The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-09
THE RESIDENTS ACTION.
A Special Meeting Of the Cabinet
Held A Proclamation.

-
Held A Proclamation.
? TIE President was at dinner in the White
House at 4: 20 p. II. when the telephone in
the telegraph room up stairs rang. The
White House operator answered the signal.
Tell the President that Mr.. Hendricks is
dead was the message.
"What!" said the startled operator.
"Yes," came the further explanation,
"we've just received a telegram from In
| dianapolis saying that he fell dead a few
Mi! utes ago"
ooh, myr exclaimed the receiver Of the
message. He dropped the telephone, ran
down stairs, and entered the small dining
room. where the President and Miss Cleve-
land sat at dinner. The President could not
believe the sudden announcement. He at
onte rose and hurried up stairs to get some
confirmation of the news. A arief inquiry
through the telephone satisfied him that
there was no possibi'i ty of mistake. He re-
Joined Miss Cleveland in the dining room for
a moment and then went up to the library,
where Co oncl Lamont, his private secretary,
icined him. A message of coincidence was
at once sent to Mrs. Hendricks and the fol-
lowing announcement was at cnce sent by
srecial messenger TO each member OF the
cabinet:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 25, 1885.
SIR: The President directs me to inform
YOU JLldU llIo lC0-4 u oAOo - HS VAL
in indianapolis at 5 o'clock this afternoon.
The ME nbers of the Cabinet are requested to
meet the President at $50 o'clock tonight.
Very respectfully,
DANIEL LAMONT, Private Secretary.
The members Of the Cabinet were all at
their homes when the message reached them.
They started Immediately for the White
House. All the members were present at
this meeting.
members of the Cabinet should attend the
funeral of the Vice President. When the
Cabinet adjourned the President issued the
following:
Executive MANSION, Nov. Is. 1885.
To the People of the United States:
Thomas A. Hendricks, ce-President OF
the United States, died to-day at 5 F. NJ. al
indianapolis, and it becomes my nlournful
duty to announce the distressing fact to bis
fellow countrymen.
In re spect to the memory and the eminent
and varied services Of this high official and
! patriotic public servant. whose long career
wa; so full of usefulness and honor to his
State and the United States, it is ordered
that the national flag be displayed at half
mast upon all the public buildings of the
United States: that the Executive Mansion
and the several executive departments IN the
city of Washington be closed on the day of
the funeral and be draped i'll mourning Tor
the Eeriod Of thirty days; that the usual ap-
propriate military and naval honors be rem
dered, and that on all the legations and con
sulates of the United States in foreign coun,
tries the national flag shall be displayed at
half-mast on the reception Of this order, and
the usual emblems Of mourning be adopted
for thirty days.
By the President
TT. BAYARD, Secretary of State.
The following was sent to the secretary OF
the Senate:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. %, 1885,
To the Hon. Arson G. McCook, Secretaryo Of
the Senate:
I am directed by the President to inform
you that he has received Intelligence Of the
death of Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice H,resi.
dent of the United States, and to convey to
Won his suggestion that -ou take immediate
steps, in conjunction With the clerk OF the
House Of Representatives, to secure a proper
representation Of Congress at the funeral OF
the deceased. Very respectfully, your obedl-
emit servant. DANIEL S. LAMONT.
Private Secretary.
President Cleveland's dispatch to Mrs.
Hendricks was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 26, 1855.
MIS-. T. 4. Hendricks. Indianapolis, Ind:
The sudden and lamentab,e death Of you
husband excites my profound sympathy for
you in this hour of your great bereavement,
and 1 sincerely mourn the decease of one SC
lately associated with mo in tie execution OF
the peoples highest trust, while the nation
mourns the loss of all honored citizen and 9
faithful public servant.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The work Of draping the White House and
the various departments began the nex'
morning. A large force of workmen was
engaged for the purpose.
The governors of Indiana and Ohio issued
p~roclamntions eulogizing the dead vice
President, and many messages of coincidence
were sent to Mrs. Hendricks from promlnen'
mon iii all parts of the country. Mr.. Tilden,
who Tn with Mr.. Hendricks on the Demo
cratic presidential ticket in 1876, sem
tho following dispatch to Mrs. Hendricks