The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-15
DEATH OF MRS. POLK.

DEATH OF Mas. POLK.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. August 14.-Sur-
rounded by few loving friends and refa-
tives, Mrs James X. Polk, relct oil the
tenth president of the United States. de-
parted this life at 7:30 O'Clock this morn
ing. peacefully and quietly, in full posses
sion Of her mental faculties.
Mrs. Polk was stricken down on We'd
nesday evening after returning from
drive She suffered little during her brief
illness, and slept some last night. In her
waking moments she cOnversed lntellI-
gently with the members of the family.
Mrs. Polk was conscious of the approach
ing end and only a few moments before IL
came called upon the family TO surround
her, and, placing her hand upon the head
of each member in succession, gave her
blessing. One of the physicians who at
tended Mrs Polk said that be had never
known "A grander character than Mrs
Polk. Her intellect. he said, was un-
dimmed. At 6 o'clock this morning ne
announced to her that the end was very
near. Yes, . she quietly replied, Il know
it. ] am ready for it, and have been all
my life ready TO obey the summons of my
Master. She then at length attested her
faith in the christian religion and spoke of
the great peace of mind il mad always given
her
A large number of kilograms of condol-
lence have been received from prominent
people in all parts of the country, and the
flag on the state capitol was placed at half
mast. The funeral will take place on
Sunday morning. The remains will be
placed in a vault beside those of her dis
tinguished husband.
Mrs. Polk's maiden name was Sarah
ChildTess. She was born near Murfrees-
bOrO, rutherford county, Tennessee, Sept.
4, 1903. and was the daughter Of Joel and
Elizabeth Childress Her father, farmer
in easy circumstances sent her to the
Moravian institute, where she was edu-
Gated. On returning home she married
Mr.. Polk, who was then member of the
legislature Of Tennessee. In the follow
ing year he was elected to congress, |
and during fourteen seasons in Washing
ton Mrs. Folk's courteous manners, sound !
judgment and many attainmeats gave her
a high place in society. On her return as
the wlte o. the president, Mrs Polk de- !
voted herself entirely to her duties as mis- |
tress of the White House. she held week |
ly receptions and abolished the custom of |
giving refreshments to guests. She also |
forbade dancing, as out of keeping with |
the character Of these entertainments. In |
spite of her reforms, Mrs. Polk was ex-
tremely popular.
OBITUARY NOTES.
YANKTON, S D., August 14-Hon. John |
r. Gamble, a lawyer and well known poll |
tician here. who was congressman from |
South Dakota last fall, died at his resi-
dence this morning of paralysis of the
heart. His death will cause political |
chaos. A special election and party con
veniOns viii be necessary to fill the
vacancy.
New YORK. August 1.-THE funeral of
George Jones, of the New York Times, took
place today from All Souls church. Rev
DR.. r. Heber Newton officiating.
A TERRIFIC BLAST.
HUNTINGTON, ". Va, August 14-This
morning At half past o'clock a powder
factory on the Ohio river at Kellogg, w.
Va, four miles below Huntington. blew
up from some unknown cause The ex-
DiOSlOn was i'm the glazing mill. There |
were about two tons Of powder in it. The
main mill. which is a large building and
IN which great quantity OF powder was
stored. was not affected. The noise of the
sXplcs on WIS heard twenty five miles
lway, and its force was SO great as to lit
rally annlhilate the building. Pieces of
imber were thrown across the river into
)hlO. The wOrkmen were Just going to
work in the large mill, but had not entered
In the glazing mill at the time of the
explosion were two workmen, John Bay
e>s and Timothy Cooney. Only unrec-
iA'@'ttbtC t@liGAtS Ol luc DONlbS can He |
ound, and two bucIetfus of shreds Of
iuman flesh have been gathered. George
Wells, who was IN house three hundred
ards away, had his skull broken by
ragment of iron which whirled through
he window of the house He is in a
lying condition. y. N. Parks. Charles :
[nowly and John Shauster. workmen in
he big mill, who were standing four hun s
red yards away, were terribly injured by
lying missiles. A few others were slightly
lurt.