Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-03
AMERICAS HEAVY LOSS
SUDDEN DEATH OF VJoE PREsI-
DENT HENDRICKS.
ILL FOR ONLY "A SINGLE DAY
PASSING AWAY WITHOUT A mo-
MENT'S WARMING.


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. 25.-Hon.
Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President of
the United states, died very suddenly at
his residence in this city at 4.45 o'clock
this evening. He returned from Chicago
on Saturday last 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 reception ut the
residence of Hon. John Cooper, treasurer
of the state, returning home in their
carriage about midnight. Mr.. Hendricks
had taken of the heavy clothing which
he usually wore and put on dresss
of lighter material, and before he got
home he complained of chillness and a
certain degree of exhaustion, but at
tributed II to malarial Influences. He
sat by the fire for an hour or more before
retiring, but declined to send for q
physician, although urged to do so.
Mr.. Hendricks slept restlessly until
about 8 o'clock this morning, when he
arose, dressed himself and ate quite a
hearty breakfast, saying that lie felt
much better and would intend to consider
able delayed business during the day. He
and Mrs. Hendricks walked out for nearly
half an hour, and he had apparently re-
gained his physical yigor and cheerful
ness. An hour later, however, he began
to be troubled with pains in the region of
his stomach, and Mrs. Hendricks sent for
the family physician, DIR. w. 9. Thomp-
son, lifelong and confidential friend of
the Vice President. As pains in the
stomach continued to increase he was
given an emetic and afterward an injec-
ton, and relief came in the natural way.
He arose from his bed in which he had
lain only few minutes, and read the
morning papers, talking cheerfully with
his wife and old house servant. Just
before noon he had relapse, however,
and the physician was again summoned,
and administered the usual remedies, be-
sides bleeding the patient, and Mr.. Hen
bricks again expressed himself as being
greatly relieved. He remained in his
room all afternoon, occasionally rising
from his bed, to which he was compelled
to return by the recurrence of the abdom-
inal pains. 10 all 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 o'clock Mrs. Hendricks,
who had been at the husbands bedside
all day, went down into the parlor to see
o caller who had come to consult with her
regarding the affairs of reformatory
institution of which she was one of the
managers, and she remained with him
about 20 minutes. Tom,a colored servant,
and Harry Morgan, Mr.. Hendricks
nephew and page in Washington, remained
with him. The servant went out and Mr..
NJ. - al
uneasily in his bed and complained of
great pain, but suddenly it seemed to
cease and he said to his nephew 81 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 s O'Clock Mrs. Hendricks
came into the room and found that her
husband was dead. The end of long
aud eventful life had come peacefully and
quietly. He lay in the bed outside of the
covering, only partially disrobed, with
his eyes half closed as if he were in G
gentle sleep. On his face there were no
traces of pain or suffering, but pallor
had come over il that indicated only
too plainly that he had passed
away. 1t needed no close examination to
tell that he was dead, and Mrs. Hendricks
screamed and ran downstairs. A servant
was dispatched to the residence of DIR.
Thompson, adjoining, and he came imme-
diately, but by the time he had reached
the bedside the limbs of the distinguished
dead man were becoming cold and rigid,
and TO Mrs. Hendricks pathetic appeal:
"Oh, doctor, can't you do something ?"
he was obliged to answer: ''It is too late"
Mrs. Hendricks became almost distracted
with grief, and it was an hour or more
before she became sufficiently composed
to give any information about her hus-
bands Inst moments. The family ser
yants-two of whom had lived with Mr..
Hendricks for years-ran about the house
crying and moaning, and there was tine
utmost confusion for time. When the
news was bulletined down town ii was
generally discredited, yet in very few
minutes hundred or more of Mr. Hen
bricks close political and personal friends
had hurried to the house. Very soon a
great crowd collected around the entrance
and on the street, and il was found neces-
sary to refuse admission to any and all
comers except the immediate relatives.
DIR. 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.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death
spread rapidly throughout the city, and
there was general expression of SORROW
over it. Those who were his politiea
enemies here were his personal friends
and TO everybody who called on him ol
whom he met he had pleasant word ano
greeting. There were crowds around the
downtown bulletin boards all evening
while. in the vicinity of his residence ther'
was another crowd, all anxious to learn
the particulars of his sudden. demise
The bells throughout the city were tollet
sc times, one stroke for each yenr of hi
life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hendricks had lived il
indianapolis for nearly 80 years, and hav
been prominent in all Representative
social features of the city's existence
They had but one child, who died whel
but 8 years old, when they lived in Shelb,
county. They entertained their friend
frequently by parties and receptions, AM
were always sat home" to those VIII
called. IL was this that made Mr.. Hen
bricks deservedly so popular, for he am
his wife treated everybody cordially AM
courteously, and those whose positions il
life were inferior were always sure of
kindly reception at his house.
Mr.. Hendricks was very charitable, an
calls on him for aid were frequent, an
never unheeded. For several years b
hnd been actively identified with the II
dianapolis Benevolent Society, an organ
lied charity, and had contributed iberall
to the cause to which h was devoted
both in money and work. He had been
deacon in st. Paul's Episcopal Church fc
q long time, and was connected wit
various other religious and beneyoler
associations.
Since Mr.. Hendricks serious attacl
two years ago, both Mr.. and Mrs. Hei
bricks have been apprehensive of a SUE
den end of his life. and the attachme'
between them has. grown very stronl
almost sentimentally so. So intense hI
this become, in fact, that he would N
consent for his wife TO be away from hi
for any length of time. Only last wee
4, while in Chicago, he accompanied Mr.
Hendricks even on her shopping exped
tions. They had frequently talked ov
his condition and the probabilities of i
early death, and it was evident that f
several months past there has has been
growing fear of this kind on his mind.
THE PRESIDENTS ACTION.
President Cleveland was at dinner VIII
he received from Hon. w. III. English
telegram announcing Mr.. Hendricl
death, and he immediately sent the folio
ing telegram:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Nov,
l995.-Mrs. Il. A. Hendricks, lndianapol
Ind: The sudden and lamentabla death