Omaha daily bee., 1890-03-22
GENERAL CROOK IS DEAD.
A Sudden Termination OF the Great
Irfdian Fighters Career.
HE DIED FROM HEART FAILURE.
Death, After Ecing Bravcd for Forty
Ycars, Conqucrs the General
i'm His Peaceful
Home.
Death OF General Crook.


United States army, died suddenly in his
rooms in the Grand Pacific hotel this nora
ing His death was 80 sudden that for q
long time his friends and associate officers
OF the army at the headquarters IN ths Pull
mau building could not realize the truth OF
the report. IL was necessary to have tho ro.
port confirmed several times from reliable
sources before it was finally accepted as
true. The shock was all the more sewers ba
cause General Crook had been APP
parently IN the best of health and
spirits up to tho moment he ro-
tired last night. All day yesterday he
was at his desk at the army headquarters
performing her usual labor and directing
the affairs of the division of the Missouri OF
which ne was commander. He was IN his
usual happy frame of mind and wore his old
time smile as he greeted his friends. Last
night with his wife aud sister, Mrs Reed of
Oakland, Md, he attended small social
! gathering at the homo of friend, and after
his return to the hotel chattcd merrily in
the corridor with his acquaintances
When he arose this morning he stepped at
once into an adjoining room, as was his haoit,to
exercise wthIndian clubs dumoells and other
gymnastic devices before putting on his
clothes AS General Crook walked into tho
little gymnasium he called to his wife. He
spoke with effort saying; "Mary Maryi
come quickly l can't breathe" Mrs.
Crook ran hastily into the room to fad tho
general hai fallen to the floor Mrs Crook
called 10 her husband as she leaned over the.
body. Receiving no response she screamed,
aud. running to the door, called for aid. A
moment later score OF guests aud employees
of tho hotel were there in response
to Mrs. Crooks repeated calls.
The house physician was present
almost instantly but he saw NJ the first
glance that the general was already dead.
Major Ely Mcclellan, the army surgeon had
already been summoned from the head
quarters, and he arrived with all the haste
possible, only TO tind that it was true that
General Crook was beyond medical aid. Tho
news was brokcn gently TO Mrs Crook and
Mrs. Reel, who were led to the apartments
of lady friends. Major Mcclellan gave.
orders that no one but friends be permitted
to see either of the ladies, and he at once
telepnoned Adiutant General Wills
liams, to whom he reported tho
facts, and who at once teleCraphed
General Crooks death was heartfailure,
suting from indigestion. He had been
troubled in this way tor many years
DIR. Hurl6urt, the Physician who was sum
moned, sad: II arrived ut General Crook's-
bedside only four or fve minutes before
death supervened. He was suffer-
ing. from irregular action OF the heart
aad his lungs or chest seemed
him in the way of hot applications with
snapsms, hot bags To his feet etc, but he
was in articulo mortis when l arrived
and and n,, died without raLlyog 1t ,,, ap;
failure, but | could not be positive about that
as l had never been called to attend him.
before There may have been
some stomachic complcationsn
Major Randall of General Crooks staff,
said: 1--WE have noticed for some time that
General Crook was not ia his usual health.
He was n man who never complained and
said very little about his sufferngs. Az the
theater last night [ saw that he was not
feeling at all we'll and | asked him if
he were in pain. He said mo" But
think that was the beginning of the end.
General Crook undermined his constitu-
ton in his Indian campaign said Major
Mcclellan this morning. "As everyone
knows, he was u wonderfully active man.
He would stop at nothing and denied him
self every pleasure or other comfort. He
constantly refused to encumber himself
with things that might conduce to his COM
fort, so that he might move around more
quietly. There never was point OF danger
in these western campaigns that he did not
place himself so that good example would.
be set for the army. think the campaign
of 1876 was the foundation for his trouble.
Then he started out with thirty days. ra.
tions for his force and was gone nearly n.
year, spending terribly severe wintor
in ths mountains and on tho west
ern praires far away from the
with the irregularity of meals and the
scarcity Of food, resulted in his stomach
troubles, which Immediately affected his
heart have treated hum every day since
have been attached TO the headquarters in
Chicago, and a few weeks ago ] had about
concluded that his trouble had been over
come. Last week, however, it returned sud-
denly. The attack was quito severe, but as
he came to me the moment he felt i'll there
was little difficulty in getting him in good
shape again. II his death had occurred last
week should not have been surprised but
as he pulled out of that sickness apparently
b 3tter than before, his sudden death was
wholly unexpected by me"
Adiutant General Williams, who assumed
command Immediately after General Crooks
death, has charge of the arrangements for
the funeral. He is in communication with
Secretary Proctor. IL is Mrs. Crooks de-
sire that the body be taken to Oakland, Md,
for burial and her request has been for
wurdcd to the secretary. The funeral will
probably be at the Grand Pacific next sun
day and the body will be taken to Wash
lngton. IL will bo escorted TO the
train by the Chicago regiments of the lll-
nois National guard, as well as the regulars
from Fort Sheridan.
Every official army headquarters has some
expression of deep sorrow to make on hear
ing the news OF the generals death. One OF
the most affected was Adlutant General
Williams who sad "General Crook and
were boys together at West Point aud hsve
since been warm personal friends. | have
berNeu many ears unuer MN.
/ knew him personally and Officially
we'll / know OF no character more
loyal, true, upright and oYable.
Tqat covers all that could say. 1t covers
everything 1 never knew more perfect
character
General Crook would have gone en- the re-
Tired list next year. II Is not known what
plans he had formed for his life thereafter
Arrangements for the funeral have not
yet been made. General Schofeld has been
telegraphed TO in regard to the matter and
his wishes will be considered The
burial will probably take place at
Oakland, Md, the home OF his wifes people,
though possibly II may be thought best To
inter the remains in the Arlington national
cemetery at Washington. General Crook
was sixty-one years of age In September last.
The remains have been taken charge OF by
an undertaken, who is now preparing the
body for its cofn.