The National tribune., 1885-12-03


and prescribed for him. While the physician
was in the room Mr. Hendricks remarked:
well, I'm free at last"
"What do you meant" asked the doctor.
81 mean that at last I'm free from pain"
The answer satisfied both the doctor and Mrs.
Hendricks, who together left the room, he quit
ting the house and she going down to entertain
visitor as stated above Those were the last
words the Vice-PreSident was heard to utter, for
when Mrs. Hendricks re-entered the room after
few minutes absence her husband was dead.
On the Sunday following the sad event the
body of the Vice President was removed from
his late residence to the Courthouse where it
lay in state until Tuesday the day of the fune-
raj During Sunday and Monday many thou
sand people passed in line to view the remains.
On Tuesday morning the Postmaster-Gen-
eral and the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy,
together with the Senatorial and Congressional
Committee reached indianapolis to take part
in the obsequies. The President had expressed
his intention of going, but was dissuaded from
doing so for the reason that in case of accident
to him the Nation would be without head.
The funeral was largely atteNded, all the
civic and military orders in indianapolis being
in line, besides immense numbers of people
from every part of the Union, special trains
from all points having been run for the pur-
pose. The pallbearers were Gov. Isaac p. Gray,
ex-Gov. Albert G.. Porter, Hon. w. A. Woods,
Judge of the United States Court Hon. John
l.. McMaster, Mayor of Indianapolis; Aquilla
Jones. David Macy, and Judge Frederick Rand,
all of Indianapolis.
The burial casket was similar to the one in
which Gen. Grant was buried, with the excep-
tion that it was covered with black broadcloth,
and was made entirely Of cedar, there being no
metallic lining.
The interment took place in the Hendricks
lot at Crown Hill Cemetery, q marble vault
having been built for the purpose.
SKETCH OF MR.. HENDRICKs's LIFE.
Thomas Andrews Hendricks was born at
GAINESVILLE, O., Sept z, 1919. When an infant
his parents moved to Madison Ind. At the age
of "a young Hendricks commenced the practice
of law at Shelbyville, and few years later
commenced his political career as Member of
the Indiana Legislature In 1851 he was sent
to the State Constitutional Convention. Schuy-
Ter Colfax, VIM. S. Holman and himself were
the youngest delegates. He took an important
part in the Debates and so distinguished him
self that on his return home he was elected to
Congress. During his second term at Washing
ton he brought down on himself a storm of
abuse by voting for the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. He pleaded that he did SO in
support of popular sovereignty, but his constitu-
ents were deaf to excuses. He remained in
private life for few months only, when Presi-
dent Pierce, in August, 1855, rendered him the
appointment Of Commissioner of the General
Land Office, which position he held four years,
when he returned to Indiana and received the
Democratic nomination for Governor but was
defeated by Henry S. Lane In 1868 he was
sent to the United States Senate, and remained
in that position until 1869, when he was again
nominated for Governor, Rbut again defeated.
In 1872 once more he entered the GuberDatOrial
race, and this time was successful. In 1876 he
was second on the Presidential ticket with Mr..
Tilden, and after his defeat remained in COM
parative seclusion, attending to his lucrative
law practice, until elected ce-President last
| year.