Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-03
The Grim Messenger Suddenly
Steals Upon Vice President
Hendricks.
Paralysis of the Heart Said to
be the Cause Of His
Death.
The Feeling at Washington
Upon Receipt of the
Sad News.

died very suddenly at his home in
Indianapolis, Ind, about five O'Clock
on Wednesday afternoon. Mr.. Hen
bricks returned from Chicago Monday
morning, suffering from very
severe cold, bat his condition was not
such as TO awaken fears for his safety.
DR.. Thompson, the family physician,
was called, and the patient insisted
that calomel be administered 10 him.
This the physician refused TO do,
owing to the prostrsting effects which
the drug always produced upon Mr..
Hendricks, and he gave him an
emetic, and later in the day an in
lection. At light the Vice President
mad
so MUCH IMPROVED
| that he and Mrs. Hendricks attended
a reception at the residence Of State
Treasurer Cooper, where they remain
ed until midnight. During the enter
| tainment Mr.. Hendricks was, in per
sonal appearance, as well as usual,
and none save a few to whom he
spoke about the matter supposed that
he was suffering pain. He complain
| ed to one or two, however, that he
was feeling unwell, but did not ex-
press any aporehensions Of fatal con-
sequences. He slept well during the
night and awoke Wednesday morning
| apparently refreshed and feeling
better. An hour or two later he was
taken with chills, and despite The eff
forts of the attending physician the
chilIs remained unbroken for quite an
hour. He was seriously Frustrated as
consequence, but the doctor was not
apprehensive OF danger, and he engag
ed in conversation with the vice-presl-
dent on his expected departure for
| Washington and his resum ption of
duties SIS president of the senate. Mr..
! Hendricks, however, appeared to be
oppressed by his sickness, and was
very sollcltous that Mrs Hendricks
should always be near him. # she
| left the room for moment he inquir-
ed concerning her, and
APPEARED ILL AT EASE,
until her return to the room. When
this disposition was developed Mrs.
| Hendricks continued by his side and
I was present during the visit of the
| physician.
& few minutes before 5 o'clock Mr..
Hendricks turned to the physician
and said: IT am free at last?"
''To what do you refer?' asked the
physician.
Il mean 1 am free from pain" was
the answer.
The physician then left the house
and Mrs. Hendricks was called below
to see a friend. When the caller
was announced Mrs. Hendricks hesi-
| tated about coming down, but being
treasured by the remark Of her hus-
band she left his bedside and passed
down to the parlor. she was delayed
longer than she expected and when
| she returned to the room she found
! that Mr.. Hendricks was dead The
end Of q busy life had come peacefully
and quietly. On his face there was
no indication of pain or suffering and
his eyes were only half closed, as if
in a gentle sleep.
There was nobody in lis room when
he died, and only Mrs, Hendricks,
the servants and caller were Ia the
house. Mrs. Hendricks was almost
distracted with grief and could not
restrain her feelings sufficiently to
talk. The house was soon filled with
anxious friends, while a crowd col
lected around the gate and it was
| found necessary to refuse them ad-
mission.
The physicians attribute death to
paralysis of the heart, for had 1t been
apoplexy there would have been some
indications of it in the appearance of
his face. He complained principally
of his stomach this morning, although
there was nervous twitching Of the
nervous muscles Of his face.
Mrs. Hendricks became almost dis
tracted with grief and it was an hour
or more before she became sufficiently
composed to give any information
about her husbands last moments
The family servants two Of whom had
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 it was
generally discredited and in g. very
few minutes hundred or more of the
vice presidents close personal and 20
litical friends had hurried to the house
Very soon a great crowd collected
around the house and on the street. It
was found necessary to refuse admis-
sion to any and all corners except the
immediate relatives.
His domestic relations were of the
most pleasant character and Mrs. Hen
bricks, who is a brilliant and accom-
pllshed woman, was of great aid to
him in his political career, as she had
large and varied information and ex-
cellent judgement, besides being great
tv ambitious for her husbands politi-
cal advancement. Since her husbands
serious attack two years ago, both Of
them have been apprehensive Of q
sudden end of his life, and the attach
ment between them has grown very
strong and almost sentiraentally. So
intense had this become, In fact, that
he would not consent for his wife to