The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-05

side about 9 o'clock. and shortly after
those beside him were alarmed at the lack
OF evidences of life, and the Doctor was
sent for. This teiephune and messenger
service was utilized to the fullest extent,
but when the physician arrived he had
partially revived. and was again fighting
for life. Up to a late hour no change had
taken place. but il is only o question OF o
few short hours until the end.
Mr.. Rice was taken sick just five weeks
ago tonight. DIR. Metcalfe was summoned
few days acute symptoms of pneumonia.
At the end of two weeks they appeared to
be gone, bnt an extreme exhaustion fol-
lowed. from which he seemed un-
able TO- rally. Dr.. carp was
Jameson. Medical skill and all it could do
seemed to be of no avail, for from that
time on he gradually grew weaker and
weaker. The Die seemed to be with his
heart, and there AVE been times when his
physicians were about to pronounce him
dead, so long did all heart action and res
p~iration cease, bnt his vigorous cOnstitu-
ton and indomitable will would
rally all his forces again and he would ap-
pear to grow better. DIR. Jameson said
last night: Il IA seldom seen q man
with such q tenacity to life as Mr.. Rice has.
When death comes on most men give up to
il in a very few hours. but he has been
lighting It for the last two weeks. He il
liable to die at any moment and II he
were an ordinary man. i think 1 might say
Just how SOON" Mrs. Ryan. Mr.. Rice's
sister, has been in attendance at his rooms
DC the Grand Hotel all through his illness,
which has been a painless one. as far as the
ply seal suffering goes, and she was
the one to soothe his last hours.
During the last week he has
was able TO recognize friends who called
On him. though he seemed to know those
about him. A number of prominent men,
both Democrats and Republicans, made
- A 4 L,-
last night. and there was none but the
kindest of sympathy expressed when his
condition was made known.
Ind, in 1913, in which place he spent his
boyhood days and part of his early man.
hood. Though intended for mercantile
pursuits by his father. he early developed
q prediction for politics. which
led him away from them and
into q field in which be has had success sell
dom attained. 1t is told of him that.
when quite a youDg man, whenever he
would hear of O political convention in the
State he would pack his grip and attend.
and that to discuss p~oliJics he would drop
everything else, no matter how Important.
He was made secretary of the Democratic
State committee, In the early seventies.
and served in that capacity with
great credit To himself and party.
~ 10
In 1852 and again In 1884. On retiring from
that office he was offered the SUPERNATURAL
nomination by his acknowledgements, but,
with An underestimate of his own worth,
he declined. Since that time, while always
Mt the of his party. and most fire.
quently called on when measures
of importance were contemplated.
he has been engaged in varIous
railroad and private business TRANSACTIONS
out of which he has amassed n considerab BILE
fortune. When the Indiana gas-iields were
opened mp he made many profitable in
vestments in the region, and used to fire.
quently tell OF the way he got
started IN on them. He had
stopped for the night at Muncie,
and met some friend at the hotel in the
evening who was very enthusiastic about
the prospects CT Muncie. He urged Mr..
Rlce to buy a certain piece of property,
telling him that it was bound TO increase
heavily in value. Mr.. Rice. more to
get rid of the man than with an
idea of making any money, bought it.,
and went upstairs 10 bed. On his way to
breakfast the following morning someone
tapped him on the shoulder and asked him
If he had not the option on a certain piece
of property. Rice replied that he had pur-
chased it the night before. We'll"
said the fellow. "Pn give you
$500 for your bargain kice
took it. and was so impressed with the in
eident that he invested heavily In MuncIe
real estate. and profitably. He has never
married. and has lived at the Grand Hotel