Milford chronicle., 1885-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS ACTION.
A Special MeetIng OF the Cabine
HeId-A Proclamation,

A Special meetIng OF the Cabinet
Held-A Proclamation,
The President was at dinner in the White
House at 6:20 P. NJ 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.
"Whatln said the startled operator.
eyes, came the further explanation,
Twelve Just received a telegram from In
dianapolis saying that he fell dead few
m" utes ago"
ooh, myI' 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 coul not
believe the sudden announcement He at
once rose and hurried up stairs to get some
confirmation Of the news. A brief inquiry
through the telephone satisfied him that
there was no possibi iry Of mistake. He re-
Joined Miss Cleveland in the dining room for
moment and then went up to the library,
where Co onel Lamont, his private secretary,
Joined him. A message Of coincidence was
at once sent to Mrs Hendricks and the fol-
loving announcement was at once sent by
special messenger to each member Of the
cabinet;
EXECUTIVE MANSION. Nov 25, 1885.
SIR: The President directs me to inform
you that the Vice President died at his home
IN indianapolis at o'clock this afternoon.
The me ubers 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
shelr homes when the message reached them.
They started Immediately for the White
House All the members were present at
this meeting.
Il was decided that the President and the
members OF the Cabinet should attend the
funeral Of the Vice President When the
H.. II
following:
Executive MANSION, Nov. 25. 1885.
TO the People Of the United States
Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice-President Of
the United States, died to-day at P. N. at
Indianapolis, and it becomes my mournful
duty to announce the distressing fact to his
fellow countrymen.
In respect to the memory and the eminent
and varied services OF this high official and
patriotic public servant. whose long career
was 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 in mourning for
She period OF thirty days; that the usual ar
propriate military and naval honors be rem
dered, and that on all the legations aud con.
auates Of the United States in foreign coun.
triec the national flag shall be displayed at
haif-ma1t on the reception OF this order, and
the usual emblems Of mourning be adopted
Tor thirty days.
By the President
q. F. BATARD, Secretary OF State
The following was sent to the secretary Of
the Senatr;
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov p, 1885
To the Hon Anson q. licCoot, Secretary,
the Senate
am directed by the President to inform
you that be has received Intelligence of tie
death OF Thomas a. Hendricks Vice PIts-
dent OF the United States, and to convey to
you his suggestion that you take immed ate
steps, IN con junction with the clerk of the
House OF Representatives, to Sc ure proper
representation of Congress a the funeral OF
the deceased Very respect ully your obedi-
ent servant DANIEL S. LAMONT
Iriva.e Secretary.
President Cleveland's dispatch to Mrs.
Hendricks was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. &C, 1855
Mrs. 7. A. Hendricks, TndidndDOts Ind.
Ihe sud len and laneniabe death Of your /
husband excites my profound sympathy for |
you in this hour Of your great bereavement,
and sincerely mourn the decease Of one 50 /
lately associated with me in the execution Of /
the peoples highest trust, while the nation
mourng the loss Of an horored citizen and
faithful public servant
GRovFR CLEVELAND.
The work OF draping the White House and
the various departments began the next
morning. large force Of workmen was
engaged for the purpose.
The governors Of Indiana and Ohio issued
proclamations eulogizing the dead Vice
President, and many messages Of coincidence
were sent to Mrs. Hendricks from prominent
men in all parts of the country Mr. Tilden,
who ran with Mr.. Hendricks on the Demo-
cratic presidential ticket in 1876, sent
the following dispatch to Mrs Hendricks:
u am inexpre isibly shocked by the surprising
ana painful int lliEence OF the sudden closing
OF the career Of your husband He has fallen
with the honors thick upon him and in the
acme Of popular esteem. In your personal
bereavement deeply sympathize, while in
common with the whole country / deplore
ne loss Of Mr.. Hendricks as a public caiam-
ty.n
Flags were displayed everywhere at half
mast, ana It was announced that the funeral ,
it indianapolis would be the most elaborate !
ield IN the West since President Garfeld's ob-
equies President Cleveland and cabinet ,
ignihed their intention OF being present. At !
meeting Of members Of both houses in ,
Washington committees Of thirteen Senators ,
nd niteen Representatives were chosen to I
tend the funeral in a body
The body Of Mr.. Hendricks was embalmed. !
I'd cast Of his heaS was taken by r. h. I
2, an eminent SCI. ptor, !