The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-01
Vice President Thomas A.
Hendricks Dead.
He Dies Wednesday. the 25th inst.
at 4.45 in the Afternoon,
AT HIS OWN HOME IN INDIAN
APOLIS.
Of Paralysis Of the Brain.
Ills End Sudden, and His Last Mo-
mentS without q Witness.
THE GRIEF AND DISTRACTION
Of Paralysis of the Brain.
THE GRIEF AND DISTRACTION
OF HIS WIFE.
Nothing but Heartfelt Mourning
and Regret Heard OH all Sides.
AT WASHINGTOy-.A MOURNING Ma.
TI0N.

AAONs
INprANAPoLIs,N Nov Is Hon. Thomas
A. Hendricks, Vice President OF the
United States. died verv suddenly at his
home in this city at 4.43 o'clock this
evening, under circumstances that were
distressing to his family and
friends, insomuch IS they had not antic.
ipated fatal terminus TO bis brief Illness,
and nobody was with him when death
came.
He returned from Chicago on last Sat-
urday, and sir ce 'hen has been complaiR
ing somewhat of pain in his head and
breast, bus rothing serious was thou ght
Of IL Last night he and Mrs Hendricks
attended reception at the residence ot
Hon John J Cooper Treasurer OF State.
Returning home in their cariage about IL
o'clock, Mr. Hendricks hal taken of bis
heavy clothing which he usually wore
and put on dress suit of ligh. material.
and before be got home be complained
of chilliness and certain degree of ex.
haustion, hut attributed it to maIarial in
flaences. He sat by the fire sn hour or
more before retiring, but declined to
send for physician slthough urged to
DO 50. He slept reslesslv until abou, 8
o'clock this morning when be arose,
dressed himself and ate
QUITE HEARTY BREAKFAST,
saying that he felt much better and in
tended to attend TO considerable DELAYED
business during the day. He and Mrs.
Hendricks walked out for nearly half an
hour, and be had apparently regained
his physical vigor and cheerlulness. An
hour later, however, be began to he
troubled with pains in the region of his
stomach, ani Mrs. Hendricks sent for
the family physician, DR.. W. C. Thomp,
aon, life.lnng confidential friend OF the
Vice President.
As the pains in the stomach continued
TO increase he was given an emetic, and
aflerwerds an injection aud relief came
in the natural way. He arose from his
bed on which he hal laid only few min
utes and read the morning papers, talk
ing cheerfully with bis wife and an old
house servant. Just before noon
He HAD A RELAPSE,
however, and the physician was sgaip
summoned aud administered The usual
remedies besides bleeding the patient.
and Mr.. Hendricks again expressed h,m-
self % being greatly relieved. He re:
mained in his room all afternoon. occa
sionally rising from bis bed to which be
vas compelled to return by thetrccur.
renee OF the abdominal pains To all
callers who came, and they were numer.
Gus. he sent word that he was indispossd
but would be elad-to see them to- uor;
row. About 4 80 o'clock Mrs. Hen
bricks. who had been at his bedside all
dav, went down into the parlor to see .
caller who had come to consult with her
regarding the affairs of Reformatory
Institution, Of which she was one Of the
managers. and she remained with him
about % minutes. Tom, o eolored ser
want, and Mr. Harry Morgan. Mr.. Hen.
bricks nephew and page in Washington
remained with him. The servant wen,
out and Mr.. Morgan stayed. Mr.. Hen
bricks tossed uneasily in his ted and
complained Of great pain. but suddenly
1t seemed to cease and be said to biz
nephew: II am free st last; send fol
Eliza" meaning bis wife, and these were
his last words, for the young man no
realizing the urgency of the message die
not deliver it at once Just before
o'clock Mrs. Hendricks came into IT,.
room and found that her husband wa:
lead.
Of long sni eventful life hal come
peacefully and qiietlv> He lay in th'
he'd outside of tue covering only par
TALLY disrobed with bis eyes half closed
as If be we're in gentle sleep. On hi
face there was no traces OF pain or suf
ferlng but palIor had come over it, tha
indicated only too plainly that be hat
passed away. 1t needed no close exam
iua,ion to tell that he was dead, and Mrs
Hendricks screamed and ran down stairs
A servant wss dispatched to the resi-
dence OF DR.. Thompson. adjoining, snt
he came at once; but by the time he hat
reached the bedside the limbs of the dis
tinguished dead man were becoming col,
and rigid. To Mrs Hendricks patbeti
appeal, "Ol. doctor, can't you do come
thing ?" be was obliged tn answer, ut i
100 late"
GRIEF AND DISTRACTION.
Mrs Hendricks became almost dis
tracted with g'ief. and it was an hou
or more before she becsme sufficient
composed to give any iufor nation abou
her husbands last moments. The fsmii
servants, two of whom had. lived wit
them for years ran about the house cry
ing and moaning aud there vas The u
most confusion for time. When It wa
hulleiiued down town, it was general
disereiaed, and every few minutes
hundred or more Of Mr.. Hendrick
close political and personal friends ha
buried to the house. Y,ry soon gres
crowd collected around the entrance Al
ON the street. and it was found necessar
10 refuse admission to any and all cor
els except the immedille relatives.
! WHERE he DIED.
Mr.. Hendricks died in his priva,
chamber, large, com fOrt4ble room,
which be di the most of bis worl
Near his bedside was case containin
Illegal and poll icsl works. and on b
desk we're his papers, memoranda aud
large n0mber of letters which had bee
sllo we'd TO accumulate without answe
ing In the last two or three days. H
dressing gown and slippers we're at b
bedside and nearby was small stand O
which we're various medicines and
goblet of water. Portraits, landscap,
and bric.a.brsc adorned the walls Of Ii
room and we're Ia striking contrast vi,
tie sad scenes within. DR.. Thompso
saws thst in his opinion. Mr. Hend icl
died of paralysis OF the brain, and thel
will probably be post moyten exam
j nation to establish what the disease wa
For several years he had not been a r.
bust man and was sat ject to lrequel
"bsd spells" as he called them, duliu
which he would be protracted SOM
times for days at time. About tu
wears ago he was confined to his roo