The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-04
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.
The Vice Presidents Unexpected
Death at his Home.
Action by the Presid ,ut--ME Hen
bricks Career.

The unexpected death of Vice President
Thomas A. Hendricks at his home in Indian
npolis, Ind, on the 2jth of November came
with startling suddenness upon the country.
Particulars of the sad event are given in tho
following dispatches from indianapolis, dated
the evening of the 25th:
Vice-Presdent Hendricks died very sud-
denly at his residence few minutes before 5
O'Clock this afternoon. He came home from
Chicago early in the week and complained of
feeling unwell, but nothing serious was
thought of it at the time Last night he and
Mrs, Hendricks attended n reception at the
residence of Hon. John J. Cooper, and after
he came home he complained of pains in his
ride and stomach. This morning he was no
better and his family physician, DR.. Thomp-
son, was called in, who gave him an emetic
Mr. Hendricks stayed in his room all day and
tine most OF the time in bel, although he sat
up at intervals
He received no visitors, but about ; o'clock
Mrs. Hendricks left his bedside TO see n caller
Tor few minutes in the parlor She was
delayed longer than she expected and when
she returned to the room she found that Mr.
Hendricks was dead. The end of a busy and
evcntiul life had come peacefully and quietly
On his face there was no indication of pain or
suffering, and his eyes We're only half closed,
as Il in gentle sleep. Dr. W. G. Thompson
and relatives of the family were Immediately
sent for
There was nobody in his room when he
died, and only Mrs Hendricks tho servants
and caller were in the house Mt the time.
Mrs. hendricks was almost stra ated with
grief, and could not restrain her feeling cuffi-
GENTLY to talk. The house was soon filed
with anxious friends, while n crowd collected
arouni the gate, and it was found necessary
to refuse admission to many.
DR.. Ncodburn, who came in with Dr.
Thompson. saws that he is incline to believe
that the Vice Pres dents death was cause by
some aife ton of the heart for the cause
had been apoplexy there would have been
some indications Of it in the appearance Of
his face. Mr.. Hendricks complained prnci-
raliy Of his stomach this morning although
there was a nervous twitchnC of the muscles
OF his face Just beiore he died his nephew
harry Morgan, WAS in his room, AMI Mr.
hendricks was combining greatly, but sud
denly seemed TO feel n great relief and said:
90 am free Mt last. Send for Eliza meanng
his wife, and these were his last words. Mr.
Morgan, not anticipating such sudden fatal
termination, did not deliver the message
quickly, and when Mrs. Hendricks came into
the room, just before O'clock her husband
was dead
The news spread through indianapolis like
wiidnre, and all the fire and other bells in the
city were tolled sixty-six times. one stroke
for each year of his life All the newspapers
put out bulletins and their offices were
crowded with people anxious to learn par
ticuarS. Manifestations of sorrow were uni
versal, az Nice-President Hendricks was per-
sonaIly known to large numbers of people,
and was esteemed by all, irrespective of diff
ferences of opinion.
At n meeting Of a number of prominent
citizens, held in the United States district
court room at night, committee. consisting
of Senator Benjamin Harrison. w. II. Eng
lish, Judge w. +. Niblacl, Noble C. Butler
and Aqui'a Jones were appointed to confer
with the family and make all the necessary
arrangements for the obSeQuies