The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-12-03
DIED SUDDENLY.
Vice President Hendricks
Peacefully Passes
Away.
He Dies Alone After a Brief Indis-
position At His Home N
Indianapolis.
81 am Free at Last. -

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Nov. %
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, vice
president of the United State, died
very suddenly at his residence in
this city at 4:45 O'Clock this eve
ming under ciLcu instances that were
particularly distressing to his fami-
Iy and friends, inasmuch as they
had not anticipated a fatal termina
tion of his brief illness and nobody
was with him when the end came.
He returned from Chicago on last
Saturday and since then has
been complaining somewhat of
pains in his head and breast, but
nothing serious was thought of it.
Last night he and Mrs. Hendricks
attended reception given at the
residence of Hon. John j. Cooper,
treasurer of state, returning home
in their carriage about midnight
Mr.. Hendricks had taken off the
heavy clothing which he usually
wore and put on dress suit of
lighter material and before he got
home he complained of chilliness
and certain degree of exhaustion,
but attributed it to malarial infu-
ences. He sat by the fire for an
hour or more before retiring, but
declined to send for a PHYSICAL, al
thouUh ur0od To do sO
HE SLEPT REsTLEssLY
until about s o'clock this morning,
when he arose, dressed himself and
ate quite hearty breakfast, saying
that he felt much better and in
tended to attend to considerable de-
layed business during the day. He
and Mrs. Hendricks walked out for
nearly half an hour, and he had
apparently regained his physical
vigor and cheerfuiness. 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..
". G. Thompson, a life long AID
confidential friend of the vice
president. AS the pains in the
stomach continued 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 laid only a
few minutes and read the morning
papers, 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 administered
the usual remedies besides bleeding
the patient, and Mr.. Hendricks
again expressed himself as being
greatly relieved. He remained in
his room all the afternoon, occa-
sionally rising from his bed, to
which he was compelled to return
by the recurrence of the abdominal
pain. To 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 Mrs. Hendricks, who
had been at his bedside all day,
went down into the parlor to see q
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 twen-
ty minutes. Tom, a colored ser
want, and Harry Morgan, Mr.. Hen
bricks nephew and page in Wash
ington, remained with him. The
servant went out and Mr. Morgan
stayed. Mr.. Hendricks tossed un-
easily in his bed and complained of
great pain, but suddenly it seemed
TO cease, he said to his nephew:
''l 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 de
liver it at once. just before 5
O'Clock Mrs. Hendricks came into
the room and found that her hus-
band was dead. The end OF long
and eventful life had come peace
fully and quietly. He lay in the
bed outside of the covering, only
partially disrobed, with his eyes
half closed as if he were in gen
tie sleep; on his face there were no
traces of pain or suffering, but a
Dallor had come over it, that indi-
Gated 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 down stairs. A servant
was dispatched to the residence of
DR.. Thompson adjoining, and ne
came Immediately, 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:
GIT Is TOO LATE"
DIR. Thompson says that in his
opinion Mr.. Hendricks died of pa
ralysis of the brain, and there will
probably be q post-mortem examl-
nation to establish what the dis
ease was. For several years he had
not been a robust man, and was
subject to frequent "bad spells,p as
be called them, during which be
would be prostrated sometimes fol
days at time. About two years
ago he was confiued to his room fol
several weeks by gangrenous af
fection of the foot, which at. the
time it was feared would result il
blood poisoning, and 1t was theI