The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-24
HIS ILLNESS AND DEATH.
GOVERNOR HovEY DEAD.

InsBeu Quietiy away SnOrtly AFTER noon 1e6-
terday-Mexican Trip Proved Fatal.
Alvin Peterson Hovey. the chief execu-
tive of the Commonwealth of Indiana, is
dead.
After three weeks of illness, the greater
portion of which amounted to nothing
more than q mere indispositlon, the end
came yesterday afternoon, at leo o'clock,
in peaceful, gentle, untroubled fashion.
There ere present in the death chamber.
the wife of Major Menzies, the Governors
daughter. who has been his faithful unre-
mitting nurse since her coming here;
Charles II. Hovey. the only son;
Major Menzies. DIR. Franklin Hays,
and professional attendants The news
spread rapidly. and In very brief space of
time following the announcement bells
were tolling. flags fell to half-mast and
groups Of people began to gather all over
the city, in the hotel corridors and other
public places, discussing the sad news
AS has been announced by the Journal at
various times since the Governors first re-
turn, the real origin of his illness dates
from the Mexican trip. Since the Govern
or's two severe attacks of In grippe he had
been compelled to be more watchful and
careful of himself and his exposure TO sud-
den or severe changes of heat and cold.
The trip to Mexico was proposed some
months ago, and all arrangements made
for il by the Governor Up To within few
weeks of the time set for the start the
Governor had been very anxious to 60 and
looked forward to the trip with great pleas
ure, but as the time drew nearer he be-
4 4
caution the doctor had urged him to con-
stantly exercise. and ne really would have
declined going if he could have done
SO gracefully. But the transportation had
been arranged for, the private car en-
gagged and the party invited, so the Gov
ernor. with his customary answering reso-
luton, determined to go. He told Judge
A. l.. Roache, whom he succeeded upon the
bench In 1854. the day before he started for
Mexico. that he would give q good deal to
get out of going for he had q sort of pre-
monitlon that the trip would work him an
Ill fate.
The trip through the hot, sandy plains of
New Mexico, thon the grad ual ascent in to the
Mexican country until the capital city was
reached, at height of eight thousand
story and realized the Governors fore
bodings.
The depression on his heart and his en-
tire sy stem was very great, ald he showed
1t in his breathing and manner. DR..
Wishard, the physician on the trip. recon-
mended return as soon as possible to
the States. and the stay in Mexico was
very brief. the party returning at once to
the North. The Governor did not
improve, so the latter half of the
tour that had been arranged and
which included the large cities of the South
Atlantic coast States. was greatly curtailed,
only Dallas, Shreveport. Vicksburg and
Memphis being visited on the homeward-
bound trip. At Vicksburg week ago last
night, the 10th. the party arrived in
the city III q terrific storm of rain.
hail and snow. blowing and buster
Ing in every direction. The Gov
ernor contracted severe cold by the
draught blowing through the car. The
heart affection and the bad cold aggra-
waited each other and by the
time the party arrived home on Wednes-
day evening Governor Hovey was very
sick man, far more so than any of the party
realized Since then he has been carefully
nursed and administered TO by his ply
sicians and family. but all the kindly care
and excess of medical skill were not able
to cope with the ravages of that dread
disease la grippe, which Is really the pri-
mary cause of the Governors death.
DIR. Franklin Hays. the Governors ply
scian, said Immediately after the death:
Governor Hovey was much worse this
morning, due largely to the wretched at
mosphere. Sunday he bore evidences cf
marked improvement, his breathing being
much easier. the pulse better and the con-
dition of the vascular circulation more
gratifying. until tho excessive humidity
and warmth of the atmosphere came on
and the functions of respiration and circu-
lation began to be impaired. These changes
for the worse became more marked toward
morning, and were so Increased at noon
that we felt unless there was a decided
cleaning and cooling of the at
mosphere that death was imminent.
| Throughout yesterday and to-day the res
| piration had been maintained by the fire.
| quent treatment of oxy gen and other sus-
| tanning treatments He had been able to
| retain and digest ali food that had been
| given HIM. The Governor had no direct
| heart trouble, nor no organic disease. but
| the simple failure of its functions His two
cases of la grippe. both of which were ex-
| tremely severe, were the foundations of
| his sickness. The first attack was in Feb