The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-12-04
A SUDDEN CALL.
Death Of President Thomas
A. Hendricks.
The Sad Event Causes Universal Sorrow
Throughout the Countrywide Pres
ident's Proclamation Funeral
Arrangements-Biogra
A NATION MoURNs.

NATION MoURNs.
| INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 27.-Bon.
| Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President of
the United States died very suddenly at
| his residence in this city at 4:45 O'Clock
Wednesday evening, under circumstances
that were particularly distressing to his
family and friends, in so much as they had
not anticipated fatal termination of his
brief illness, and nobody was with him
when death came. He returned from Chi
cago last Saturday, and since then had
| been complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast. but nothing was thought
| of it.
Tuesday night Mr.. and Mrs. Hendricks
attended reception at the residence of
| Hon. John j. Cooper, Treasurer of State,
| returning home in their carriage about
midnight. Mr.. Hendricks had taken off
the heavy clothing which he usually wore
| and put on dress suit of lighter material
| Before he got home he complained of chilli
ness and a certain degree of exhaustion,
| but attributed it to malarial
influences. He sat by the fire for an hour or
| more before retiring, but declined to send
for physician, although urged to do So
| He slept restlessly until eight o'clock
| Wednesday morning. when he arose, dressed
| himself, and ate quite hearty breakfast,
| saying that he felt much better and intend
| ed to attend to considerable business during
the day. He aud Mrs. Hendricks walked
out for nearly half an hour, and he had ap-
parently regained his physical vigor and
| cheerfulneSS.
| An hour later, however, he began to be
| troubled with pains in the region of his
stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks sent for the
| family physician, Dr.. W. C. Thompson. AS
the pains continued to increase he was given
an emetic, and afterward an injection, and
finally relief came. He arose from his bed,
in which he had lain only few minutes,
and read the morning papers, talking cheer
fully with his wife and an old house servant
just before noon he had relapse, how
ever, and the physician was again sum-
moned and administered the usual rem
edies, besides bleeding the patient. Mr.
Hendricks again expressed himself as be.
ing greatly relieved. He remained in his
room all afternoon, occasionally rising from
the bed, to which he was compelled to re-
turn by the recurrence Of the abdominal
RapAAiO' ~ VIM CttAiAC3 StuQ why WClo
numerous, he sent word that he was indis-
posed, but would be glad to see them to.
day about 4:30 o'clock. Mrs. Hendricks,
who had been at his bedside all day, went
to the parlor to see caller. who had come
to consult with her regarding the affairs of a
reformatory of which she was a manager,
and she remained with him about twenty
| minutes. Tom, a cOlored servant, and
Harry Morgan, Mr.. Hendricks nephew and
| page in Washington, remained with him.
The servant went out, and Mr.. Morgan
stayed. Mr. Hendricks tossed uneasily in
his bed and complained of great pain, but
suddenly it seemed to cease, and he said to
bis nephew: II am free at last; send for
| Eliza" meaning Els wife, and these were
his last words, for the young man, not real
ling the urgency of the message, did not
| deliver it at once.
just before FIVE o'clock Mrs. Hendricks
came into the room and found that her hus-
| band was dead The end of long and
| eventful life had come peacefully and quiet
| ly. He lay on the bed, outside the cover
ing, only parti ally disrobed, with his eyes
half closed, as if he were in gentle slum-
| Der. On his face there were no traces of
| pain or suffering, but a pallor had come
| ever it which 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
| downstairs.
| A servant was dispatched to the resi-
| dence of Dr. Thompson adjoining, and he
came Immediately, but by the time he had
| reached the bedside the limbs of the dead
Viee-President were becoming cold and
rigid, and to Mrs. Hendricks pathetic APP
peal: "Oh! doctor, can't you do some
thingw he was obliged to answer 'It is too
| late" Mrs. Hendricks became almost
distracted with grief, and it was an
| hour or more before she was suffi-
GENTLY composed to give any informa-
| ton about her husbands last 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 a time. DR..
| Thompson says that in his opinion Mr..
| Hendricks died Of paralysis of the brain.
| For several years he had not been robust
| man. and was subject to frequent s'bad
| spells" as he called Them" during which
sometimes he would be Frustrated for days
| at time. About two years ago he was
| confined to his room for several weeks by
| gangren0us affection of the foot, which it
| was feared would result in blood poisoning.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death spread
| rapidly throughout the city, and there was
general expression of sorrow over it.
Those who were his political enemies
| here were his personal friends, and to
| everybody who called On him or met him
he always had a pleasant word. There
| were crowds around the bulletin boards
| downtown all the evening, while in
| the vicinity of his residence there was
| another crowd, all anxious to learn
| the particulars Of his sudden demise. The
| evening papers could not get out extras fast
enough to supply the demand. He had been
| dead but few minutes when forces of men
began draping the State, county and city
buildings in black, and throughout the night
similar einblems were placed on nearly all
the prominent business houses and resilen-
ces, so that by morning the city had put on
a general garb of mourning.
Mir. and Mrs. Hendricks had lived in In
dianapolis for nearly thirty years. Mrs.
Hendricks who is brilliant and accom-
plished woman, was of great aid to him in
his political career. Since her husbands
serious attack two years ago both of them
lhaye been apprehenSive of a sudden end of
his life, and the attachment between them
has grown very strong-almost sentiment
tally so. So intense had his become, in
fact, that he would not consent for his wife
to be away from him for any length of
time. Only last week while in Chicago he
accompanied Mrs. Hendricks even on her
shopping expeditions. They had frequently
talkesl over his condition and the probable
tiles of his early death, and it IS evident
that for several months past there has been
a growing fear OF this kind on his mind
Mr. Hendricks has no near relatives ex-
cept a brother, who lives in Shelbyyilie,
Ind, and sister, the wife of Dr. Wjnslow
S. Pierce, of New York. lie owns consid-
cradle property in this city, but his entire
fortune is estimated to be no more than
$780, OO0 1t is known here that it was his
intention to abandon politics at the end of
his term as Vice-President Only few
days ago, in confidential talk with a
friend, he said
The newspapers say I am candidate for
President in 1888. but it is not true. shall not
be candidate under any circumstances. I
was not candidate for the position now
hold, but it was forced upon me, and now my
political ambition is fully "a tsfied. want to
retire and rest for the remainder Of my life.
Governor Gray, of Indiana, and his staff
were at Fort Wayne to attend grand Mill
tary ball Tuesday evening, but on the re-
ceirt OF the news of Vice President Hem
Il La1@ --I lA@L ~.