Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-11-23
SUDDEN DEATH OF EX-PRESI
DENT ARTHUR.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1S.Ex-P President
Chester A. Arthur died at 5 o'clock
this morning at his residence, No. 124
Lexington avenue. He had been ailiDg
| for some time from a combination of
diseases, principally kidney affection.
He had spent the summer at watering
place, and it was supposed that this had
strengthened somewhat his enfeebled
constitution. His death was unexpected,
it not being supposed outside of his
house that he was in any immediate
danger
As sson as the noWs of Mr.. Arthur's
death was made public many flags on
public and private buildings we're placed
at half mast. A stroke of cerebral apo+
plexy, sudden, but not wholly unexpect
ed by the attending physicians, termina-
ted his life. The stroke came in his
sleep between Tuesday night and We'd
nesday morning, and he did not rally
thereafter. His death was painless, the
slow going out of a burned-down candle,
and for houre before the end come he
was unconscious of his surroundings
His son and daughter, his sister, his
former las partner, Sherman w. Knew
ais, and his closest friend, Surrogate
Rollins, we're at his bedside. All reports
to the contrary. Mr.. Arthur's health
had not improved during his stay in
New London six weeks ago, and at bis
return on August 1st be was no better
than when he left the city. AS time
passed no permanent improvement came
and the physicians feared some such
sudden stroke as the one to which he
succumbed In his enfeebled condition
even light stroke of apoplexy would
prove fatal to the once robust patient.
But with the beginning of the present
week a marked change for the better set
in. Tuesday the ex-President felt better
and stronger than at any time since he
was taken sick, and commented hopeful
ly upon the fact.
1t was after midnight when his at
tendant left him alone in his bedroom
and nothing was heard of him during
the early morning hours He was not
disturbed until his attendant entered
his room at s o'clock yesterday morning
He found Mr.. Arthur lying on his side
and breathing heavily and could not
rouse him. The family answered his
summons, but failed to elicit any sign of
consciousness or recognition from the
ex-Presldent In alarm they summoned
his physician. Dr. George A. Peters, who
has been in attendance upon Mr.. Arthur
throughout his illness, and who respond
ed promptly and at once, saw that he
was suffering from stroke of cerebral
apoplexy. A small blood vessel in the
brain had burst, and paralysis of the
right side had ensued. From the mo-
ment the discovery was made, all hope
was known to be in vain, but no efforts
were spared to bring the patient back
to consciousness. They were all alike
failures: Mr.. Arthur lay motionless all
day. He knew what was going on
about him, for he squeezed his doctors
hand, and put out his tongue partly
when asked to do so, but he never spoke
or gave any other sign of consciousness.
Last night at six o'clock the enfeebled
pulse, more difficult respiration and
other signs of physical failure indicated
to the watchful eyes of his physicians
that the end was drawing near. A
change for the worse came on rapidly
and his sisters and children gathered at
his bedside. DR.. VIM. A. Valentine, Dr.
Peters and Surrogate Rollins stayed
with them during the night. Mr.. Kned-
ais went home at midnight. Mr.. Ar
thurs strength ebbed ont slowly and
with it his life. 1t was o'clock when
the end came. He had been entirely
senseless for hours and died without
struggle.