Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-27
HIS VERY SUDDEN END.
HOW THE VICE PRESIDENT DIED.
He Expires Suddenly while Alone in
His Recon-.

He Expires Suddenly while Alone in
His Recon-.
AN ATTACK OF PARALYSIS OF THE HEApr
BRINGS PEACEFUL CLOSE To HIS EyENTFUL
CAEEEK.
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President
of the United States, died very suddenly at his
residence il indianapolis n little before five
O'Clock Wednesday evening, under circum-
stances that were particularly distressing to his
family and friends. He returned from Chicago
ON Saturday last, and since then had been COM
planning somewhat Of pain in his head and
breast, but nothing serious was thought of it.
Tuesday night he and Mrs. Hendricks attended
reception given at the residence of Hon. John
Cooper, treasurer of the state. returning home
in their carriage about midnight. Mr.. Hen
bricks had taken Off the heavy clothing which
he usually wore and put on a dress suit of
lighter material, and before he got home ne COM
planned OF chilliness and a certain degree of ex-
hsustion, but attributed 1t to malaria influence.
He sat by the IRE for an hour or more before re-
although urged to do SO. He slept restlessiy
until about O'Clock Wednesday, when he
sross. dressed himself and ate quite a hearty
would attend TO considerable delayed business
during the day. He and Mrs. Hendricks walked
out for nearly half an hour. and he had appar-
ensiy regained his physical vigor and cheerful
ness.
THE DOCTOR SUMMONED.
An hour Later, however, he began to be trou-
Aled with pains in the region of his stomach,
and MIS-. Hendricks sent for the family physi-
clan, Dr.. w. C. Thompson, a lifelong and conf
DENTAL friend of the Vice President AS the
pains In the stomach continued to increase he
was given an emetic and afterwards an injec-
uo0, and relief came in the natural way. He
arose from his bed, in which he had lain only a
tsikinx cheerfniiy with his wife and an old
house servant. Just before noon he had a re-
lapse, however, and the physician was again
dies, besides bleeding the patient, and Mr.. Hen
bricks again expressed himself as being greatly
afternoon, occasionally rising from his bed, to
which he was compelled to return by the recur-
renee OF the abdominal pains.
"I AM FREE AT LAST
During the day Mr.. Hendricks evinced q
strong desire to have Mrs. Hendricks always
near him, and If she left the room for moment
h seemed troubled and anxious. He appeared
to be apprehensive of some approaching calam-
ny, and more than once he requested Mrs.
Hendricks not to leave him. The doctor did
not think there was any immediate danger,
and during bis visit in the afternoon he and the
Vice President talked freely on several topics,
among others his departure for Washington
city, where he would enter upon his duties in
shortly before o'clock the physician and Mr..
Hendricks were talking, the latter reclining on
the bed, when he said:
"What do you meane'' asked the doctor 81
mean am free from pain" was the answer.
DYING ALONE.
The doctor then LEFT the house, and Mrs. Hen
bricks was summoned down stairs to see a
caller. This was the first time she had left him
during the day. az she had refused TO see any
one before his assert ion that ne was free from
pain dispelled any uneasiness that she had felt
about bis condition, and when she left him it
was with the assurance that she would be alb.
the ,aS dot ir,kH
longer than expected, aud when she returned
% the room she found that Mr. Hendricks was
dead. The end had come peacefully and quietly.
1T Is TOO LATE"
When Mrs. Hendricks found her husband
dead, he lay ON the bed outside of the covering,
only partially disrobed, with his eyes halt
closed, as if he were in gentle sleep. On his
face there were no traces of pain or suffering,
only too plainly that he was dead 1t needed
no close examination to tell that. and Mrs.
Hendricks screamed and ran down stairs. \
servant was sent to the residence of DIR. Thomp-
son, adjoining, and he came Immediately, but
by the time he had reached the bedside the
limbs OF the dead man were becoming cold and
rigid, and to Ms. Hendricks pathetic appeal,
'Oh, doctor, can't You do something" he was
Obliged To answer, 1T Is too late Mr.. Hen
bricks died in his private chamber, q large,
comfortable room in which he did the most of
his work.
PUBLIC SYMPATHY.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death spread
general expression of sorrow over it. There
were crowds around the bulletin boards all
evening, while in the vicinity OF his residence
the particulars Of his sudden demise.
Mr.. Hendricks had been dead but q few min
utes when forces of men began draping tine
state, county and city buildings. and through.
out the night similar em0iems were placed ON
nearly all the principal business houses and
residences.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
Dr. W. c. Thompson in the course of a CONVEX
sation yesterday reasserted his belief that Vice
President Hendricks died from instantaneous
paralysis OF the brain and heart. For several
years Mr.. Hendricks had not been a robust
man, and was subject to frequent had spells"
a. he called them, during which he would be
proetrated sometimes for days at a time. About
Two years aGo he was confined to mis- room for
several weeks by a gangrenous affection OF the
foot, which, At the time, it was feared would re-
suit in blood poisoning, and it was then thought
that the end Of his life was near at hand, but he
usual health.
DIR. Thompson spoke OF the great physical and
mental strain TO which Mr. Hendricks had been
subjected during the last eight years, particul-
iariy In the last campaign, in which he not in
frequently spoke three or four times day and
trASeled over the entire country. He had
warned him OF the dangers, 10 one of his habit
While in Washington during the last session OF
Congress he was overwOrked and almost worn
Sut oy the press OF political matters. and upon
his return home he signified his intention OF
laying aside all public business this summer
and deyoting the time To recreation He spent
three weeks at Atlantic City fishing. bathing
and yachting, and then went to- the Northern
lake resorts, and afterward ID the Miami reser-
volr IN Ohio ON a fishing expedition. He re-
turned from there two weeks ago. and AZ the
time said that he never felt better in his life
Last week, by special invitation he attended
the TAT stock show at Chicago, returning home
On saturday somewhat indisposed.
A Loss 70 SOCIETY.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hendricks had lived in Indian
apolis for nearly thirty years, and have been
proIoinent In all representative social features
Of the city's existence. They entertained their
friends frequently by parties and receptions
and were always at home to those who called.
MI. Hendricks was very charitable, and calls
on him for aid were frequent and never un-
needed. For several years he had been Ut
lively Identified with the indianapolis Benev-
olent society, an organized charity, and had
contributed literally 10 the cause TO which il
was devoted, both In money and work. He
church for q long time, and connected with
various other religious and benevolent associs,-
tons. Mrs Hendricks, who is a brilliant and
accomplished woman, was OF great aid to
him In his political career, as she had large
and varied Information and excellent
Judgment, besides being greatly ambitious for
her husbands political advancement since
her husband $ serious attack two years ago both
OF them have been apprehensive of q sudden
END OF his life, and the attachment between
them has grown very strong. So intense had
Tor his wife 70 be away from him for any length
OF time. they had frequently talked over mis-
coooltlon and the probabilities OF his early
death, and 10 Is evident that for several months