The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14
A Fall from Chair, Few Labored Clasps
on the Floor of the Waiting Room of
Depot. and All Is Over.
His Death the Result of Heart Disease,
Aggravated by OVer-ExertiOn.
The Body Taken in Charge by the 0dd-Fel-
lows Of Mankato and Shipped to South
Bend-Feeling in the City.
DEAD IN A wAIT1NG-RooM.

The eEx-vice-President Falls from His Chair
and Expires in Few Moments.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CHICAGO Jan. 13-A Tribune special from
Mankato, Mimi, says: Ex Vice president Schuy-
ler Colfax dropped dead in the gentlemens wait
ing room of the Omaha railway depot at this
place, at 1875 o'clock this morning He had ar
rived from Wells town on the Milwaukee &
St Paul railroad. and had walked to the Omaha
depot a distance of three quarters of mile. AS
he arrived at the platform of the latter depot he
asked a baggageman the way to the gentlemen's
waiting room. These were the last words
he uttered. He walked into the waiting
room and seemed very much out of
breath, but did not speak to any
one He stood looking out of a
window, but finally sat down and crossed his
legs. A gentleman sitting opposite noticed that
Mr. Colfax looked very pale, but took no special
notice until he saw the leg crossed over the other
drop, and then there pitching forward of
body to the floor. 1t was apparent by the ap-
pearance of Mr.. Colfax's features that he had
been stritken by death. Several persons rushed
up as the gentleman called for help, but to all
interrogations Mr. Colfax remained speechless,
were thrown up and the doors opened. and the
cold winter air rushed in, but the breath of
the prostrate man grew fainter and fainter, and.
before it was realized, had stopped
altogether. The surrounding gentlemen raised
the body, and laid it on settee, but it was evi-
dent life had departed. Drs. Warder and
Jacoby were called, but were too late to render
any assistance. The news spread rapidly, and
the entire town was aroused. To hear that ex-
Vice-president Colfax was lying dead at the
Omaha depot was enough to attract crowds OF
men, women and children, who came in throngs
and gazed on his PROSTATE remains. No one
knew where he came from or where he was go
ing, and the dead statesman lay in his last
sleep as much alone as the veriest stranger
in the Gland 1t supposed he was
out a lecturing tour, and intending
to take the IL o'clock train for the West The
body was taken in charge by the Odd-fellows,
with which organization Mr. Colfax was con-
nected, and taken to the house of D. Harring-
ton, where it was properly cared for. Word was
Immediately sent to South Bend, Ind, and ad
vices came this afternoon that some would
be up at once to take the body in charge. Pres
ident Arthur was also notified 1t is supposed
that the extreme cold. the subsequent heat and
the over-exertion caused the stoppage of the
flow of blood to the heart.
A coroner's jury was called together this af-
ternoon, and a verdict rendered in accordance
with the facts that death resulted from heart
disease.
This evening the remains were laid in state at
the residence of DR.. Harrington, aud large par
ties of citizens called to view the face of the dis
tinguished dead. At 10 o'clock procession
was formed to escort the remains to
the Northwestern depot. made up
of the civil authorities in the city, the militia,
the Common Council, and an escort of mounted
citizens. The casket containing the body was
placed on special car, in charge of l.. B. Hunt
and S. Patterson, and started for South Bend