
Members of Mr.. Lords family had called dur
ing the day but they did not anticipate that
he would die so soon.
Dr. Chalmers said yesterday 81 have been
attending MIR. Lord since the 2SLh of December
last, and l know that he has not been out of
his room since that date. l think that it is
about two months since he was ont of his
house. He had no disease whatever, but died
simply of old age. 1t gradually wearing
age. About two years ago he began TO fail;
that is, his brain showed signs of failing but
his bodily health was good with the exception
that he became weaker ana weaker. There
was no organic disease, and he suffered no pain
He had little appetite. 1t had been his habit
through life To be very careful in his diet, and
he thought that abstinence from food WAS a
better cure in illness than medicine. He was
always opposed to taking medicine. This
habit of abstinence from food, which was GER
tainly good one if followed with judgment,
proved TO be bad during his last illness. He
did not have the judgment to eat when he
needed food and absolutely refused food when
his system needed it much. When he was first
taken sick he had an attack of indigestion.
After he got over the attack he still refused TO
eat. When | urged him to eat prescribed
for him he would say. Well doctor. YOU know
never believed in taking medicine, and
think am better with little food When
attempted to show him that be needed food
he still refused TO take it; but he was always
very courteous and gentlemanly.
His death was rather q SURPRISE after ALL
When first called TO see him ! thought that
he was about to die. He was very weak, and
is face looked bad; but he revived, and, al
ough slowly growing weaker, at no time did
Sc EN- so near death as then. When / called
pom him last evening he seemed little bet
ter. and thought he would live through the
night. He had not left his bed for six days.
Before that time he reclined a part of the time
on a lounge, sat in an easy chair. On Thurs
day he much weaker that he could not
articulate plainly, although he was perfectly
conscious and rational, and when questioned
showed that he understood what was said to
him. he remained in much the same eondi-
tion yesterday, without any pain, and died
very quietly.
MIR. Lords friends noticed more than year
ago that his mind showing the weight of
his years. A gentleman who has known him
long said:
He would enter drawing-room and con-
verse as intelhgently and pleasantly ever.
Then, something suggesting it, he would be-
gin talking about his trips to India, or Afghan
istan, or Japan, and he would talk well and
wisely, for he was large reader. The fact was
be had never visited these places at ALL
MIR. lords room in the second story of
his residence, at No. 10 West Fourteenth street.
1t was very pleasant and che rful, with win
dows looking south. through which the sun
shone brightly The room furnished
lnxuriouslv; pictures were on the walls 1t
was pleasant sick room. Here Mrs. Lord
spent much of her time. mInistering to the
wants of her husband. He could not bear to
have her out of his sight and would eat only
the food that she brought to him. But he
whimsical. and often it required iness on her
part to induce him to take necessary nourish-
ment. One day, being very anxious that her
husband should eat more than he seemed in
clined to- she advised him not to eat any more,
thinking that perhaps be would oppose her
wishes, but, unfortunately, this time he WAS
not obstinate, and willingly did not as she
wished, but as she said.
As Mr.. Lord was naval officer of the port of
New York from 1889 to 1871, the flag or the
custom-nouse was at half-mast yesterday.