Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-19
AT REST.
FATAL RESULT OF EX-PRESIDENT
ARTHUk'S ILLNESS.
A Sudden Stroke OF Cerebral Apo
pleXy Ends His Life-Sketch
of His Life.

By telegraph TO the RECORD UNIoN.l
New YORK, November 1Sth.-Ex Presi-
dent Chester A. Arthur died at his home in
this city at o'clock this morning. The
news Of his death came as great surprise.
Notwithstanding the alarming rumors as
to his health during the summer months,
the supposed improvement in his condition
Conn.,, and the apparent confidence ex-
pressed by his friends who renamed close
to him, created an impression that his
health had been radically improved, giving
him the promise of a renewed lease of life.
His disease was one affecting the kidneys.
Those nearest to him had no faith in his
permanent recovery, but his sudden de-
mise was not spoken OF. He began to sink
rapidly shortly after midnight and bv
o'clock it was known that death was ap-
preaching. He passed away without ap-
parent pain.
As soon as the news of Arthur's death
was made public many flags on public and
private buildings were placed at half mast.
Arthur had lived at 123 Lexington avenue
for twenty years or more.
CEREBRAL AFoPLExY
A stroke of cerebral apoplexy, sudden
but not wholly unexpected by the attend
ing physicians, terminated his life. The
stroke came in his sleep Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning, and he did not rally
thereafter His death was painless-the
slow going out of a burned-down candle
and four hours before the end came be was
unconscious Of his surroundings His son
and daughter, his sister, his former part
ner, Sherman w. Knevals, and his closest
friend Surrogate Rollins, were at his bed
side. All reports to the contrary, Mr.. Ar
thurs health had not improved during his
stay in New London, and on his return,
October 1st, he was no better than when
he left the city. AS time passed no per-
manent improvement came, and the phvsi-
clans feared some such sudden stroke as
the one to which he succumbed In his
enfeebled condition even a light stroke of
apoplexy would have proven 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-Presi-
dent felt better and stronger that at any
time since his illness and commented han
PLY on the fact
THE FATAL ATTACK.
1t was near midnight when his attendant
LET him alone in his bedroom, and nothing
more was heard from him. During the
early morning hours he was not disturbed
until his attendant entered his room at
O'Clock yesterday morning. when he found
Mr.. Arthur lying on his side breathing
heavily, and he could not rouse him. The
family answered his summons. but failed
to elicit any signs of consciousness or
recognition from the ex-President. In
alsrm they summoned bis physician, DIR.
Peters, who has been in attendance upon
Mr.. Arthur throughout his illness, and who
responded promptly. He at once saw that
Mr.. Arthur was suffering from severe
stroke OF cerebral apoplexy, small blood
vessel OF the brain had burst, and the para
lysis OF the right side ensued From the
moment OF the discovery made all hope
was known to be in vain, but no effort was
spared to bring the patient back 10 consci-
ousnesS. They were all alike failure.
CONSCIOUS, But sPEEcnLEss.
Mr.. Arthur lay motionless and speechless
all day. He knew what was going on
about him, for he pressed his doctors hand
and put out his tongue when asked to do
so, but be never spoke or gave any other
sign of consciousness. Last night at
o'clock his enfeebled pulse. more difficult
respiration and other signs OF physical fail
ure, indicated to the watehfll eyes of the
physicians that the end was drawing near.
The change for the worse came on RAPIDLY.
and his sisters and children gathered at his
bedside. Dr. William A. Valentine, DR..
Peters partner and Surrogate Rollins staid
with him all night.
Mr. KneTal5 went home at midnight.
Arthur's strength ebbed out slowly, and