Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-12-03
FREE AT LASTI"
Vice-President T. A. Hendricks,
THE Noblest Roman of
Them ALL"
DIES SUDDENLY At HIS HOME In
INDIANAPOLIS LAST WEEK.
Thanksgiving Day Day OF Mourning
Throughout the COuntry--.NOtes
About the Funeral, &c.

Death break at once the vital chain
And free the soul the nearest way.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Nov. 20
What yesterday promised to be a
day of thanksgiving has been trans
formed into day of universal sor-
row and mourning by the death of
one of Indiana's favorite sons, Vice
President Thomas A. Hendricks,
who died at his home about 5 O'Clock
last evening, after an illness of only
a few hours. A week ago to-day Mr..
Hendricks returned from visit tc
Chicago. He was not feeling well,
but attended to his business until
yesterday, when he decided to keep
his room. He complained of severe
cramps in his stomach, and DR..
Thompson was summoned, but no
serious results were anticipated. The
doctor made his last call at 4:30
O'Clock p. m, when Mr.. Hendricks
exclaimed, In the presence of his wife
and the physician:
"Well, am free at last
When asked by the doctor what
he meant he replied:
Il mean, at last 1 am free of
pain
DIR. Thompson soon afterwards
left the house, and Mrs. Hendricks
descended the stairs to receive lady
visitor, who detained her for few
minutes, the vIce-president being
left alone in the meantime. When
she returned her husband was so
quiet that she thought him asleep,
but a servant entered and made the
discovery that his spirit had passed
to the unknown beyond, death hav-
ing resulted from paralysis of the
heart.
/ When the news was made public
it furnished the one theme of CONVEX
sation. At the leading hotels groups
of prominent citizens were interro-
eating each other, with a view OF
obtaining all the particulars connect
ed with the deceased's illness. Mes.
sages of coincidence were conveyed
to the bereaved widow, and later in
the evening kilograms of a simila,
character were received from many
of the leading politicians Of the
country.
The Senate adjourned its last ses
sion without electing temporary
President. The death of Mr.. Hen
bricks, therefore, leaves that bod,
withot presiding officer. At th'
meeting On Monday, December Z, i
will be necessary to choose Presi
dent pro tenn. It is not unlikely tha
John Sherman will be selected.
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks wa
one of the ablest and noblest Of th
leading Democrats of the country
1 and his unexpected death has fille'
., the land with sorrow, for his creates
= opponents We'd with the men of hi
own party in honoring both his eS
alted personal character and his abb
!, ity as a statesman. Now that he
: in no mans way, full justice will b
:, done to his patriotism and to th
: manly courage with which he obeye
the dictates of his own conscienc,
He died without stain on hi
record. His amiability will 4
) longer be imputed to him as a veal
Il ness, nor his personal modesty as
l. want of courage in leadership. H
e was not aggressively selfish in b
y ambition, and never offensive in b
egotism, but no man ever stood by
: cause he felt called upon to defen
j. with more unhinching disregard fl
o personal consequences.
e It is to be hoped that Presidel
e Cleveland will not be driven fro
the even tenor of his way by the fes
some statesman express that he wi
). henceforth be in great danger fro
:. some Guiteau, because after Coz
gress meets his single life alone vi
!, stand in the way of the assumptio
Of the Presidency by a Republics
President pro tenn of the Senate. "
% believe that he is in as little dang
Il from assassination by Republican
'' as Garfield was assassination
Democrats, and any unusual preca
4, tions for his protection would be u
worthy Of the Spartan dignity al