Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-03


or more before she became sufficiently
composed to give any information about
her husb .nd's last moments. The fami'
ly servants, two of whom had lived with
them for years, ran about the house cry.
ing and moaning, and there was the at
most confusion for time
Whsn the news was bulletined down
town it was generally diScredited, and in
a very few minutes hundred or more
of Mr.. Hendricks close political and
personal friends had hurried to the
house. Very soon great crowd collect
ed around the entrance and on the
streets, and it was found necessary to
refuse admission to any and all comers
except the immediate relatives.
Mr.. Hendricks died in his private
chamber. large. comfortable room, in
which be did the most of bis work. Near
his bedside was case containing legal
and political works and on his desk
were his papers, memoranda and large
number of letters which had been allow
ed to accumulate without answering in
the last two or three days. His dressing
gown and slippers were at his bedside,
and near by was a small stand on which
were various medicines and a goblet of
water. Portraits, landscapes and bric-a-
brac adorned the walls of the room, and
were in striking contrast with the sad
scene within. DR.. Thompson says that
in his opinion Mr.. Hendricks died of
paralysis of the brain, and there will
probably be post-mortem. examination
to establish what the disease was. For
several years he has not been robust
man, and was subject to frequent "bad
spells" as he called them, during which
he would be prostrated sometimes for
days at time. About two years ago
lie was confined to his room for several
weeks by gangrenous affection of the
foot, which, at the time, it was feared
would result in blood poisoning, and was
then thought that the end Of his life was
near at hand, but be apparently recov+
cred from this, and was in his usual
health. While in Washington during
the last session of Congress he was over
worked, and almost worn out by the
press of political matters, and upon his
return home he signitied his intention of
laying aside all public business this
summer and devoting the time to recre-
alton. He spent three weeks at Allan
tic City fishing, bathing and yachting,
and then came West and went to the
Northern lake resorts, and afterward to
the Miami reservoir in Ohio on fish,
ing expedition. He retdrned from there
two weeks ago, and at the time said he
never felt better in his life. Last week,
by special invitation, he attended the fat
stock show at Chicago and was the re-
cipient of considerable attention there in
the way of banquets and receptions, re-
turning home on Saturday somewhat in
disposed At the reception he attended
last night, however, he appeared to be
unusually cheerful and remained much
later than as his custom on such occs-
sions.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death
spread rapidly throughout the city, and
there was general expression of sor-
row over it. Those who were bis polit-
ical enemies here were his personal
friends, and to everybody who called on
him or whom he met be had a pleasant
word and greeting. There were crowds
around the down-trodden bulletin boards
all 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 em-
blrms were placed on nearly all the
prominent business houses and residen~
css, so that by morning the city will
have put on general garb of mourning.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hendricks had lived in
Indianapolis for nearly thirty years, and
have been prominent in all representa-
i've social features of the city's exist
snce. They had but one child, who died
when but years old, when they lived in
Shelby county. For long time they |
1ad apartments in hotels here, as Mr..
Hendricks official duties kept him in |
much of the time. After
wards they had a residence in the north
.rn part of the city, but about five years
lgo moved down town to an old family
'esidence,opposite the state house, where
hey have since lived.
Mr.. Hendricks was very charitable. and
;alls on him for aid we're frequent and
never unheeded. For several years he
lad been actively identified with the In
lianapOiis Benevolent Society, an organ
zed charity, and had contributed liber-
lily to the cause to which it was devoted,
10Th in money and work. He had been
deacon in St. Psurs Episcopal Church
or long time, and connected with va
isus other religious and benevolent as
ociations.
Aside from his political duties, he de-
Toted much of his time to the practice
# his profession, being a member of the
aw firm of Baker, Hard and Hendricks.
md since the death of ex>Gov. Baker he
las been the senior member. His prac-
ice was largely In the Federal Courts.