Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-08-12
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
His Unexpected Death at Grey
stone.
Full Account of His Last Illness
He Retained His Faculties Until
the End-Sketch of His Life.

| EW oRk, Aug i,-Sauiiti 81. i IL
den died this morning. lie passed a.
way peacefully ut GreyStone at S,45 o.
clock. There We're present with him
Charles +. Simonds, Samuel Swift and
| his niece, Miss Gould. His death WAS
entirely unexpected, and was due to
failure of the heart, following an acute
attack of di&rrhoea ana nausea.
AS soon us the news of Mr.. Tilden's
death was received ut EonkerS there
was good deal of excitement over it.
Instantly the flags of tie city buildings
and newspaper offices were displayed ut
half mast, and expressions of regret
were heard on all sides at the death of
the eminent statesman. 1t is said he
had not been feeling we'll for several
days.
Mr.. Tilden had been in very feeble
health for some time, yet his sudden
demise this morning was entirely uneX-
pected. The end was peaceful and
quiet. There were present ut the time
Mr.. Tilden's niece, Miss Gould, and
Doctors Charles E. Simonds and Sam
uel Swift.
For several months he had been en-
joying unusually good health, and in
the last six months had gained 80
pounds in flesh. On Saturday lie was
taken with slight chill while sitting
on the porch overlooking the Hudson
river, and was removed to his room,
where he was attended by his friend, DIR.
G.. E. Simonds, of New York, who is
stopping with his family on the neigh
boring estate. The cold settled in his
bowels and stomach. causing vomiting
and purging. With medical aid he felt
much better on Sunday and went out
in his carriage. Monday and yesterday
he also felt much better. Last night
Mr.. Tilden was taken again with the
same symptoms while In the parlor and
was supported to his room by his valet
and private secretary George f. Smith.
On reaching his room the Ex-Governor
experienced trouble in breathing. This
alarmed his friends, and DR.. Simonds
was called. The patient was suffering
from nausea and diarrhoea, and was in
great distress. The difficulty in breath
ing ceased after while, aud he was
placed in bed. Later he was assisted
to an easy chair. DR.. Simonds remain
ed with him all night. Early this
morning Mr.. Tilden began to grow
worse, and was again placed in bed.
The generation of the gases in his stom.
ach and bowels distended them and
caused the failure in the action of the
heart. A second attack of the difficult
ty in breathing REQUIRED and DIR. Swift,
of Yonkers, was called in consultation.
He arrived at Greystone at s O'Clock,
but Mr.. Tilden was then beyond the
reach of all medical skill. The two
physicians consulted together in whis-
pers, but nothing cOHld be done. No
words were uttered by Mr.. Tilden after
DR.. Swift's arrival. He remained con-
scious to the last. The lah0red breaths
grew fainter and more feeble, and at
8.45 a. m. the face of the dying man be-
gan to change. The ashen pallor OF
death slowly crept over his counte-
nance. His eyes slowly closed and his
muscles relaxed, and at $50 he breath
ed his last. At the time Of his death
the only persons in the room were Drs.
Simonds and Swift, Miss Anna Gould,
a relative, the amanuensis of the dead
statesman and his faithful valet. The
members of the family who are out of
town were at once notified by telegraph
of the sad event and are expected here
tonight.
Paralysis and bodily infrmities Incl
dent to old age had reduced Mr.. Tilden
to mere skeleton and his last days
were marked by extreme feebleness.
The routine of daily life for a year past
at his beautiful esidence on the Hud-
son was about as follows: He usually
awoke in the morning about 4.30 o.
clock; an electric bell at the head of his
bed summoned his valet, who gave him
his medicine which he took as regular
ly as he did his food. Afterwards he
would lie abed until o'clock, seeming
lJ doing, though when his valet. think
ing him asleep, approached the bed, he
found his bright eyes open and watch
ing him. If he felt well he was assist
ed down to a O'Clock breakfast which
usually consisted of milk and rich broth.
Owing to paralysis, Mr.. Tilden was un-
able to close his lips and his mouth was
constantly open. His right hand from
the same cause was entirely useless,
trembling all the time. He had not
even the power to raise it to his mouth.
His left hand was but slightly affected
by the stroke of paralysis and he had
the partial use Of it. In eating he used
his left hand to hold up his lower jaw.
His faithful companion, Miss Anna
Gould, who is the sister of the wife OF
Mr.. Aenry Tilden, placed to his mouth
every particle of food that he ate. She
generally put it in his mouth with a
spoon and he was enabled to swallow it
by raising his lower jaw with his left
hand and putting his head back.