The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-27

| INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. . Ind lana polls
| mourns the death of Mr.. Hendricks as she
| lid eight years ago thi; month, when Sena-
| ;or Morton died after lingering illness.
| In the case of Vice President Hendricks,
! however, the sorrow is intensified by the
| hook that comes when man in the full
possession Of his powers is suddenly cut off.
! The people of indianapolis received the an
| ,ouncement of the death of Mr.. Hendricks
almost with increduity, for he had been
| ,een in their midst within twenty four hours
in apparent good health, and bearing in his
presence no indication that death would so
| soon claim him. Incredulity soon gave
way to conviction when the truth was ad-
mitted.
| The facts in connection with the death of
the vice president are few, for lie
died alone in his bedroom, where his
devoted wife had spent most Of
| the day in company with him. Last
week they had visited Chicago in ompany
with friends, returning home Thursday
morning He was not feeling we'll, but was
about his business as usual until Wednes.
day, when he kept his room, being troubled
with pains in his stomach. The family
served Senator Morton in the same capacity,
was called and prescribed for him, but
up to the last nothing serious was
feared. During the day Mr.. Hen
bricks excused himself to callers, and
Mrs. Hendricks did not leave him Shortly
before o'clock, however, she was called
downstairs to receive q visitor, who do
tanned her but u short time. When she re,
turned her husband appeared to have fallen
asleep, SO peaceful was his appearance.
That he was dead was known on the street
before Mrs. Hendricks fully recognized her
great loss. A servant coming into tho
room instinctively divine that death had
visited the household before Mrs. lIendricis
spoke. Then the family relatives and in
innate friends were summoned.
Mr.. Hendricks is n woman Of great force
of character, and in her husbands public
career has heen his guide, counselor and
friend. The shock almost overcame her.
but later in the evening she rallied and re-
lieved the SUI ,pense and fears of friends.
An intimate friend of the family, with
whom Governor and Mr.. Hendricks
spent much of their time during the
last six months said Wednesday night: "The
governor has had promonition of his
end for several year, Ho died of paralysis
of the heart, and it manifested itself first
about the time he recovered from the al.
tack in his toe in 1882, whom he was sup
posed to be suffering from senile gangrene.
There was a slight numbness in his left
hand and side, accompanied by
sharp pains in the abdominal region,
from these pains. During the summer
he was not at all strong, but he never COM
planned He was tender in his devotion to
Mrs. Hendricks, his one thought apparently
being to save her from all possible anxiety.
That the end might come at any time they
both felt, and occasionally spoke of it. The
vice president said on these occasions if it
were nece ssary for him to 60 he wanted to
go quickly
"The manifestations Of his trouble in
creased the last few weeks. Mr.. Hendricks
wished not to be out of the sight of his wife,
for he did not know but that the end would
come at any moment, aud he wanted to be
near her constantly He even accompanied
us about the city while in Chicago last week
that he might be with her. They re turned
last Thursday. After coming home tho
ptoms apparently decreased in force,
and Mrs. Hendricks left him for few mo-
ments."
During Mrs. Hendricks absence in ths
parlor, Tom, u colored servant, and Harry
Morgan, Mr. Hendricks nephew, and
page in Washington, remained with him.
The servant went out and Mr.. Morgan
stayed. Mr. Hendricks tossed uneasiy in
his bed and complained of great pain, but
suddenly it seemed to cease, and he said to
his nephew: a 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, only leaving the
room just previous to Mr.. Hendricks DISCO
luton.
When the news was bulletinei down town
it was generally discreditel, and in a very
few minutes hundred or more of Mr.. Hen
bricks close political and personal friends
had hurried to the house. Very soon q
great crowd collected around the en-.
trance and on the street, and it was
found necessary to refuse admission to any
and all corners, except the immediate rela-
tiveS.
MIR. Hendricks died in his private cham
Der, n large, comfortable room in which no
did the 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 vera
at his bedside, ami near by was small
stand on which were various medicines and
goblet of water. Portraits and land
scapes, and brio-a- brac adorned the walls OF
the room, and were in striking contrast
with the sad scene within.
Dr. Thompson says that in his opinion
Mr. Hendricks died of paralysis of the