The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-12-03
Death Of the Vice President.
HON. THOMAS 4. HENDRICKS DIES SUDDEN
AZ HIS HOME IN INnIA \ ,pnI Is

Death Of the Vice President.
HON. THOMAS A. HENDRICKS DIES SUDDENLY
AT HIS HOME IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Hon. T. A. Hendricks. Vice President of the
United States, died very suddenly at his home
i'll Indianapolis, at AS P. NJ, Nov. %. He had
not been in his usual health for day or two,
but no serious results were anticipated. The
night before his death be did not rest well, but
ate quite hearty breakfast nc xt morning after
which he and Mrs. Hendricks walked out for
nearly half an hour and he had apparently re-
gained his physical vigor and cheerfulness 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.
Dr. W. {. Thompson, a life long and contiden-
tlal friend of the Vice President. As the pains
III the stomach continued to increase he was
given an emetic and afterward an injection. and
relief came in the natural way. He arose from
his bed, in which he had lain only few mo-
ments and read the morning papers, talking
cheerfully with his wife and an old house sery-
ant.
Just before noon he had a relapse. however.
ami the physician was again summoned and adj
mlni>tered the usual remedies besides bleeding
the patient. and Mr.. Hendricks again expressed
ed IN hls room all the afternoon, occasionally
rising from his bed, to which he was compelled
to return by the recurrence of the abdominal
distress. 10 all callers who came, and they
We're numerous. he sent word thai be was in
disposed, but would be glad to see them to-mor-
row. About 40 O'Clock Mrs. Hendricks. who
had been al his bedside ali day. Went down into
the paror To see a caller. who had come to con-
suit with her regarding the affairs of a reforma-
tory institution. of which she was one of the
n md ba naIt Ia n
minutes. Tom. coored servant. and Henry
Morgan, Mr.. Hendricks nephew and page in
Washington, remained with him. The servant
went out and Mr.. Morgan stayed. Mr.. Hen
bricks tossed unea,iy in his bed and complain
ed of great pain, but suddenly it seemed to
cease, and he said to bis nephew: Il am free at
last: send for Eliza" meaning his Wife. These
We're his last words, for the Young man. not
TeailZlng the urgency of the message, did not
deliver il at once. just before ) O'clock Mrs.
Hendricks came into the room and found that
her husband was dead.
The end of a long and eyentful life had come
peacefully and quietly. He laid on the bed. out
side of the covering. only partially disrobed,
with his eyes half closed. as if in gentle sleep.
On his face there We're no traces of pain or suf-
tering, bnt pallor had come over it that ndi-
Gated only too well that he had passed away.
II needed no close examination 10 tell that be
was dead, and Mrs. Hendricks screamed and
ran down stairs. A servant was dispatched to
he came immedi4teir hnt nv tbe ii,ma H. hnG
reached the bedside me l;n,hs of tLe 'I;stir.
glli>h.d dead man upr, hprnmino Gala and
rigid, and TO Mrs. Hendricks pathetic appeal,
''Oh, Doctor, can't you do something's" he was
Obliged 10 answer. 1T i too late
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Hon. Thomas a. Hendricks has for many
Years been L prominent figure ia public lire. He
was born in Mu>kingum county. Ohio. Septem-
he 1tit
College and fitted himself for the legal profess
sion. liz settled IN Indiana about 1913 Iii
Isis ~ was chosen 10 the Slate Legislature and
IN 1890 was delegate to the state Constitutional
Convention. From ls3l to 1870 he represented
TIE indianapolis District in Congress from 1870
+" a. s ~, ~ tAle a. Lalu
senator serving on HE Committee ON Claim.
Public Buildius> ana Grnunds. Judiciary Pm
lie lands and Naval Affairs to-nn,itI,e. As
candidate .or Governor of Indiana he was 10
fpated in $50 and In 1850 I'M was elected IN
1872. In the same wear dnlino tbe (rerlev
campaign he was supported for President hv a
portion of the uarty thst boIted from 4irerjpv
The regular nominee In 1876 he ran ON H..
Democratic Presidential tirlet viii lilden .nd
was elected Vice President IN 1891
.1,-,-,,..,,,, ,,,,,.,,,l,..,,.
AN y" NV AM ihEploAM'Ni'
The death Of the Vice President calls atten
ton to the fact that there is 10 person now III the
me Of the succession to the Presidency, and
that II the President If the United States should
die before the meeting of Congress and The cleo
ton OF President pro tenn Of the Senate and
a Speaker of the House there would be no one
qualified to act a. Chief Executive. Vice Pre>i-
dent Hendricks, at the end of the Executive
session of the Senate, dld not leave the chair
and give an opportunity to the Republicans to
elect President pro tenn. In doing this he fol-
lowed the precedent once set by Arthur when
Vice President. Whether there was any politi-
cal point to be gained by jhis course is not
Known y + a TACT however That there j. no
thrr i. no ana I3an whom, TIA s,,,o' III VIA az
~, Pro.ion/L , f'iI tIn1 ,f ~, u
iii lr,. ~ 30 iif u ~, ,I
MEETING If r,n,rri... '''7 ''' IN
DEATH OF OTHER VICE PRESIDENTS.
Mr.. Hendricks i the fifth Ice President W no
has died while ho ling that roSili0u hut if has
never before happened that the Vice President
removed BY death WIS the only man in he line
of succession to the Presidency George Gin
ton. OF New York, elected Vice President with
Madison. died April. 1872. while VIM. Ii Irayg-
ford was President pro tenn. of the Senate FL
bridge Gerry. of Massachusetts elected Vice
President on the ticket with Madison in bis Sec
oud term. died Nov II. while John GailIard
was Pre-. dent pro tenn. of the Senate. VIM. r.
King, elected Vice President with Franklin
Pierce, never occupied the chair. but died in
Cuba on the 18th of April. 1913 David r.
AlcIi>Ou was at that time President pro tenn of
the Senate. aud he was succeeded by Levi.
cass, who. Ike Mr.. Bayard wa, Vice Prc>i-
dent for only day or So being succeeded by
Jesse u. Bright. The death of Vice President
Henry Wilson is within recent memory He
died Nov. u. 1873. While senator I. W. Ferry.
of Michigan. filled the chair as President pro
tenn Tn. Vice Presidents who have S,IroAated