Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-03
Called to His Lonc Rest !
He Dies Suddenly at His Peaceful
Home.


Home.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 25.-Hon. Thos
A. Hendricks, Vice President of the United
| States, died very suddenly at his residence il
| this city, at 4:45 o'clock this evening; under
circumstances that were particularly distress
ing to his family and friends, insomuch al
they had not expected fatal termination Of
his brief illness, and nobody was with hin
when the end came. He returned from Chi.
cago on last Saturday, and since then haG
been complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast, but nothing serious was
thought of. Last night he and Mrs. Hend.
ricks attended reception given at the resi-
dence of Hon. j. j. Cooper, treasurer of the
State, returning home in their carriage
about midnight, Mr.. Hendricks had taken of
the heavy clothing which he usually wore and
put on dress suit of lighter material, ,and bed
fore he got home, complained of chilliness an
certain degree of exhaustion, but attributed
it to malarial influences. He sat by the fire
for an hour or more before retiring but de-
clined to send for physician, although
urged to do so. He slept restlessly until
about O'Clock this morning, when he arose,
dressed himself, and ate quite hearty break
fast, saying he felt much better, and intended
to attend to considerable delayed business
during the day. He and Mrs. Hendricks
walked out for nearly an hour, and he appar-
emily had regained his physical strength and
cheerfulness. An hour later, however he be-
gan to be troubled with pains in the region
of his stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks sent for
the family physician, DR.. G. W. Thompson,
a lifelong and confidential friend of the Vice
President. AS the pains in the stomach con-
tinued to increase, he was given an emetic
and afterward and injection and relief came
in the natural way. He arose from his bed,
in which he had lain only few minutes, and
read the morning papers, talking cheerfully
with his wife and an old house servant. just
before noon he had a relapse, however, and
the physician was again summoned, and ad-
ministered the usual remedies, besides bleed
ing the patient, and Mr.. Hendricks again ex-
pressed himself as being greatly relieved. He
remained in his room all the afternoon, occa-
sionally arising from his bed to which he was
obliged to return.
To all callers who came, and they were
numerous, he sent word that he was indis-
posed but would be gladto see them to-mor-
row about o'clock. Mrs. Hendricks, who
had been at his bedside all day, went down to
the parlor to see caller, who had come to
consult with her regarding the affairs of a re-
formatory institution of which she was one
of the managers, and she remained with him
about twenty minutes. Tom, colored SER
want, and Harry Morgan, Mr.. Hendricks
nephew, and page in Washington, remained
with him. The servant went out and Mr..
Morgan stayed. Mr.. Hendricks tossed un-
easily in his bed and complained of great
pain, but suddenly it seemed to cease, and Mr..
Hendricks exclaimed: II am free at last,
send for Eliza, - meaning his wife, and these
were his last words, for the young man not
realizing the urgency of the message, did
not deliver it at once. Just before o'clock,
Mrs. Hendricks came into the room and
found that her husband was dead. The end
Of long and eventful life had come peaceful
ly and quietly. He lay in the bed outside of
the covering, only partially disrobed, with
his eyes half closed as if he were in gentle
sleep. In his face there was no traces of pain
Or suffering, but pallor had come over it.
that 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 down stairs. A servant was dis
patched to the residence of DIR. Thompson,
adjoining, and he came Immediately, but by
the time he had reached the bedside, the
limbs of the distinguished dead man were be-
coming cold and rigid, and to Mrs. Hend-
ricks's pathetic appeal "Oh doctor can't you
DO something" he was obliged to answer.
''rr IS TOO LATE"
Mrs. Hendricks became almost distracted
with grief and it was an hour or more before
she became sufficiently composed to give any
about her husbands last move
nents. The family servants, two of whom
mad lived with them for years, ran about the
house crying and moaning, and there was the
utmost confusion for time.
When the news was bulletined down town,
It was generally discredited and in very
few minutes hundred or more of Mr.. Hend-
rick's close political and personal friends
mad hurried to the house. Very soon great
crowd collected around the entrance, and on
the streets, and it was found necessary to re-
fuse admission to any and all callers, except
the immediate relatives.
WHERE HE DIED.
Mr.. Hendricks died in his private cham
Der, a large comfortable room in which he
lid the most of his work. Near his bedside
was case containing legal and political
works, on his desk was his papers, memoir
anda and large number of letters which
had been allowed to accumulate without an
swering in the last two or three days. His
dressing gown and slippers were by his bed
side, and near by was small stand on which
were various medicines, and goblet of wa
ter. Portraits, landscapes and bric-a-brac
adorned the walls of the room, and were
striking contrast with the sad scene within.
DR.. Thompson says in his opinion Mr..
Hendricks died of paralysis of the brain, and
there will probably be post mortem to es-
tablish what the disease was. For several
years he has not been robust man, and has
been subject to 'bad spells" as he called
them, and he would be prostrated some times
for days at time. About two years ago he
was contied to his room for several weeks by
q oangrenous affection of the foot, which at
The time it was feared would result in blood
poisoning, and it was then thought that the
end of his life was near at hand; but he an
parently recovered entirely from this and
was in his usual health.
While in Washington during the last ses-
sion Of Congress he was over worked and al
most worn out by the press of political
matters, and upon his return home he signi-
fed his intention of laying aside all public
business this summer and devoting his time
to recreation. He spent three weeks at At
lantic City, fishing, bathing and yachting,
and then came west and went to the north
ern lake resorts, and afterward to the
Miami reservoir, in Ohio, on fishing expe-
lition. He returned from there two weeks
ago, and at the time said he never felt better in
his life. Last week, by invitation, he attend
I'd the fat stock show at Chicago, and was the
recipient of considerable attention there in
The way Of banquets and receptions, return
NO home ON Saturday somewhat indisposed.
At the reception he attended last night,
loweyer, he appeared TO be unusually cheer