The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-12-04
THE yICE.PREsIDENT DEAD.
He Dies Quietly After Brief Illness, "a
His Home In Indianapolis.


Hendricks, Vice President of the Uni
ted States, died very suddenly at his
residence in this city at 4:45 O'Clock this
evening, under circumstances that were
particularly distressing to his family
and friends, inasmuch as they had not
anticipated fatal termination or MS
brief illness and nobody was with b1m
when the end came. He returned from
Chicago on Saturday last, and since
then had been complaining somewhat or
a pain in his head and breast, but moth
iEg serious was thought of 1t. Last
night he and Mrs. Hendricks attended
a reception given at the residence or
Hon. John Cooper, Treasurer Of state,
returning home in their carriage ABOUT
midnight. Hendricks had taken OH
heavy underclothing, which he usually
wore, and put on dress suit OF lighter
material, and before he got home he
complained of chillinesss and certain
degree of exhaustion, but attributed IL
to malarial influence. Hs sat Dy the
FIRE an hour or more before retiring, but
declined to send for physician, though
urged to do so. He slept restlessIy Clli
about eight O'Clock this morning, when
he arose, dressed himself and ate quite
a hearty breakfast, saying that he felt
much better and would attend TO con-
siderable delayed business during the
day. He and Mrs. Hendricks walked
out for nearly half an hour, and he had
apparently regained his physical VlgoI
and cheerfulness. An hour later, how
ever, he began to be troubled with pains
in the region of the stomach, and Mrs.
Hendricks sent for the family physi-
clan, DR.. w. G. Thompson, the lifelong
confidential friend of the Vice-Presl-
dent. AS the pains In his stomach con-
tinued to increase he was given an
emetic and afterward an injection. and
relief came in a natural way. He arose
from the bed where he had lain only a
few minutes, and read the morning pa
per. talking cheerfully with his wife
and old house servant. Just before noon
he had a relapse, however, and the ply
sician was again summoned and admin
! istered the usual remedies, besides bleed
ing the patient, and Mr.. Hendricks
| again expressed himself as being greatly
| relieved. He remained in his room all
afternoon, occasionally rising from MS
| bed, to which he was compelled 10 re-
| turn by q recurrence Of the pains In his
| abdomen. To all callers, and they
were numerous, he sent word that he
| was indisposed, but would be glad to
! see them tomorrow afternoon at about
| 4:30 O'Clock. Mrs. Hendricks, who bad
been at his bedside all day, went down
| to the parlor to see q caller who had
! come to consult with her regarding the
| affairs of a reformatory institution OF
/ which she was one of the managers,
! and she remained with him about twen-
| ty minutes. Tom, a cOlored servant,
/ and Harry Morgan Hendricks, nephew
and page i'll Washington, renamed with
! him. Mr.. Hendricks tossed uneaslly IN
! his bed and complained OF great pain,
but suddenly 1t seemed to cease and he
| said to bis nephew Il am free at last.
Send for Eliza" meaning his wife, and
these we're his last words, for the young
man, not realizing the urgency Of the
message, did not deliver it at once.
Just before FIVE o'clock Mrs. Hendricks
came into the room and found her hus-
band dead. The end of a long and
eYentful life bad come peacefully and
| quietly. He lay in bed outside OF the
covering, only partially dIsrobed, as il
| he we're in gentle sleep. On bis face
there we're no traces of pain OF suffer
ing, but the pallor had come over it that
indicated only two plainly that he had
passed away. II needed no close exam
Ination to tell that he was dead, and
Mrs. Hendricks screamed and ran down
stairs. a servant was dispatched to the
residence of DIR. Thompson, adjoining,
aud he came Immediately, but by the
tine he had reached his bedside the
limbs of the distinguished man were
becoming cold and rigid and to Mrs.
Hendricks pathetic appeal, "Oh, Doc
tor can't you do something" be was
obliged to answer, ut IS too late.''
Mrs. Hendricks became almost dis
tracted with grief, and it was az hour
or more before she became sufficiently
composed TO give any information about
her husbands last moments. The fam
ly servants, two OF whom have lived
with the family for years, ran about the
house crying and moaning, and there
was the utmost confusion for a time.
When the news was bulletined down
town it was generally discredited, yet
in very few minutes a hundred or
more of Mr., Hendricks close personal
and political friends hurried to the
house. Very soon a great crowd had
collected around the entrance and,on the
street, and it was found necessary to re-
fuse admission to any all corners ex-
cept immediate relatives. Mr.. Hen
bricks died in his private chamber, a
large, comfortable room in which be
did most of his work. DR.. Thompson
says that in his opinion Mr.. Hendricks
died of paralysis of the brain, and there
Will probably be post mortem exami-
nation to determine what the disease
was. For several years Mr.. Hendricks
had not been a robust man and was sub.
ject to frequent bad SPELLS" as he cal.
led them, during which he would be
pI ostrated for days at q time. About
two yeaIs ago he was confined to his
room for several weeks by gangrenous
affection Of the foot, which at that
time 1t was feared would result in blood
poisoning, and it was then thought that
the end Of his life was near at hand, but
he apparently recovered entirely from
this and was in his usual health. Hen.
bricks had been dead but few mements
when forces of men began draping the
State, county and city buildings, and
throughout the night similar emblems
were placed on nearly all the prominent
business places and residences, so that
by morning the city will have assumed
a general garb Of mourning. All the
city ministers will, In their Thankgiv
ing services tomorrow, make appropri.
ate mention o. the death OF the distin-
guished statesman. and Rt. ReY. BishoI
KniekeTbocker, Bishop OF the Episcopa
diocese of Indianapolis, of which church
Hendricks was lifelong member, will
! it ia understaOd nreach q memorfal aar