The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-03
Death or vice-PreslAemt HEN
bricks.

bricks.
Thanksgiving was saddened by the
startling intelligence from indianapolis,
for one of the wisest and worthiest men
OF the republic had been taken away, and
his patriotic service is lost to the people
save as his precepts and example may
teach, for he being dead they yet speak.
The lamentable story of the death Of
Thomas A. Hendricks is told in the fol-
lowing telegram:
INDIANAPOLIS, November 25-Vice President
Thomas A. Hendricks died here al o'clock this
afternoon.
Vice President Hendricks attended reception
last evening. This morning he complained OF
feeling unwell. He rapidly grew worse, and
died this afternoon, as above stated. He died
very suddenly at his residence few minutes be-
fore this afternoon. He came home from Chi
cago early In the week, and complained of ieel-
ing unwell, but nothing was thought of il at the
time. Last night he and Mrs. Hendricks at
tended reception at the residence OF Hon John
]. Cooper, and after he came home he coul-
planned OF pains in the side and stomach. This
morning he was no better. and his family physi-
clan, DIR. Thompson, was called in. He gave
him an emetic, and later in the day an injection
Mr.. Hendricks stayed IN his room all day, and
most of the time in bed although he sat up at
frequent intervals. He received no callers, but
about five o'clock Mrs Hendricks left his bed
side to see caller for a few minute in the par
lor. She was delayed longer than she expected,
and when she returned to the room she found
that Mr.. Hendricks was dead The end of a
busy and eventful 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 gentle sleep. He died of paraly-
| sis of the brain.
MIR. Hendricks died under circumstances that
were particularly distressing TO his family and
friends, inasmuch as they had not anticipated a
fatal termination of his briet illness, and nobody
| was with him when the end came He returned
from chicago Saturday last, and since then had
| been complaining somewhat of pain in his head
| and breast, but nothing serious was thought of
| 1t. Last night he and Mrs. Hendricks attended a
! reception given at the residence of Hon. John
| Cooper, Treasurer of the State, returning home
in their carriage about midnight Mr.. Hendricks
had taken off The heavy clothing which he us,l-
| ally wore, and put on dress suit of fighter ma
terial, and before he got home be complained OF
chillness, and certain degree of exhaustion, but
| attributed ii TO malaral influence. He sat by
| Inc nre Tor an hour or more before retir-
ing, but declined to send for a physician, al
| though urged to do So He slept restessly I'M
| til about o'clock this morning. when he arose
/
saying he felt much better, and would attend to
| considerable delayed business during the day.
he and Mrs. Hendricks walked out for near
ly half an hour and he had apparently re-
gained his physical vigor and cheerfulness
AN hour later however, he began to be troub-
lea win pains In the region OF the stomach, and
Mrs. Hendricks sent for the family physician,
Dr; W: T.. Thompson, a lifelong and confiden
tial friend OF The Vice. President who relieved
his pain. He arose from his bed, in which he
mad lain only lew minutes and read the morn
ing papers, talking cheerfully with his wife and
an ola house servant. just before noon he had
| relapse, however, and. the physician was again
summoned, and administered the usual rene
dies, besides bleeding the patient, and he again
expressed himself as being greatly relieved He
remained 10 his room all the evening, occa-
sionally rising from bis bed, to which he was
compelled to return by the recurrence of abdomi-
| nal pains. 10 all callers who came and they
were numerous, he sent word that he was indis-
| posed, Out would be glad to see them tomorrow
! About 4:3O O'Clock, Mrs. Hendricks, who had
been with him all the morning, went down into
inc parior to see caller who had come to con-
suit with her regarding the affairs OF reforma-
| tory institution of which she was one of the
managers She remained with him abou, twenty
minutes Tom, colored servant, and Harry
Morgan, Hendricks nephew and page in Wash
| lngton, remained with him. The servant went
out and Morgan stayed. Hendricks tossed
uneasly In his bed, and complained of great
pain. Suddenly it seemed TO cease, and he said
to his nephew, II am free at last Send for
Eliza" (meanng his wife, and these were his
last WORDS for Morgan, not realizing the urgency
OF the message, did not deliver it at once Just
at O'Clock Mrs. Hendricks came into the room
and found her husband dead
| lie lay on the bed outside of the covering,
only partially dsrobed, with his eyes half closed
as II he were 10 gentle sleep. On his face there
were no traces OF grief or suffering, but pallor
had come over it that indicated only too plainly
that he had passed away. Ii needed no close
examination to tell that he was dead, and Mrs
Hendricks screamed and ran down stairs. A
servant was despatched to the residence of DR..
Thompson, adjoining, and he came Immediately
put by The time he had reached the bedside the
hmos OF the distinguished man were becoming
cold and rigid, and to Mrs. Hendricks pathetic
appeal, "Oh, doctor, can't you do something ?'
ne was obliged to answer. " 1t is too late" Mrs
hendrlcks became almost distracted with grief
and II was an hour or more before she became
suHciently composed to give any information
about her husbands last moments