Telegram-herald., 1891-05-30
DEATH ENDS His SPEECH
Details OF Judge breckenridge
Sudden Demise.
SCEyE OF TRAGIC EXCITEMENT.
6asa the Distinguished Jurist FELL ~
the Floor IA His DSsSh FslEt--
AsssaE-- a. and fron1
Ia g EisadA

Bryce, OF [ aion seminary, IL the Pres
bFterta1 general ass mbly were tragic
ally and solemnlF interrupted Thurs
cay afternoon. At @.3J o'clock the
Presbyterian general assembly recon
sened and resumed the discussion OF
the resolution Disappearing OF DR.
Briggs appointment to the chair Of
biblical theology, which had consumed
al the morning hours Judge 5. NJ.
Breekinridge, of 81 Louis. one Of the
elders Of the committee GA theological
seminaries, took the platform ia de-
tense OF the report submitted Wednes-
day night by Or. Patton, the chair
man. and IN support OF the resolution
Of disapproval The speaker was the
picture Of vigorous old age His hair
and beard were frosted with time, but
his rgure WAS erect and his speech,
Erm and decided In the begin
ming. gave no indication OF the
epproach Of death Yet within if
Teen minutes from the time he
stepped upon the platform in the glory
o. splendid manhood, ia the fullest
possession OF uncommon mental at
tributes and apparently of physical
powers far greater than men OF his age
usually enjoy. his lfesess form was
carried from the audience-room OF the
Fort Street church.
He made a strong address In behalf
OF the committees report His voice
was clear 1T the outset, but became
husky and broken after a time. Then,
In evident haste to finish. he grouped
his principal arguments and al
Vanced them without elaboration
aad in short. emphatic sentences.
Finally hs was seen 10 waver
and reached for the desk OF Rev.
Alexander @. Russell. the temporary
clerk. for support lie said Now,
gentlemen, feel that l have dis
charged my duty and wish to be ex-
cused from further speech. My voice
troublcs-I have-I have done my duty.
J."
His voice died away, and turning
half round, as If 10 leave the stage, he
fell To the floor. His failure of speech
was attributed by the great audience
To emotion created by the important
subject under discussion At
once a dozen willing men seated
upon or near the stage sprang
forward 20 save him. Hundreds
in the audience rushed forward moved
by the same desire. The quick, deci-
sive voice of Clerk w. Ii. Roberts avert
ed a crush: STAND back! Stand back!
Let him have ARR The men slowly
settled back in their seats; the women
wept silently. The aisle Eas cleared
and tender hands bore the strick IN
man 20 the room in the rear of the
pulpit
DR.. Yemans, of Detroit. and DIR. Cor
nelius Shepard. of New Brunswick, re-
sponded 10 the moderator's request for
medical attention Every means
known to medical science for produc-
ing artificial respiration and winning
lie back were vainly applied. The
heart ceased TO beat before the
PROSTATE man had been lifted. Heart
failure" was the cause assigned for the
death.
Meanwhile the members of the as
sembly who had not seen the set
features of their fellow-commissione
as the body was carried out be-
iicved or hoped that the illness
was but temporary. not mortal
DIR. Hays. OF Kansas City, arose
in the silence that fell upon the
people and suggested that prayer be
offered DR.. Hays himself was deSig-
mated BY Moderator Green and with
every bead bowed and with the words
echoing in every soul the invocation
went upward This finished. delegate
arose % move an amendment 20 the
pending question
Let US frs hear from Judge BreclS-
inridge do not suppose" began
Dr. Hays. At his iuncture uessen-
ger hastily stepped upon the platform
and whispered to- Or. Roberts The
stated clerk turned to the assembly
and said ia low and suppressed but
penetrating voice: Judge Brccl1,n-
ridge IS dead" There was a solemn
hush.
IL was the climax % dav which will
be historic in the annals of the Prcsbv-
terrain church. There was the wall of
women and The sobbing Of men. The
two divisions Of the house but few
minutes before srrayeA against each
other on wha. they considered
essential points - doctrine, unwilling
81 oonccdo ~ the other, melted and
mingled In n common grief Death had
d.Sarrncd them. Moderator Green in n
fsltering. grief. h.oscn accent offered
prayer. 7, was then suggested By Dr.
ocorgs p. Hsys. down whose
cheeks ere e - cor~sed rs he
snolse ,sss si'-~ ~ moderately bad ap-
pointed a committee 10 draft suitable
minutes s3d resolu, ons 20 spread on
the record. that further business be
foFrgone and the assembly adjourn
While the committee was in con
sultatiou different friends Of the late
Judge Breckiuridge paid warm tributes
81 bis character and worth os a man
and a Christian. A ftsr a halt hour
taken up with evlegies. prayers and
Che singing ~ hymns the COMMITTEES
reported that Gen. Alger had offered
his private car 20 CONVEX the remains
o. - Louis. ard that IL was deemed
advisable % leave ON the sad Journey
a. once
A message had been sent % intercept
Rev. samuel Niecols, pastor Of the
church Of which Judge Breckenridge
vas member. who had left for n
short visit - Cleveland earlier In the
day "a soon as Or. Niccois re-
turned the special train would
leave. An escort committee -
travel with che remains was appointed
IS follows. Drs George y. HAYS g A.