Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-26

INDIANAPOLIS, November 25th.-Hon.
Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice-President of
the United States, died very suddenly at
his residence in this city, at 4:45 this even
ing, under circumstances that were par
ticularly distressing to his family and
friends, insomuch as they had not antici-
pated fatal termination of his brief ILL
ness, and nobody was with him when
death came. He returned from Chicago
last Saturday, and since then had been
complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast, but nothing serious was
thought of it. Last night he and Mrs.
Hendricks attended a reception at the resi-
dence of Hon. John ]. Cooper, Treasurer
of the State, returning home in their car
rage about midnight. Hendricks had
taken off the heavy clothing he usually
wore, put on dress suit of lighter ma
terial, and before he got home
COMPLAINED OF cHILLISEss
And certain degree of exhaustion, but
attributed it to malarial influence. He sat
by the fire for an hour or more before re-
firing, but declined to send for the doctor,
although urged to do so. He slept rest
lessly until about o'clock this morning
when he arose, dressed himself and ate a
hearty breakfast, saying he felt much bet
ter, and intended to attend to considerable
delayed business during the day. He and
Mrs. Hendricks walked out for nearly half
an hour, and he had apparently regained
his physical vigor and cheerfulness. An
with pains in the region of his stomach,
and Mrs Hendricks sent for the family
physician, DR.. W. G. Thompson, lifelong
and confidential friend of the Vice-Pres-
tinued to increase, he was given an emetic,
and afterwards an injection, and relief
came in the natural way. He arose from
his bed, in which he had lain only few
TALKING cHEERFULLY WITH HIS WIFE
And an old house servant. Just before
noon he had a relapse, however, and the
physician was again summoned, and ad-
llllilStCItu l1lC lCLiSdlto, OIoidCo
bleeding the patient and Mr. Hendricks
| again expressed himself as being greatly
relieved He remained in his room all the
afternoon, occasionally rising from his bed,
| by a recurrence of the abdominal
pains To callers who came, and they
| were numerous, he sent word that
! he was indisposed, but would be
glad to see them tomorrow About 4:30
Mrs. Hendricks, who had been at his
bedside all day, went to the parlor to see
@ caller, who had called to consult with her
regarding the affairs of a reformatory, of
| which she was one of the managers, and
| she remained with him about twenty min
utes. Tom, colored servant, and Harry
| Moran, Hendricks nephew and page in
| Washington, remained with him. The
servant went out, and Mr.. Moran stayed.
| Mr.. Hendricks tossed uneasily i'll his bed,
complained OF great pain, but suddenly it
seemed to cease, and he said to his nephew,
q AM FREE AT LAST, SEND FOR ELIZA"
| Meaning his wife, and these were his last
words, for the young man, not realizing
the urgency of the message, did not deliver
it at once. Just before 5 o'clock Mrs.
Hendricks came into the room, and found
that her husband was dead. The
end of long and eventful life
had come peacefully and quietly.
He lay on the bed, outside of the covering,
only partially disrobed, with his eyes only
half closed, as if he were in gentle sleep.
On his face there were no traces of pain or
suffering, but pallor had come over ii
that indicated only too plainly that he had
passed away. 1t needed no close examina-
ton to tell that he was dead, and Mrs
Hendricks screamed and ran down stairs.
A servant was dispatched to the residence
of DR.. Thompson, adjoining, and he came
Immediately; but by the time he had
reached the bedside, the limbs of the dis
tinguished dead man were becoming cold
and rigid, and to Mrs Hendricks pathetic
appeal, oh, doctor, can't you do some
thing?" he was obliged to answer at is
too late"
| SCENE OF CONFUSION.
| Mrs. Hendricks became almost distracted
with grief, and it was an hour or more be-
fore she became sufficiently composed to
give any information 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 it was generally discredited,
and in very few minutes q hundred or
more OF Mr.. Hendricks close political and
personal friends had hurried to the house.
Very soon great crowd collected around
| the entrance and on the street, and it was
| found necessary to refuse admission to any
| and all corners, except immediate relatives.
THE DEATH CHAMBER.
Mr. Hendricks died in his private cham
Der, large, comfortable room, in which he
| did most of his work. Near his bedside
was case containing legal and political
works, and on his desk were his papers,
memoranda, and large number of letters.
| which had been allowed to accumulate
without answering in the last two or three
| days His dressing gown and slippers were
| at his bedside, and near by was a tail stand,
| on which were various medicines and a
goblet of water. Portraits, landscapes and
bric-a-brac were on the walls of the room.
and were in striking contrast with the sad
scene within.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
DR.. Thompson says that in his opinion
Mr.. Hendricks died of paralysis of the
brain, and there will probably be post
mortem examination to establish what the
disease was. For several years he had not
been a robust man, and was subject to
frequent bad spells, as he called them,
during which sometimes he would be pros
trated for days at a time. About two
years ago he was confined to
his room for several weeks
by a gangrenous affection of the foot,
which at times it was feared would result
in blood poisoning, and it was then thought
that the end of his life was near at hand :;
but he apparently entirely recovered from