Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-12-03
-nE vrcE PRESIDENT DEAD.


A SHOCK TO THE NATION
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind Nov 25-Hon Thomas
A. Hendricks, vice president of the United
States, died very suddenly at his residence in
his city at 4;45 O'Clock this evening. under
circumstances that were par icularly dis
sressing 20 hts family and friends. inasnuch
40 they had not anticipated a fatal tormina-
don of his brief illness, and nobody was with
aim when the end came. He retuI ned from
Chicago last Saturday, and since then had
been complaining somewhat Of pain IN his
head aud breast, but nothing serious was
thought OF it. Last night he and Mrs. Hen
tricks attended a reception given at the res
dence OF Hon. John J. Cooper, state treas,
arer, returning home in their carriage about
midnight Mr.. Hendricks had taken of the
heavy clothing which he usually wore, and
put on a dress suit Of lighter material, and
before be got home he complained of chilli
aess and a certain degree of exhaustion, but
attributed ii to malarial influences. He sat
by the fire for an hour or more before retiT
ing. but declined to send for a physician,
although urged TO do so. He slept restlessly
antil about = o'clock this morning, when ha
arose, dressed himself, and ate qut.e n
hearty breakfast, saying he felt much better
anu lnItnlltu 10 uklGuA 70 CbnNt'el Nbtt hH-
Aved business during the day He and Mrs
Hendricks walked out for nearly half an
hour. and he apparently
RECLAIMED HIS PHYSICAL vIdoR
and cheerfulnesa An hour later, however,
he began to be troubled with pains In the
region Of his stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks
sent for the family physician, Dr.. W. C.
Thompson, n lifelong and confidential
friend OF the vice president As the pains in
tho stomach continued TO increase. he was
given an emetic and afterward IN injection,
and relief came in the natural way. lie arose
from his bed In which he had lain only a few
minutes and read the morning papers, talk
ny oheerfully with hls wife and an old house
servant Just before noon ho had a relapse,
however, and the physician was again
summoned and administered the usual
remedies, beside bleeding the patient,
and Mr.. Hendricks again expressed himself
ns being greatly relieved He remained in
his room all the afternoon, occasionally
rising from his bed. to which he was COM
PEELED TO return by the recurrence of the
pains. To all callers who came, and they
were numerous, he sent word that he was
indisposed, bit would be glad TO see them
tomorrow, About 4:30 o'clock Mrs, Hen
bricks, who had been at his bedside all day,
went down into the parlor TO see a caller,
VINO had come to consult with her regarding
the affairs of o reformatory institution, Of
which she was one OF the managers, aui she
remained with him about twenty minutes.
Tom, a colored servant, aud Harry Morgan,
Mr.. Hendricks nephew, and a page In Wash
mgton, remained with him. The servant
went out and Mr. Morgan staid Mr. Hen.
bricks tossed uneasily in his bed and com
planned OF great pain, but suddenly 1t
seemed TO cease, aud 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 realizing tho 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 O long and eventful
life had come peacefully aud quietly. He
lay on the bed outside OF the covering, oaly
partly disrobed, with mis- eyes hat open as il
IN a gentle sleep On his face there were no
traces OF pain, sut n pallor had come over IL
that indicated only too plainly that he had
passed away. IL needed no close examina-
ton TO tell that he was dead, and Mrs. Hen
bricks screamed and ran down stairs 4
servant was dispatched to the resi-
dence of DR. Thompson, adjoining, and
ha came Immediately, but by the
time he had reached the bedside, the
limbs OF the distinguished dead man
were becoming cold and rigid, and to Mrs.
Hendricks pathetic appeal, Soh, doctor,
can't you do something!" he was obliged to
answer: at 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 informa-
ton about her husbands last moments The
family servants. two OF whom had lived
with them for years, ran about the house
crying and moaning, and there was the
utmost confusion for a time, When the
news was bulletined down Town IL was gen-
orally dlscredited, and in a very few minutes
a hundred or more of Mr. Hendricks close
political and personal friends had hurried to
the house. Very soon
A GREAT CROWD COLLECTED
around the entrance on the street, and it
was found necessary TO refuse admission to
All corners except the Immediate relatives
Mr. Hendricks died in his private chamber,
q large, comfortable room in which he did
the most OF his work. Near his bedside was
a case containing legal and political works,
and on his desk were his papers, memoranda
and a large number of letters which had
been allowed to accumulate without an
swering for the last two or three days His
dressing gown and slippers were at his bed
side, and nonr by was a small stand on
which were various medicines and a goblet
of water. Portraits, landscapes and bric-a-
brac adorned the walls of the room. and
were in striking contrast with the sad
scene within. DIR. Thompson says that,
IN his opinion, Mr.. Hendricks died Of
paralysis of the brain, and there Will prob
ably be o post-mortem examination 10 estab-
fish what the disease was. For several years
he had not been a robust man, and was sub
iect TO frequent "bad spells as We called
them, during which he would be prostrated
sometimes for days Mt a time About two
years ago he was confined TO his room for
several weeks by a gangreneous affection Of
the foot, which at the time 10 was feared
would result in blood poisoning. and it was
then thought that the end Of lite was near;
but he apparently recovered entirely from
this and was in his usual health. While in
waSs.sstS. daring tho last session of con-
yress. he was overworked and almost worn
out by the press of political matters, and
upon his return home he signihed his inten-
ton OF laying aside all public business last
summer and deyoting the time TO recreation
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, Nov %
A balletin announcing that Vice President
Hendricks had fallen dead was received at
the Baltimore & ohio telegraph aTfacs at 80
tonight. As Mr. Kelser, the chief ope-
rator. took 1t from the wire he ran to the
telephone and called up the White House.
Tell the pFcsisept Nj. Hendricks is dead he
Exclaimed.
What's that7-
Mr.. Hendricks Is dead"
MOI
Yea. We have just received a telegram from
Indianapolis announcing thai he fell dead a few
moments ago
-oh. sis- calculated the operator at the