The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-11-28
n Death of Vice President Thos
4. Hendricks.

A. Hendricks.
The people of the United States we're
greatly surprised and shocked by the sud
den and wholly unexpected death Of Hon.
Thomas Andrews Hendricks, Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, who expired at
his homo in Indianapolis, on Wednesday
last, the 25th Of November, at 4:45 O'Clock
p II. The circumstances attending his de-
mise were peculiarly distressing to his fam
lily and friends, inasmuch as fatal termi
nation of the indisposition which had at
tackled him few hours before was not
dreamed of, and no one was with him at
the moment of dissolution. MIR. Hendricks
had returned the preceding Saturday from
a visit to Chicago, and complained occa-
slonally of pains in his head and breast, but
deemed them nothing serious. Tuesday
night, accompanied by his wife, he attend
ed a reception at the residence of Hon. Jno.
j. Cooper, State Treasurer of Indiana, re-
turning home in carriage at midnight.
He was clad in dress suit Of lighter ma
terial than the clothing he had been accus-
toned to wear, and during the ride home
ward experienced a feeling of chilliness and
exhaustion which he attributed to maarial
influences. He sat by ths fire aD hour or
more, declining to send for physician,
and retiring to bed, slept restlessly until 8
O'Clock Wednesday morning. Upon arising,
he ate Il hearty breakfast and expressed
himself as feeling very much bettor, walk
ing out with his wife for half hour and
seemingly rezaining his physical vigor. An
hour later, however, ne was seized with &C.
we're pains in the stomach, and tho family
physician was summoned. Remedies were
administered which brought the patient
speedy relief, but at brief intervals during
the day the abdominal pains returned. pro-
ducipg transitory paroxysms more or less
severe, yet still regarded by Mr.. Hendricks
and lis family as nothing of an alarming
character. At half past O'Clock rs Hen
bricks left her husbands bedside to see
lady caller, and when she returned fifteen
Or twenty minutes later, she was unnttera-
bly, shocked to find Mr.. Hendricks dead.
| The features wore natural, placid express
sion, indicating that the final moment had
come without pain, and that the long and
eventful life of the distinguished man had
closed peacefully and calmly. According
to the diagnosis of the attending physician,
the direct cause of death was paralysis of
| the brain.
Mr.. Hendricks was born near GAINESVILLE.
| 0hi0 Septarphar7 1910 l,% ~,
tied IN Shelby county, Indiana, during the
year 1899, and that State has ever 7ince
| been the home of the subject of this sketch.
At the age of p he graduated from Hano-
yer College, then studied law two years at
Chanbersburg, Pa, and was admitted to
| the bar. Returning to Indiana, he hung
| out a single and established practice that
was lucrative and successful almost from its
| inception. In 1913 Mr.. Hendricks began
mis- official career as member of TIE State
Legislature, and two years later served il, a
| convention that framed e rew constitution
for the State. During the next five years he
represented his diatrc. in Congress, and
for four years subsequently held tbs post of
Land Commissioner under appointment
by President Pierce. In 1860 he was Demo
cratic candidate for Governor OF Indiana,
bat was defeated by Henry S. Lane. Two
years later his party carried the Legislature
and elected him to the United States Senate
for the term ending in 1862 He was the
leading candidate for the presidential nom
ination before the Democratic National
Convention Of 1868, but was finally beaten
by Horatio Seymour, principally because of
the bitter opposition of the Ohio delegation
to the Indiana candidate. In 1872 Mr. Hen
bricks was elected Governor Of Indiana. In
1876 he was candidate for Vice President O.: |
the ticket headed by Gov. TiIden of New
York. and the history of the remarkable |
contest Of that yoar-which ended in the |
success of the Republican candidates |
through the mentality Of the EIecto- |
raj COMMISSIONS still fresh in the public |
mind. Last year the Indiana statesman |
was again nominee of the Democracy for |
Vice President, and this time he was sue
cessful, his party securing an undjsputed |
majority Of the Electoral College for the
first time since 1856.
His domestic relations were Of the happi-
est character. Blessed with a brilliant and
devoted wife, to whose counsel and assist
ance his legal and political advancement
were i'll no small measure due, he recipro-
Gated her affection with equal warmth, and
their foudness for each others society ap-
peared 10 increase with their advancing
years. They had but one child and it died
at the age Of years, before the parents
moved from Sheibyvi!ie to Indianapolis,
now almost thirty years ago. The only near
relatives left by Mr.. Hendricks beside his
grief stricken widow are brother at Shell,
byviile and a married sister il New York.
Throughout his long and eventful public
career Mr.. Hendricks maintained reputa
ton GntarnisEed b. 4 suspicion of corrup-
ton. His brilliant abilities, pure charac
t6r, distinguished public services and genial
personal qualities made him deservedly
popular al home and abroad, and constitu-
ted him indeed one Of the foremost men Of
the nation. The death of such citizen may
we'll be termed national bereavement. Ii
he presence cf the Grim Destroyer the po-
itical opposition and rancor of the past are
forgotten. Remembering only the predom-
nant virtues and honorable life of the dis !
inguished man, the people without dis tine
ion regret his loss and will unite in perpet-