The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-21

scbuyies Coifax Dies IN q Minnesota
Railroad Depot.
MANKATo, Mimi, Jan. IL, 1SS5.-
This morning, when the ten O'Clock
train on the Chicago, Milwaukee and
ST. Paul road arrived, an elderly
gentleman of portly physique step
ned from the coach, and. with satch-
el in hand, walked to the Omaha
depot, as is supposed, for the pur-
pose of taking the eleven O'Clock
train on that road west. He walk.
ed up to a gentleman outside OF the
depot and inquired for the gentle
mems waiting room, and was direct
ed thereto. After stepping inside be
walked up to map on the wall, and
after perusing it for while walked
across the room to window and
looked out for short time. He sat
down with his overcoat on his lap.
There were at the time three persons
in the depot. The stranger was no.
ticed to grow pale, and one of those
present fastened to him with water,
supposing him TO be faint. He set
lied back in the seat and gave one
gasp for breath, which was the last
evidence of life he manifested.
IDENTIFIED AS MR. coLFAx.
The fact was telephoned to the
business part of the city that a
stranger had dropped dead at the
depot, and in few minutes it was
reported that the deceased was sup
posed to be Mr.. Schuyler Colfax. ex-
Vice President of the United States,
as letters and other papers were
found on his person bearing his ad-
dress at South Bend, Ind. People
who had seen Mr.. Coifax in life
were hastily summoned and they
identified him Immediately.
The members of the Odd Fellows
ledge took charge of the body of
thesr brother, and through the kind
thoughtfulness of Dr. G. g. Harring-
ton and wife the remains were taken
TO that gentleman's residence and
cared for by the undertaken and laid
in a fitting casket The home OF the
Doctor was thronged with visitors
until the hour of the departure of the
body for the depot. Steps were
taken early in the afternoon for a
proper disposal of the remains, and
telegrams were received from Mr..
Colfax's relatives at South Bend
bearing instructions to have the re-
mains sent on at once.
The lodge of /. o. 0. +. at this
city instructed the same brother
hood to detail a committee to ac-
company the body to Chicago, and
the services of Mr.. l.. p Hunt and
Mr.. l.. Patterson were secured for
that duty. Leading citizens assist
ed in their efforts TO make this last
tribute to the dead as impressive as
possible. A special meeting of the
lodge of /. o. o. +. was called to
make preparations for the proper
conveyance of the remains to the
depot. The railway authorities of
the Northwestern road placed a
special car at the disposal of those
in charge Of the ceremonies. The
car was properly draped.
THE MARCH TO THE DEPOT.
The president of the Board of
Trade summoned that body, the
CITY Council were properly organ
lied, mounted escort was muster
ed. Bauds were engaged and the
fremen and military companies
called together. The clergy of the
city were invited to attend in a
body and every possible arrange
ment made for an imposing process
sion to the depot. At P. NJ. the
procession formed at the residence
of DR.. Harrington and escorted the
remains to the depot, where fitting
services of a religious character
took place. Rev. J. c. Potter was
the officiating clergyman. assisted
by other ministers of the city. As
soon as the identity Of the deceased
was established Mr.. L. P. Hunt sent
despatch to President Arthur, poti-
flying him Of the sad event.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The President acknowledged the
message as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. i3. 1885.
Mr. l.. p. HUsr. Postmaster and Others,
Mankato:-
The President has received with deep sor-
so- your despatch announcing the sudden
death to-day at Mankato of ex-Nice Presi-
dent Colfax.
FRED J. PHILLIPS, Private Sec'y.
THE INQUEST.
This afternoon Coroner Paddock
summoned a jury and held an in
quest over the remains. The ve--
dict was in substance that the de-
ceased came to his death suddenly
from some cause to the jury un-
known. Several theories are advan-
ced as to the cause of the death of
Mr.. Colfox. 1t is thought by some
that the walk in the cold atmos-
phere, the thermometer being at 30
degrees below zero, after remaining
so long in heated car, produced
the sad result, while Others main
tain that apoplexy was the cause.
The old theory Of heart disease, of
course, was advanced. No one here
knows where the deceased was going
to, and the papers on his person in
dicate that he was in South Bend,
Ind, on Monday morning at seven
o'clock. The remains, as they lay
in a beautiful casket, clothed in a
suit of black, wheae the picture Of
quite repose. The pallbearers chos-
en- from the lodge were w. d.
Tompkins, L. l.. Davis, William
Jones, Peter Hoerr, A. NJ. Smith
and C. Carrell. Messrs. l.. p. Hunt,
Ii. Himmelman and B. Pay were
appointed committee by the lodge
to accompany the remains to Chi
cago.