Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-03
WE MOURN AGAIN.
Sudden Death OF vice-President
Thomas A. Hendricks.
The Last Hours of the Eminent States
man and General Grief at His De-
mise--The Cause of His Death
Executive Action.

denly and unexpectedly at his residence
on North Tennessee street in this city at
five O'Clock last evening. The demise OF
| our illustrious citizen was SO unlocked
for that the city was shocked at its oc-
currence, and the most of our people
were 10th to believe it until it was bull
letined from the newspaper offices and
/ confirmed by personal visits to the house.
| The stricken wife was visited by her inn
mediate friends, but such was the shock
to her nerves that it was with the greatest
difficulty that she could talk upon the sub
ject at all. The city is in mourning, and the
| great heart of Indiana is bleeding over
the remains of her distinguished son.
Mr.. Hendricks returned from Chicago
on Monday suffering from very severe
cold, and complained of pains in his head
and breast, but his condition was not such
as to awaken fears for his safety. DR..
Thompson, the family physician, was
called, and the patient insisted upon Gallo
mel being administered to him. This the
physician refused to do, owing to the
prostrating effects which the drug always
| produced upon Mr.. Hendricks, but he
| gave him an emetic, and later in the day
| an Injection. Tuesday night the Vice
| President had so much improved that
| he and Mrs. Hendricks at
| tended a reception at the residence
| Of State Treasurer Cooper. Mr.. Hen
| bricks usually wears heavy clothing, but
| Tuesday night he took this off and donned
a dress suit of lighter material. They
O'Clock. During the entertainment Mr..
Hendricks was in personal appearance as
| well as usual, and none, save few, to
whom he spoke about the matter, sup
posed that he was suffering pain. He
complained to one or two, however, that
he was feeling unwell, but did not ex-
press any apprehension of fatal conse-
quences.
He slept well during the night and
| arose yesterday morning apparently re-
freshed and feeling better. An hour or
two later he was taken with rigor, and,
despite the efforts of the attending physi-
clan, the force of the chill remained un-
broken for quite an hour, and was accom-
panied with pains i'll the stomach. DR..
Thompson gave him an emetic and an
injection, which brought relief. He arose
from his bed, in which he had lain
only few minutes and read
the morning. papers, talking cheer
fully with his wife and an old servant.
He was seriously Frustrated, but the doc
tor was not apprehensive of danger, and
he engaged in conversation with the pa
tient on several subjects, among which
was the Vice-President's expected depart
ure for Washington and the resumption
of his duties as President of the Senate.
Mr. HYvin fn
oppressed by his sickness, and was very
solicitous that Mrs. Hendricks should be
always near him.
If she left the room for moment he
inquired concerning her and appeared ill
at ease until she re-entered the room.
When this disposition was developed Mrs.
Hendricks continued by his side, and was
present during the visit of the physicians.
Just before noon he had relapse, and
the physicians were again summoned and
administered the usual remedies, beside
bleeding the patient, and Mr.. Hendricks
again expressed himself as being greatly
relieved. He remained in his room all the
afternoon, occasionally rising from his
bed. to which he was compelled to return
by the recurrence of the abdominal pains.
To all callers who came, and they were
numerous, he sent word that he was in
disposed, but would be glad to see them
tomorrow.
About 4:3O O'Clock Mrs. Hendricks,
who had been at his bedside all day, went
down into the parlor to see caller who
had come to consult with her regarding
the affairs of reformatory institute, of
which she was one of the managers, and
she remained with him about twenty
minutes. Tom, colored servant, and
Harry Morgan, Mr.. Hendricks nephew
and page in Washington, remained with
him. The servant went out and Mr..
Morgan remained. Mr.. Hendricks tossed
uneasiIy in his bed and complained of
great pain, but suddenly it seemed to
cease, and he said to his nephew: 81 am
free at last; send for Eliza" meaning his
wife, and these were his last words, for
the young man left the room and 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 that her
husband was dead. He died alone. The
end of long and eventful life had come
peacefully and quietly. He lay in the
bed, outside of the covering, only par
TALLY disrobed, with his eyes half closed
as if he were in cheerful sleep. On his
face there were no traces of pain or suf-
fering, but pallor had come over it that
indicated only too plainly that he had
nation 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,
and he 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'tyou do something's" he was
obliged to answer, cit is too late.''
Mrs. Hendricks became almost dis
tracted with grief, and it was an hour or
more before she became sufficiently COM
posed to give any information about her
husbands lastsmoments. The family serv-
ants, two of whom had lived with them
for years, ran about the house crying and
moaning, and there was the utmost con-
fusion for a time.
When the news was bulletined down
town, it was generally discredited, and
in very few minutes hundred or more
OF Mr. Hendricks close. political and per-
sonal friends had hurried to the house.
Very soon great crowd collected around
the entrance and on the street, and it was
found necessary to refuse admission to
any and all corners except the immediate
relatives.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
DR.. Thompson says that in his opinion
Mr.. Hendricks died of paralysis of the
brain, and there will probably be post
morton examination to establish what the
disease was. For several years he had not
been robust man was subject to frequent
"bad speIls,'' as he called them, during
which he would be Frustrated sometimes
for DAYS at time About two years ago
he was confined to his room for seven
weeks by gangrenous affection OF the
foot. which at the time it was feared would