The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-16
The Nations Sorrow
ice-President Schuyler Col.
tax Dead.


fax Dead.
he Dies Instantly in the Gentlemen's
Waiting Room ct the Omaha Depot in
this City on Tuesday Last
Last Tuesday morning an elderly gem
ueman was seen to step off the 10 O'Clock
train at the depot of the c. NJ. & st. p.
railroad in this city, and walked over to
the Omaha depot, where he arrived
about twenty minutes past ten, and in
quired of a bystander for the gentle
mans waiting room, to which he was
directed. Stepping inside he stood for
few moments looking at a map which
hung upon the wall, and then walked
across to the other side of the room,
where he looked out of the window for
a very brief time, after which he sat
down upon settee. There were three
other gentlemen present who observed,
Immediately after the stranger seated
himself that he was growing pale, and
steps were taken TO relieve him. He
sank back somewhat and gasped once,
which was the only move he made after
taking the seat. 1t was at once tele.
phoned TO the city that stranger had
died suddenly at the depot, and while
each one felt a sense of sorrow at SO sad
an announcement, none dreamed that
one So illustrious as eX-Vice- President
Schuyler Colfax lay dead in our midst
far from all who were dear To him
end really among entire strangers. II
was thus, however, for letters found or
his person designated to those around
that the mortal home of the soul and in
tellect Of one of our most distinguished
and renowned statesmen lay before then
TO return its native element, his sou
borne To the realms of eternity, and his
memory transfixed in the hearts of his
countrymen. Parties who were ac'
QRnSe1ed with Mr.. ColfaX in life, were
y6mmoned 10 view the remains, to bet,
ter establish the identity of the deceased
before reporting abroad.
When the sad circumstance was fully
comprehended by our leading citizens
the solemn tidings were wired in all di'
rections, and in u few hours kilograms
were received from all prominent points
enquiring for the real facts in the case
and every possible effort was made here
TO inform the immediate friends and
relatives at his home, and prominent of
ficials in different parts of the country.
Shortly after his death a message signed
by L. P. Hunt and others, WAS transmit.
ted to President Arthur, reading as fol.
lows:
MANKAro, Jan. l3.-To the President,
Washington, ID. c.: Ex-vice President
Schuyl0r Colfax dropped dead in the
city of Mankato, Mimi, al 1890 this
morning, when abont to take a train.
He arrived in the city on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and
walked TO the Chicago, st. Paul, Mime
apolis & Omaha depot, 4 distance OF
three -fourths of mile, with the Their
mometer at so degrees below zero, and
entered the latter and died three min
utes later. His remains are in state at
DIR. Harrington's residence. under
charge of the Odd Fellows, assisted by
prominent citizens. Every attention
will be paid the remains until advices
from the family are received. lSigned
L. p. Hunt, p. NJ, and others.
Early in the afternoon a response to
this was received from the President,
reading thus
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.
c., Jan. l3.-TO L. Z. Hunt. I. ". and
others: The President has received, with
deep sorrow, your dispatch, announcing
the sudden death, to-day, of ex-Vice
President Colfax. lSignedl
FRED. PHILLIPS, Secretary.
The remains were removed from the
depot TO the elegant parlors OF DR.. u. q.
Harrington, under care Of the Odd Fell
lows. of which order the deceased was a
prominent and highly respected men,
Der. Odd Fellowship was his life study
and the order had become his individual
pride. His religion embodied it, and
its principles, and il was his greatest de-
light to work for the cause in every pos
sible way. How fitting, then, that he
should fall into their care when death
overlook him in this deplorable way.
No brotherhood could do more for one
they loved and honored than was done
for the remains Of Schuyler Coliax, by
b both the Geiman and English lodges Ill
this city. Nor were they all who EN-
ployed every means at their command
10 do proper homage 10 all that Was
earthly Of this illustrious man. Every
citizen united in the work of making ar
rapgcments, if not in action, ii was
through words Of encouragement TO
those who did the actual work. Too
much credit cannot be awarded DR.. Il.
G. Harrington and wife for 30 promptly
throwing open the entire limit Of their
spacious house, and invited the whole
public, promiscuously, into their ele-
CANT parlors, to take last look at the
face of the deceased statesman. lmme-
dlately upon the arrival Of the corpse
there it was carefully dressed by the UNI
dertaker, and placed in a very fitting
casket, and hundreds paid their respects
20 the statesman as he lay an state dur
ing the afternoon.
In the meantime the prominent bust
ness men were making due arrange
ments for the return of the remains to
his friends at South Bend, Indiana, they
having telegraphed TO have the body
sent on at once. The lodge of l. o. o.
+. at that place requested that a delega-
ton Of the fraternity be sent from the
Mankato lodge as far as Chicago, where
the deceased's own lodge would meet
them. In accordance with this quest
the Northwestern railway authorities
were conferred with, and an elegant
coach was furnished by the company,
especially for their accommodation, and
free transportation awarded the COM
mittee.
A special meeting of the l. o. o. +.
lodge was called and the heads Of the
several local and municipal organiza-
tons took stepst TO have a proper repre-
sentation of their orders at the final ex-
ercises. The Odd Fellows appointed as
q committee to escort the body to Chi
cago, b. d. Pay, II. Zimmerman, Jr.,
and L. p. Hunt. Mr.. L. Patterson, oil
the wholesale firm of Patterson, Halfhill
& Zimmerman, who was active in max
ing preparations, was invited to &C.
company them as a member of the es'
cort, which he did. A marshal was ap-
,,ointed. nall bearers selected and an Or