The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-19
Death the Immediate Result of Stroke Of
Apoplexy, Superinduced by Kidney Trou-
bles and Complication of Diseases.
The Funeral to Take Place in New York
at Nine O'Clock Monday Morning.
Public and Personal Tributes to the Dead
Action of New York City Courts-Brief
Sketch Of His Life and Public Services.
AN UNEXPECTED ENDING.
A Stroke of Apoplexy, from Which the Ex
President Never Rallied.

President Never Rallied
NEW YORK. Nov. 18-Ex-President Chester
A. Arthur died at o'clock this morning, at his
residence, No. 123 Lexington avenue. He had
been ailing for some time from complication of
diseases, principally kidney affection. He had
spent the summer at watering place, and it
was supposed that this had strengthened some
what his enfeebled constitution. His death was
unexpected, it not being supposed outside of his
house that he was in any immediate danger
The news came as a great surprise, notwith
standing the alarming ruTnors to his health
during the summer months The supposed i'm
provemen: in his condition noted during his stay
in New London, Conn, and the apparent conf
dence expressed by the friends who remained
close to him, created the impression that his
health had been radically improved, giving him
the promise of renewed lease of life. Those
nearest him had no faith in his permanent recov-
cry. but his sudden demise was not spoken Of
He began to sink rapidly shortly after midnight,
and by o'clock it was known that death was ap-
preaching. He passed away without apparent
pain.
AS socn as the news of Mr.. Arthur's death was
made public, many flags public and private
had lived at No. 1o3 Lexington avenue for TWEEN
ty years or more. A stroke of cerebral apoplexy.
sudden but not wholly unexpected by the attend
ing physicians, terminated his life. The stroke
came in his sleep, between Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning, and he did not rally there
after His death was painless-the slow going
out of burned down candle, and for hours be-
fore the end came he was unconscious to his sur
rounding. His son and daughter, his sister, his
former law partner, Sherman w. Kneyals, and
his closest friend Surrogate Rollins, were at his
bedside
All reports to the contrary Mr.. Arthurs health
had not improved during his stay in New Lor
don, six weeks ago, and at his return, on Oct l.
he was no better than when he left the city. AS
time passed, no permanent improvement
! came, and the physicians feared some
| such suduen s..rToke IS .Ae 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 marked
change for the better set in On Tuesday the
ex President felt better and stronger than at any
time since he Was taken sick, and commented
hopefully upon the fact
1t was after midnight when his attendant left
him alone in his bedroom, and nothing was
heard Of him during the early morning hours.
He was not disturbed until his attendant en-
tered his room at o'clock yesterday morning.
He found Mr. Arthur lying on his side. breath
ing heavily, and could not rouse him. The fam
lily answered his summons, but failed to elicit
any signs of consciousness or recognition from
A. T.. :.
ply siclan, Dr. George A. Peters, who has been
in attendance upon Mr.. Arthur throughout his
Illness and who responded 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 tie right side
had epsued. From the moment the discovery
was made all hope was known to be vain, but
no efforts were spared to bring the patient back
to consciousness They were all alike failures
Mr.. Arthur lay notionless and speechless all
day. He knew what was going on about him,
for he squeezed his doctors hand. put out his
tongue partly when asked to do So but he never
spoke or gave any other sign of consciousness.
Last night. at 6 clock, the enfeebled pulse
more difficult respiration, and other SIGNS of
physical failure, indicated tothe 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.. William A. Valentine, DR.. Peters's partner
and Surrogate Rollins, stayed with them during
the night. Mr.. Kneyals went home at midnight
Mr.. Arthurs strength ebbed out slowly, and
with it his life. 1t was o'clock when the end
| came He had been entirely senselcss for hours
and died without struggle.
DR. George A. Peters was found at his Office
to-day. He said: "Mr. Arthur died of cerebral
apoplexy; that is, it was the immediate cause
1t was one of tbs ways in which his trouble
might terminate at any time. To that extent it
was not unexpected. For two Or three years
Mr. Arthur had suffered from ar enlarged and
enfeebed heart, and the variety of symptoms
that alarmed his friends were the natural result
of his condition. He had kidney trouble
-Brieht's disease-but it was not the cause of
his death. A man OF less powerful constitution
would have succumbed much sooner. His great
physical strength pulled him through as far as
this. Mr.. Arthur was not only physically
strong, but a mighty good man, and thoce who
were closest TO him in his troubles learned to
value him most highly"
kilograms conveying the intelligence
Of the death of the ex-President have
been sent to his brother Maj Will
| lam Arthur, of the United States reg
ular army, stationed at San Antonio, Tex; to
General Brewster, at Philadelphia; ex-Secretary
w. E. Chandler, who called on Mr. Arthur on
Monday. and to other members of the Cabinet
of the late administration, and also to some per.
sonal friends of tho deceased 1t is expected
that the members OF President Arthur's Cab-