Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-02-08
Gambetta's Tragic Fate.

A despatch says of Gambetta: The
corpse Teposes on bed. The eyes, which
are wide open, preserve their customary
expression, while the mouth seems mo
bile. The HAIR iS thrown back from the
forehead. There is no distortion in the
features. Death has not dlsfgured his
countenance. Perhaps, had he been like
ordinary morLals, he might have recovered.
but high living and excuses OF all sorts
had brought on diabetes, which was COM
plicated with other disorders. The patient
being asthmatic, the use of anUsthetics
was prescribed. Without anesthetics 1t was
feared he would die during an operation
| Besides, in the condition of his blood, gan
| creme was the inevitable consequence of
| Of an inCislOn. He would as surely have
died from the result of an operation as he
| did die OF the disease, wherefore it was
judged unwlse to attempt what could only
had increased his sufferings. This was
the decision of his medical attendants.
Another complication, not generally
known, was that OF varlcose veins on the
| left leg, the existence OF which explains
certain attitudes often severely commented
upon as undIgnitied. lie was physically
incapltated from sitting straight In chair.
1t ls impossible TO affirm until after the au-
tOpsy, which takes place to-day, that, as
asserted by some persons, he had received
u bullet in the abdomen, Still, without
doubt the wound In the arm was the pri-
mary cause of death, and necessitated i'm
mobility, depriVIng hun of the exercise
prescribed as indispensable TO one of his
constitution and temperament and contn-
ually threatened by cerebral congestion.
| 1t Is whispered also that he dlsobeyed the
medical order of strict diet Of milk and
egges. Throughout his illness his friends
have sought to conceal the gravity of the
| situation, and above all the agency of q
woman in the tragedy. Nevertheless, no
doubt is permissible that the shot which
directly or indirectly caused his death was
fired by lady who is well known in Paris,
and whose pseudonym, LcOnie Leon, con-
ceals the patronymic Of one Of the most
honorable .lsraelitlsh families of Bordeaux.
She left her husband. the Conseiller Gen
eral of the Glronde Department to follow
the fortunes of HIM by whose eloquence
III the Baudln subscription and trial she
was completely fascinated, and uniIng
with hIm III 1868, she deserted her family.
lie was impatient OF the chain he could
not break, especially as a child was born
the succeeding year, whose paternity he
refused to acknowledge. These refusals
caused scenes of recrimnation and often
of positive violence between the lovers.
| The man weaIied of the connection, and
| the woman clung devotedlv TO him for
whom she had sacrificed her honor. Gam
beta disliked the child, who was sIckly,
but intelligent, and lived as his nephew.
He resem5led Gambetta in character and
| features. Two years ago Leonie's hufbAnd
died, and she summoned Gambetta TO full
Rc cPf2mss OF sa Ha1EsseA eAd RiSS ssSHaxSq
however, to provide for young Leon on
the condition that he should be educated
IN Germany. The mother Lesitated, but
| finally consented and accompanied the
child and his father 10 Dresden. This was
the journey 50 much commented upon last
year by the European press, which ascrlb-
ed political motives TO the presence of
! Leon MassaOe et la dame at the German
hotels. The connection was continued
after their return, Leone going every Sat.
urday evening TO his villa, where she was
accepted as mistress by the servants, and
returning Monday morning in his carriage.
Their quarrels also continued. Within a
week three discharged domestics revealed
the mysteries OF the ill-starred establish
ment. Finally the dissensIons eliminated
in the scene of the unhappy pistol-shot.
Gambetta lost his temper, giving vent to
abuse and course language, such as he
was wont to employ in moments of pas
sion. She was exasperated, seized re-
volver, and fired. He raised his hand to
turn aside the weapon, and received his
death wound. Every thing else is con-
| lecture.