Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-04
Death Of Hendricks.
The Vice-President Suddenly
Expires at His Home in
indianapolis.
Paralysis Of the Brain Said to
be the Immediate Cause
of His Sudden Death.

The Hon. Thomas a. Hendricks,
vice-president of the United States,
died very suddenly at his residence in
| Indianapolis, Ind, on Wednesday
afternoon at :45 o'clock.
Tuesday evening in company with
Mrs. Hendricks he attended recep-
ton. On the way home he complain
ed of a severe pain in his head. He
rested rather restless all Tuesday
night but Wednesday morning, when
he arose, dressed himself and ate quite
a hearty breakfast, saying that
He FELT MUCH BETTER
and intended to attend to a consider
era bic delayed business during the
day, He and Mrs. Hendricks walked
out for nearly half an hour, and he
had apparently regained his physical
vigor and cheerfulness, An hour
later, however, he began to be trou-
bled with pains in the region of the
stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks sent for
the family physician, Dr.. w. G.
Thompson, alifelong.and confidential
friend of the vice president. As the
pains in the stomach continued to in
crease, he was given an emetic and
afterwards an injection, an relief
came in the natural way. He arose
from his bed, in which he had lain
only few moments, and read the
morning papers, talking cheerfully
with his wife and an old house ser
want. Just before noon
HE HAD A RELAPSE
however, and the physician was
again summoned and administered
the usual remedies besides bleeding
the patient, and he again expressed
himself as being relieved. He re-
manned in his room all the p. m. =,
occasionally rising from his bed, to
which he was compelled to return by
a recurrence of the abdominal pains.
| To the callers who came, and they
were numerous, he sent word that he
was indisposed, but would be glad to
sec them to morrow. About 4 80 Mrs.
Hendricks who had been at his bed
side all day, went so the parlor to see
caller, to consult her regarding the
affairs of a reformatory, of which she
was one of the members, and she re-
manned with him about twenty min
utes.
Tom, a colored servant, and Harry
Morgan, Hendricks nephew and
page in Washington, remained with
him. The servant went out of the
room and Morgan stayed. Hendricks
tossed uneasy on his bed and COM
planned of great pain. But suddenly
1t seemed to cease and he said to his
nephew,
I'm FREE AT LAST, SEND FOR ELIZA,
meaning his wife, and these were his
las words, for the young man, not
realizing the urgency of the message,
did not deliver it at once.
Just before five o'clock, Mrs. Her
bricks came into the room and found
that her husband was dead. The end
of the long and eventful life had come
peacefully and quietly.
He lay In bed outside of the cover
ing, only partially disrobed, with his
eyes closed as if he were in a gentle
sleep. On his face there were no traces
of paia or suffering, but palor had
come over it that indicated only too
plainly that he had passed away. 1t
needed no close examination to tell
that he was dead, and Mrs. Hendricks
screamed and ran down stairs. A ser
want was dispatched to the residence
OF DIR. Thompson adjoining, and he
came Immediately, but by the time he
had reached the bedside the limbs of
the distinguished dead were becoming
cold and rigid, and to Mrs. Hendricks
pathetic appeal, "Ohi Doctor, can't
you do something's" he was obliged to
answer:
1T Is TO LATE"
Mrs. Hendricks became almost dis
tracted with grief and it was an hour
or more before she became sufficiently
composed to give any information
about her husbands las: 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
| the time. When the news was bull
letined down town it was generally
aiscredited and in a very few minutes
s. hundred or more of Mr.. Hendricks
close political friends had hurried to
the house. Very soon a great crowd
collected around the entrance and On
the street, and it was found necessary
to refuse ADMISSION to any and all
comers except the immediate rela-
! tives. Mr.. Hendricks died in his pri-
vate chamber, large comfortable
oom in which ne did most of his
work. Near his bedside was a case
containing legal and political works,
and on his desk were his papers. mem
oransa and a large number of letters
which had been allowed to accumulate
without answering In the last tive or
three days. His dressing gown and
slippers were at his bedside, and near
by was small stand on which were
various medicines and a goblet of
water. Portraits, landscapes aud
bric-a-brac adorned the walls of the
room and were in striking contrast
with the sad scene within. DR.. Thomp-
son said that in his opinion Hendricks
died of paralysis of the brain.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Thomas A. Hendricks was bora IN
Muskingum county, o., in 1919. His
mother was Of Scotch origin, native
of Chambersburg, Pa, and member
of a familythst belongs to the Scotch
Covenanter school. His grandfather
was a member of the Pennsylvania
legislature during the administration
of George Washington; his fathers
was the resort of politicians, and an
uncle was one of the secretaries of the
Indiana Constitutional convention
which met in 1916, also Democratic
governor of the state in 1919, and two
terms elected Uuited States senator.
Three years after his birth the par.
ents of Mr.. Hendricks remover to Ind.
ana. He graduated at South Han.
over college, in 1S41, and studied law
at Chambersburg, Pa, where he YVES
admitted to the bar il 1S43. Return.
ing to Indiana he was elected to the
legislature in 1S4S, and was a member
of the State Constitutional convention
in 1850. Frem 1851 to 1855 he repre-.
sented the Indianapolis district in
congress, in the next four years was
commissioner In the general landoffice
under appoint of President Pierce,
and from 1868 to 1869 was a member
of the United States senate. In 1871
he was elected governor of Indiana