Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-02
DEATH OF HENDRICKS.
The Vice-President Expires Sud-
denly at indianapolis.
Particulars of the Brief Illness that
Preceded His Death.
Sketch Of the Deceased Statesman's Busy
Life and Public Services.
How the News was Received by President
Cleveland and His Cabinet.

HT0S1QOnU hendricks OloO very SuOuSu-
1y and unexpectedly at his residence
on North Tennessee Street, this city,
at O'Clock last evening. The demise
of this illustrious citizen was so unlocked
for that the city was shocked at it's occur
renee, and most of the people were 10th to
believe it until it was bulletined from the
newspaper offices ana confirmed by person
al visits to the house. The stricken wife
YVES visited by her immediate friends, but
such was the shock to her nerves that it
was with the greatest difficulty that she
could talk upon the subject at all. The
city is in mourning, and the great heart of
Indiana is bleeding over the remains OF her
distinguished son.
Mr.. Hendricks returned from Chicago
Monday suffering from very severe cold,
but his condition was not such as to awaken
fears for his safety. DR.. Thompson, the
family physician, was called, and the patient
insisted upon having calomel administered
TO him. This the physician refused to do,
owing to the prostrating effects which the
drug always produced upon Mr.. Hendricks,
and he gave him an emetic and later in the
day an injection. At night the Vice-Presi-
dent had so much improved that he and
Mrs. Hendricks attended a reception at the
residence of State Treasurer Cooper, where
they remained till midnight. During the
entertainment Mr.. Hendricks was, in
personal appearance, as well as usual,
and none save few to whom he
spoke about the matter, supposed that
he was suffering pain. He complained
to one or two however, that he was feeling
unwell, but did not express any apprehen-
-sions of fatal consequences. He slept well
during the night and arose in the morning
apparently refreshed and feeling better. An
hour or two later he was taken with rig
or, ard despite the efforts of the attending
physician the chills remained unbroken
for quite an hour. He was seriously pros
trated as q consequence, but the doctor
was not apprehensive OF danger, and he en-
gagged in conversation with the patient on
several subjects, among which was the Vice
Presidents expected departure for Wash
ington and his resumption of duties as
President of the Senate. Mr.. Hendricks,
however, appeared to be oppressed by his
sickness, and was very solicitous that Mrs.
Hendricks should always be near him. If
she left the room for a moment he inquired
concerning her, and appeared i'll at ease IN
til she returned to the room. When this
disposition was developed Mrs, Hendricks
continued by his side, and was present dur
ing the visit of the physician.
A few minutes before 5 o'clock Mr.. Hen
bricks turned to the physician and said
81 AM FREE AT LAST"
ITO what do you refer?" asked the ply
L
the answer. The physician then left the
house, and Mrs. Hendricks was called be-
low to see friend. When the caller was
first announced Mrs. Hendricks hesitated
about going down, but being treasured by
the remark OF her husband, she left his bed
hide and passed down to the parlor. She
was delayed longer than she expected, and
when she returned to the room she found
that Mr.. Hendricks was dead. The end of
busy life had come peacefully and quietly.
On his face there was no indication of pain
Or suffering, and his eyes were only half
closed, as if in a gentle sleep. There was
nobody in his room when he died, and only
Mrs. Hendricks. the servants and caller
in the house. Mrs. Hendricks was almost
distracted with grief, and could not restrain
her feelings sufficiently to talk. The house
was soon filled with anxious friends, while
a crowd collected around the gate, and it
was found necessary to refuse them ad-
mission.
THE DEATH CHAMBER.
Mr.. Hendricks died in his private chamber,
q large comfortable room in which he did
the most of his work. Near his bedside was
case containing legal and political works,
and on his desk were his papers, memoranda,
and a large number of letters which had
been allowed to accumulate without answer
ing in the last tw % or three dGys. His dress
ing-gown and slippers were a.. his bedside,
and near by was small stand on which
were various medicines and goblet of wa
ter. Portraits, landscapes, and bric-a-brac
adorned the walls of the room, and were in
striking contrast with the sad scene within.
CITY IN SORROW.
The news spread through the city with the
rapidity of lightning, and all the fire and
other bells in the city were tolled sixty
six times, one stroke for each year of his
life. All the newspapers put out bulletins,
and their offices were crowded with people
anxious to learn the particulars. At
meeting of D. comment citizens, held in the
United States district courtroom, last
night, committee, consisting of Senator
Ben. Harrison, w. 81. English, Judge W. E.
Niblaek, Noble c. Butler and Aquilla Jones,
was appointed to confer with the family,
and make all arrangements for the obse-
quies. Mrs. Hendricks is In receipt OF dis
patches from allsections of the country, Of
fering sympathy in this her saddest hour
of bereavement. The city, irrespective of
party mourns with her.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
DR.. Thompson says it is his belief that
Mr.. Hendricks died Of acute paralysis OF
the brain and heart. He had suffered for
long time with slight paralysis of the left
hand, and had said he should prefer to die
from paralysis, as it was painless death.
Day before yesterday Mr.. Hendricks had
complained of sharp pain in the left side.
This transferred itself to the region Of the
stomach, and to relieve it, the doctor gave
him draught of soda and mustard with a
hot water remedy which had been efica-
cious in previous attacks. This relieved
him of considerable mucus, and he was able
to be about alternately during the morn
ing from easy chair to couch. The doc
tor assured him that the ailment was
not, in his judgment, serious. and that he
did not think opiates were advisable for the
pain, because of their depressing effect, and
without them the attack would wear off as
before, and he would be out in a day or
two. "But, DR.. Thompson said Mr. Hen
bricks, ''you know that when [ am sick /
am awful sick" To relieve the pain in the
region of the stomach the doctor prescribed
a small dose of bromides, which was
effectual, and brought him ease and rest.
This, with the exception of an enema of
OIL was all the medication that his symp-
toms indicated. They were common rene
dies with Mr.. Hendricks, and each of them
alleviated the symptoms to which they were
addressed. He seemed apprehensiye, and,
in fact was always suspicious OF possible
elimination in general paralysis OF the