The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1885-11-28
Death of Vice-President Hendricks.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 25th.--Hon
Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President 0
the United States, died very suddenly, a
his residence IN this city, at 4 45 thi
evering, under circumstances that wer'
particularly distressing to his family ane
friends, inasmuch as they had not antici
pated fatal termination of his brief i'll
ness, and nobody was with him wher
death came. He returned from Chicago
last Saturday, and since then has beer
complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast, but nothing serious was
thought of it. Last night he and Mrs
Hendricks attended a reception at the
residence Of Hon. John j. Cooper, treasur'
er of the state. returning home about mid
night. Hendricks had taken off the heavy
clothing which he usually wore and put
on dress suit of lighter material, and
before he got home complained of chilli.
ness and certain degree of exhaustion,
but attributed it to malarial influence
He sat by the fire for an hour Or more be-
fore retiring, but declined to send for a
doctor, although urged to do so. He
slept restlessly until about 8 o'clock in
the morning, when he arose, dressed HIM
self and ate hearty breakfast, saying he
felt much better and intended to attend to
considerable delayed business during the
day. He and Mrs. Hendricks walked out
for nearly half an hour, and he had APP
parently regained his ply sical vigor and
cheerfulness.
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.. W. G. Thompson, a
life long and confidential friend of the
vice president. AS the pains in the stom-
ach continued to increase he was given an
cmetic and afterwards an injection, and
relief came in a natural way. He arose
from his bed, in which he had lain 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 pa
tient, and Mr.. Hendricks again expressed
himself as being greatly relieved. He re-
mained in his room all afternoon, occa-
sionally rising from his bed, to which he
was compelled to return by the recurrence
of the abdominal pain. TO the callers
who came-and they were numerous-he
sent word lat he was indisposed, but
would be glad to see them Tomorrow.
About 4 :35 Mrs. Hendricks, who had
been at his bedside all day, went to the
parlor to see caller who had called to
consult her in regard to the affairs of re-
formatory of which she was manager, and
she remained with him about twenty min
utes. Tom, colored servant, and Harry
Morgan, Hendricks nephew and page
in Washington, remained with him.
The servant went out and Mr.. Morgan
stayed. Mr.. Hendricks tossed uneasily in
his bed, and complained of great pain, but
suddenly it seemed to cease, and he said
to his nephew: Il am free at last, send
for Eliza (mcaning his wite), and these
were his last words, :or the ycung man,
not realizing the urgency of the message,
did not deliver it at once. Just before 6
o'clock Mrs. Hendricks came into the
room and found that her husband was
dead. The end of long and eventful
life had come peacefully and quietly. He
lay on the bed outside the covering only
partly disrobed, with his eyes only half
closed as if he were in gentle sleep. On
his face there were no traces of pain or
suffering, but pallor had come over it
that indicated only too plainly that he had
passed away. 1t 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 DR.. Thompson, adjoining, and he came
Immediately, but by the time he had ar
rived the body had already grown cold.
Mrs. Hendricks became almost distracted
with grief and it was an hour CT more be-
fore she became sufficiently composed to
give any information about her husbands
last moments. The family servants, two
of whom have lived with them 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,
and in very few minutes hundred or
more of Mr.. Hendricks close political and
personal 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 comers except immediate relatives.
On receipt of the news of Vice-Presi
dent Hendricks death at Washington a
meeting Of the cabinet wascalled at which
all members were present except Secretary