Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-08


CHARLES STEWART PARNELL
close of his career was known outside of
his home, it appears-certainly not out
side of Brighton, where he has been liv-
ing since his marriage of Mrs. O'Shea.
For he took to his bed on Thursday last,
on his return from Ireland, and so serious
was his ailment that consultation of
physicians was held next day, yet no word
of the matter reached the press until the
announcement yesterday that he WAS
dead; and even that fact did not reach the
public until at least six hours after its &C.
currence.
Startling Announcement.
His death took place at 11:5s0 Tuesday
evening, and although Brighton is, Of
course, in telegraphic communication with
the outer world, it was not until p. m.
yesterday that details could be obtained.
The immediate cause of his illness was a
cold, and it seems to have been a fatal i'll
ness from the start. On Sunday another
medical consultation was held, and it was
then agreed that the distinguished patient
had been attacked by acute rheumatism.
pain, and was growing perceptibly weak
er. Several hours before his death he be
came unconscious, and so remained until
the end. Mrs. Parnell and the physici ms
were the only ones at the bedside when
the dying man passed away. Mrs. Parnell
believed up to the moment when death
came to thoroughly disabuse her that b r
husband would recover. In spite of this
serious illness and subsequent death not
word was heard until yesterday, when
London and, indeed the whole civilized
world, was shocked with the startling an
nouncement that Parnell was dead.
Not Even His Friends Knew.
Yesterday it leaked out from the state
ments Of his intimate friends that Par
nell had complained to them recently OF
not feeling as we'll as usual, but it was
not thought by anybody that there was
anything serious in the symptoms re-
fsrred to by the late member for Cork
city, though he was thinner than he was
last year. The last time Parnell ap-
peared in public was at Creegs. Ireland,
on Sept. 81, when he delivered long
speech upon the attitude and alleged in
consistencies of Dillon and O'Brien.
Upon that occasion Parnell stated
that he was speaking in defiance of the
orders of the doctors who were attending
hifh, and who had expressly ordered him
70 keep his room.
Mrs. ParneIl In q Continuous swoon.
1t Is said that Mrs. Parnell has been in q
swoon almost ever since her husbands
death. She loved Parnell most Gevotedly,
and is known to have expressed the great
est confidence in his future. Speculation
is already INDUCED in as to the probable
effect upon her own career. Her family
stands among the first in England, and
her brother, General Sir Evelyn Wood,
is highly trusted by Queen Victoria. Mrs.
Parnell has never gone much into society
since her acquaintance with Parnell, but
HIS devoted herself entirely to him and to
her children. She is still q handsome
woman, and comparatively young, and
a. is not believed that she will remain
buried out of sight in the company of her
grief. The newspapers print columns
about Parnell.
The Air of secresy Kept Up.
Reporters fiocked to Brighton yesterday,
looking for details of Parnell's last i'll
ness, but encountered an air of mystery
which seems hard to explain, If 1t be true,
as given out, that death followed in nat
ural course an illness lasting several days.
Mrs. Parnell refused herself to all callers,
rs Whs w NC SApcCtcu, Uut tQe Otn6r men,
bers Of the household told the story with
such evident marks of rehearsal as to in
dictate careful coaching. All details,
such as are never lacking in such cases,
were suppressed, though what purpose
could BE- thus served is difficult to conject-
ure. The two attending physicians, both
local practitioners, left their patients yes
tsrday and went out of town, declining to
make any statement Of the case.
A Rumor of Suicide.
The rumor of suicide which gained cur
rency with the first report of death, has
not been 30 thoroughly refuted as to con.
vince the public that it was utterly un-
founded. Captain O'Shea is responsible
for the statement that while he was call
ing yesterday morning on the firm of law.
yers who have acted as his former wife's
solicitors a telegram arrived from her
asking that a clerk be sent Immediately
to Brighton. Shortly afterward second
telegram came. unsigned, stating that
,Parnell had committed suicide Tuesday
evening. Against all this rumor of sui
ide, chowever, is to be placed the I'M
doubted fact that Mr.. Parnell had been
quite i'll of late.
Justin Mccarthy yesterday said in an
interview that it would be impossible to