Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-12-02

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Thos. A. Hendricks, vice president
of the United States, died suddenly at
indianapolis, at 4:45 p. NJ, Wednes-
day, Nov. s25, of paralysis of the heart.
No illness presaged the shock of death,
and at the immediate moment of disso-
luton no one was present.
On Saturday last Mr.. Hendricks re-
turned from Chicago to Indianapolis,
complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast, but nothing serious was
thought of it. Tuesday evening with
Mrs. Hendricks, he attended reception
the residence of Treasurer of State
Cooper, returning at midnight, when
he complained of chilliness, but attrib-
uted it to malarious influences. He
slept restlessly until a. m., when he
arose and partook of a hearty break
fast, saying he felt much better and
planned to attend to business during
the day. With Mrs. Hendricks he took
an out-of-door walk of half an hour.
About II o'clock he began to be trou-
bled with pains in the stomach, and
the family physician, DIR. w. G. Thomp-
son, vas called.
AS the pains in the stomach continu.
ed to increase, he was given an emetic
and afterwards an 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, how
ever, and the physician was again
summoned and administered the usual
remedies, beside blee ling the patient,
and Mr.. Hendricks again expressed
himself as being greatly relieved. He
remained in bis room all the afternoon
and occasionally rising from his bed,
to which he was compelled to return
by the recurrence of the pains. To all
callers who came, and they were nu-
merous, he sent word that he was indis-
posed, but would be glad to see them
tomorrow. About 4:30 o'clock, Mrs.
Hendricks, who had been, at his bed
side all day, went down into the parlor
to see caller, who had come to con-
suit with her regarding tie affairs of a
reformatory institution of which she
was one of the managers, and she re-
manned with HIM about twenty minutes.
Tom, colored servant, and Harry
Morgan, MIR. Hendricks nephew and
page in Washington, remained with
him. The servant went out and Mr..
Morgan staid. Mr. Hendricks tossed
uneasily in his bed and complained of
great pain, but suddenly it seemed to
cease and he said to his nephew, II am
free at last; send for Eliza," meaning
his wife, and these were his last words,
for the young man not real
izing the urgency of the mes
sage, did not deliver it at once.
just before five o'clock Mrs. Hem
bricks came into the room and found
that her husband was dead. The end
of long and eventful life had come
peacefully and quietly. He lay on the
bed outside the covering, only partially
disrobed, with his eyes half closed, as If
in gentle sleep. On bis face there were
no traces of pain or suffering, but pal
lor 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 SER
want was dispatched to the residence of
Or. Thompson, adjoining and he came
Immediately, but by the time he had
reached The bedside the limbs of the
dead man were becoming
cold and rigid, and to Mrs. Hendricks
pathetic appeal, "Oh. doctor, can't you
do something?" he was obliged to an
swer, ut 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 information about her husbands
last moments.
An indianapolis dispatch says: Mr..
Hendricks died in his private chamber,
a large. comfortable room in which he
did most of his work. Near bis bed
side was case containing legal and
political works, and on his desk were
his papers, memoranda and large
number of letters which had been al
lowed to accumulate, without answer
ing, for the last two or three days; his
dressing gown and slippers were at
his bedside, and near bv was a small
stand on which were various medicines
and a goblet of water; portraits. land
scapes 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. The news of Mr.. Hen
bricks death spread rapidly through
out the city, and there was gen
eral expression of sorrow. Those who
were his political enemies here were
his personal friends, and to every body
who called on him or whom he met he
had pleasant word and greeting.
There were crowds around the down
town bulletin boards all the evening,
while in the vicinity of his residence
there was another crowd, all anxious
to hear 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 raen began draping the state, county
and city buildings in black, and
throughout the night similar emblems
were placed on nearly all the
prominent houses and residences, so
that bY morning the city will have