Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-12
A CALL.
Death of vice-President Thomas
A. Hendricks.
The Sad Event Causes Universal Sorrow
Throughout the Countrywide Pres
ident's Proclamation Funeral
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
A L MoUENs.

his residence in This city at 4:45 O'Clock
Wednesday evening, under circumstances
that were particularly distressing to his
family and friends, in so much as they had
not Anticipated a fatal termination of his
| when death came. He returned from Chi
! cago last Saturday, and since then had
been complaining somewhat of pain in his
head and breast, but nothing was thought
OF it.
Tuesday night Mr.. and Mrs. Hendricks
Hon. John j. Cooper, Treasurer of State.
returning home in their carriage about
midnight. Mr.. Hendricks had taken off
the heavy clothing which he usually wore
and put on Il dress suit of lighter material.
Before he got home he complained of chilli
ness and a certain degree OF exhaustion,
but attributed it to malarial
influences. He sat by the fire for an hour or
more before retiring, but declined to send
for a physician, although urged to do so.
He slept restlessly until eight O'Clock
Wednesday morning. when he arose. dressed
himself, and ate quite a hearty breakfast,
saying that he felt much better and intend
ed to attend to considerable business during
the day. He and Mrs. Hendricks walked
out for nearly half an hour, and he had APP
parently regained his physical 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. c. Thompson. AS
the pains continued to increase he was given
an emetic, and afterward an injection, and
finally relief came. He arose from his bed,
in which he had lain only a few minutes.
and read the morning papers, talking cheer
fully with his wife and all old house servant.
just before noon he had a relapse, how
ever, and the physician was again sum
edies, besides bleeding the patient. Mr..
Hendricks again expressed himself as be,
ing greatly relieved. He remained in his
room all afternoon, occasionally rising from
the bed, to which he was compelled to re.
turn by the recurrence OF the abdominal
pains. To callers who came, and they were
numerous, he sent word that he was indis-
posed, but would be glad to see them to.
day about 4:3O o'clock. Mrs. Hendricks,
who had been at his bedside all day, went
to the parlor to see caller. who had come
to consult with her regarding the affairs of a
reformatory Of which she was a manager,
and she remained with him about twenty
minutes. Tom, a colored servant, and
Harry Morgan, MI. 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: II am free at last; send fol-
Eliza" meaning his wife, and these were
his last words, for the young man, not real
iZing 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 hus-
band was dead. The end of a long and
eventful life had ONE peacefully and quiet
ly. He lay Oh the bed, outside the cover
ing, only parti ally disrobcd, with his ayes
half closed, as if he were in a gentle sluin-
Der. On his face there were no traces Of
pain or suffering, but a pallor had come
over it which indicated only too plainly
that he had passed away. 1t needed no
close examination to tell that he was dead,
and Mrs. Hendricks screamed and ran
downstairs.
A servant was dispatched to the resi-
dence of DR.. Thompson adjoining, and he
came Immediately, but by the time he had
reached the bedside the limbs of the dead
Vice.President were becoming cold and
rigid, and to Mrs. Hendricks pathetic ap-
peal: "Oh! doctor, can't you do ONE
thing?" he was obliged to answer sit is too
late" Mis-. Hendricks became almost
distracted with grief, and it was an
hour OF more before she was sut1i-
GENTLY composed to give any informa-
ton 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. DR..
Thompson says that in his opinion Mr..
Hendricks died of paralysis Of the brain.
For several years he had not been a robust
man. aud was subject to frequent "bad
SPELLS" as he called them,'' during which
sometimes he would be Frustrated for days
at a time. About two years ago he was
confined to his room for several weeks by a
gangrenous affection Of the foot, which ii
was feared would result in blood-poisOning.
The news of Mr.. Hendricks death spread
rapidly throughout the city, and there was
a general expression of sorrow over it.
Those who were his political enemies
here were his personal friends, and to
everybody who called on him or met him
he always had u pleasant word. There
were crowds around the bulletin boards
downtown all the evening, While in
bue vicinity Ol HIS rcSluence there was
another crowd, all anxious to learn
the particulars of his sudden demise. The
evening papers could not get out extras fast
enough to supply the demand. He had been
dead but a few minutes when forces of men
began draping the State, county and city
buildings in black, and throughout the night
similar emblems were placed on nearly all
the prominent business houses and residen-
ces, so that by morning the city had put on
a general garb Of mourning.
Mi. and Mrs. Hendricks had lived in In
%dianapolis for nearly thirty years. Mrs.
Hendricks, vino is Il brilliant and accom-
plished woman, was of great aid to him in
his political career. Since her husbands
seriou attack two years ago both of them
have been apprehensive Of a sudden end of
his life, and the attachment between then
has grown very strong-aImost sentiment
tally so. So intense had his become. in
fact, that he would not consent for his wife
to be away from him for any length OF
time. Only last week While in Chicago he
accompanied Mrs, Hendricks even on hel
shopping expeditions. They had frequently
talked over his condition and the probable.
tiles OF his early death, and it is evident
that for se:eral months past there has beer
a growing fear of this kind on his mind.
MIR. Hendricks has no near relatives ex-
cept q brother, who lives in Shelbyyille
Ind, and q sister, the wife Of DIR. Winslow
S. Pierce, of New York. He owns consid.
~~INI S,~-, So n : -