The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-04

A SHOCK TO THE NATION.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 25-Hon. Thomas
A. Hendricks. vice president of the United
States, died very suddenly at his residence in
his city at 4:i5 O'clock thise evening. under
circumstances that we've par icularly dis
sressing TO his family and friends. inasmuch
as they had not anticipated 4 fatal termina-
lion Of his brief illness, and nobody was with
nim when the end came. He returned from
Ehicngo last Saturday, and since then had
been complaining somewhat of pain III his
head and breast, but nothing scrious was
thought OF it. Last night he and Mrs. Hen
bricks attended u reception given at the res
ldence of Hon. John J. Cooper. state treas
lrcr, returning home in their carriage about
midnight. Mr.. Hendricks had taken of the
heavy clothing which he usually wore, and
put on 4 dress suit of lighter material. and
before lie got home he complained of chill,
ness and a certain degree of exhaustion, hu.
attributed it to malarial influences. He sat
by the fire for an hour or more before retir-
ing. but declined to send for Il physician.
although urged TO do so He slept restiessly
until about 3 O'Clock this morning, when lie
arose, dressed himself. and ate quite Il
hearty breakfast, saying he felt much better
and intended to attend to considerable de
laved business during the day. He and Mrs
Hendricks walked out for nearly half an
iour. and he apparently
RECLAIMED HIS PHYSICAL vIGoR
and cheerfulness. An hour later, however,
he began to be troubled wi pains in the
region Of his stomach. and Mrs. Hendricks
sent for the family physician, DIR. w. C.
Thompson, q lifelong and confidential
friend Of the vice president As the pains in
The stomach continued to increase, he was
given an emetic and afterward an injection,
and relief came in the natural way. He arose
rom his bed in which he had lain only u few
minutes and read the morning papers, talk
lg cheerfully with his wife and an old house
servant. Just before noon he had q relapse,
however, and the physician was again
summoned and administered the usual
remedies, beside bleeding the patient,
and MI. Hendricks again expressed himself
as being greatly relieved. He remained in
his room all the afternoon, occasionally
rising from his bed. to which he was com
PEELED to retarn by the recurrence of the
pains. To all callers who came, and they
we're numerous, he sent word that he was
lndtsposed. but would be glad to see them
tomorrow. About $50 o'clock Mrs. Hen
tricks, who had been at his bedside all dav.
went down into the parlor to see a caller,
who had come to consult with her rccHd nc
the affairs of Il r~efornutory instltut On. of
which she was one Of the managers. an / she
remained with him about twenty minutes.
Tom, Il colored servant, aud Harry Morgan,
Mr.. Hendricks nephew. and q page in Wash
mcton. remained with him. The servant
went out and Mr.. Morgan staid. Mr.. Hen
bricks tossed ~uneasily in his bed and com
planned of great pain, but suddenly it
seemed to cease, and he said to his nephew,
4 am free at last. SEN for Eliza, . meaning
his wife; and these were
HIS LAST WORDS,
for the young man, not realizing the urgency
of the message, did not deliver it at once.
Just before . o'clock Mrs Hendricks came
into the room and found that her husband
was dead. The end OF n long and eventtul
life had come peacefully and quietly. He
lay on the bed outside of the covering. only
partly disrobed, with his eyes half opcn as il
in n gentle sleep. On his face there were no
races OF pain, but n palIor had come over II
shat indicated only too plainly that he had
passed away. 1t needed no close examinn-
lion to tell that he was dead, and Mrs. Hen.
tricks screamed and ran down stairs. A
servant was dispatched to the resi-
dence of DIR. Thompson, adjoining, and
ne came Immediately, but by the
time he had reached the bedside. the
limbs of the distinguished dead man
we're becoming cold and rigid, and to Mrs.
Hendricks pathetic appeal, 3Oh, doctor,
can't you do something's" he was obliged to
answer: SIT is too late" Mrs. Hendricks
became almost distracted with grief, and it
was an hour or more before she became
sufficiently composed TO give any informa-
lion about her husbands last moments. The
family servants. two of whom had lived
with them for years, ran about the house
crying and moaning, and there was the
utmost confusion for a time. When the
news was builctined down town it was ven-
orally discredited. and in n very few minutes
4 hundred or more of Mr.. Hendricks close
political and personal friends had hurried to
the house. Very soon
A GREAT CRowD COLLECTED"
around the entrance on the street, and it
was found necessary to refuse admission to
ali corners except the Immediate relatives
Mr.. Hendricks died in his private chamber.
a large. comfortable room in which he did
the most of his work. Near his bedside was
u case containing legal and political works,
and on his desk were his papers, memoranda
and n large number of letters which had
been allowed to accumulate without an
swering for the last two or three days. His
dressing gown and slippers were at his bed
side, and near by was n small stand on
which were various medicines and a goblet
of water. Portraits, landscapes and bric-a-
brac adorned the walls of the room. and
we're in striking contrast with the sad
scene within. DR.. Thompson says that,
IN his opinion, Mr.. Hendricks died of
paralysis of the brain, and there will prob
ably be q post-mortem examination to estab-
fish what the disease was. For several years
he had not been n robust man. and was sub
ject to frequent bad spells. as he called
them, during which he would be prost.ated
sometimes for days at a time. About two
years ago he was confined to his room for
several weeks by n gangreneous affection of
the foot, which Mt the time it was feared
would result in blood poisoning. and it was
then thought that the end of life was near:
but he apparently recovered entirely from
this and was in his usual health. While in
Washington during the last session of con.
gress. he was ~overworkcd and almost worn
out by The press of political matters, and
upon his return home he signifed his lnten-