St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-16
SUDDENLY STRICKEN DOWN.
Collector Cuernon Joins tie Silent
Majority.
HEART TROUBLE THE CAUSE.
Sketch Of the Deceased, Who Was a
Popular Official and Devoted
Democrat.

DR.. Adelard Guernon, collector: of
customs for the port of ST. Paul, while
Oh his way to his Office Yesterday morn
ing, as he reached the stairs leading to
the second floor of the custom house,
dropped dead upon the tile floor. The
doctor has been afflicted with an affec
ton of the heart for the past year. and
although confined to his home the past
two days, ate hearty breakfast yester
day morning and took tie street car
down town. AS he neared the postoffice
he felt pains in the breast and breathing
became task. He alighted from the
car at the corner Of WabaSha and Fifth
streets and. mounting the stone steps
leading to the WabaSha street entrance,
made his way as far as the register at
the foot of the stairs to the upper floor.
Here breathing became still harder, and
he was thrown into violent hit of
coughing. Leaning upon the register
moment before intending to walk up
stairs. he was suddenly seized with
paroXysm, and, throwing his hands up
over his head, fell back upon the floor
just as Storekeeper Ringwald emerged
from the basement. He picked the life
less form from the floor, and, summon
forts were made TO reSuScitate the I'M
fortunate official, but life was extinct,
and, as is supposed, he was dead before
his head struck the floor. The remains
were removed TO Mccarthy & Don
nelly's, and the sad tidingS were con-
veyed to his family at $50 st. Anthony
avenue. His family have feared that
they would some day be suddenly be-
reaved, but the mood and spirit in
which the deceased left home yester-
day morning aroused no forebodingS of
his fave. The deceased. being phySi-
clan, knew his affection, which only
troubled him at intervals, and of late
had been treating it with hope of ulti-
mate recovery. About four days ago
he was subjected to the same painful
sensation in his breast, and on his way
home remarked to friend that he be-
lieved he would be stricken down with
his old disease, and, if SO, he believed it
would cause his death. Yesterday and
the day before being wet and cold
days, it is thought by his physician that
he contracted cold during the night,
which aggravated his. disease and urged
his untimely end. The remains will be
taken to Little Falls for interment,
where the deceased formerly lived, and
where his family will hereafter reside.
Collector Guernon was born near
Montreal, Canada. and was about fifty
years old. He came to this state about
twenty years. ago and began the practice
of medicine. After while he moved
to Little Falls, where he married, and
where he was school inspector for Nor
rison county for many years. He was
also coroner of Ramsey county, and has
a large circle of friends IN the medical
profession and among prominent men
of this city.
While the principal port of entry of
Minnesota was at st. Vincent, and upon
the suspension of Collector Joseph
Bookwalter, which occurred Sept. |,
1885, DIR. Guernon was appointed his
successor. He held this Office until
Aug. 6, 1856. when the senate failed to
confirm him, and the Office reverted to
Bookwalter, whose term did not expire
until March, 1887. The deceased was
then Teappointed and confirmed April
l, 1887, and has held the office ever
since, his term expiring March l, 1891.
He was prominent Democrat, and was
delegate to the national convention
which nominated President Cleveland.
Aug. l., 1888, st. Paul was made the
principal port, and the deceased again
took up his residence in this city. He
was a large, healthy-lookin man OF a
rather jovial disposition. Always affa-
bic and generous, he won for himself a
large circle of friends who sadly mourn
his loss