New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-25

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There had been evidences that Colonel Shepard
was suffering from stone in the bladder. lie was
always reticent on the subject Of his physical
ailments, and perhaps no one but his family
physician, DR.. James w. McLane. of No. 81 West
Thrty-eightlst., knew of these symptoms. Dr..
McLane advised that the Colonel should submit
TO surgical examination. To this the patient
consented.
THE FAMILY SENT AWAY.
DR.. McLane summoned DIR. Charles McBurney.
Of No. % West Thirty to make tho
examination with him. DIR. McBurncy is the
attending surgeon at Roosevelt Hospital, where he
personally conducts every operation except the
ones of trivial Importance His surgical experience
is one of the most extensive in the United states,
and he stands among the most eminent men in
hs profession. Colonel Shepard named yesterday
as the day for the examination. He did this
because his wife was to be ont Of the city all
day. He did not wish her to undergo the mental
distress of knowing that he WAS on the operating
table, even il no danger was 10 be apprehended.
Yesterday. Mrs Shepard went to Scarboro,
Wcstchestcr County, where her husband had been
building summer-home which is completion.
She wanted TO see how the work was advancing
Her husband arranged that the medical eAamtna-
tinn should took place In her ahrcuco Hts ed-
est daughter, Mrs. William Jay Schenelln, lives
az No. 35 West Ffty-seventh-st. The neAt, Mis-
Edith Shepard. sailed for Havrc on La Bourgogne
last Saturday with Mrs. William d. sloane She
il. therefore still on the ignorant OF tho
death OF her father The Colonels only son,
Elliott F. Shepard, jr., s at school in Lawrence
vile, ~ J. The two youngest daughters, Alice
about sixteen, and Marguerite. about ten years
old, were at some entertainment, in consequence
OF a little plot OF their father. Thus all the
family away.
BEGINNING THE EXAMINATION.
Colonel Shepard did not 60 10 mis- Office In
THE Nail and EApress' Building yesterday, but
remained at home all the morning with his secre.
tary, W. r. Worrall Soon after noon. Drs.
McBurncy and McLane arrived. They were 40
complained by Dr. McBurney's assistant. DR..
Charles r. Parker of No. Al East Thirty fourth
st.. and by a male trained nurse whose name 10
IToey Colonel Shepard, the physicians and the
nurse went TO the great room on the second hoor
overlooking Ffth-ave., which was the Colonel'a
bedroom The patient was in unusually fine
spirits and chattcd gayly.
About half-past 1? o'clock all was in readiness
for the examination The first application Of
ether was made. Several more were to follow. In
accordance with the practice among surgeons.
The physicians had administered the drug hun.
dreds of times, but the effect Of this first dose
startled them In few moments the patient
was seized with pausca. His breathing was not
good. and soon there evidences OF
oedcma Of the lungs. This disease is a swelling
of the organs, the spaces Of which become filled
with a liquid.
No more of the drug was administered and In
stead strenuous efforts were made TO undo tho
work of the first application. II was plain that
the case serious. even desperate. Oxygen
was sent for, but an hour ami quarter elapsed
before il could be brought TO the house Already,
before l o'clock. the surgeons gave word TO tho
servants that the family should be summoned.
But the consderateness of Colonel Shepard, and
his desire TO spare his loved pain. had placed
them beyond immediate reach. His kindness Of
heart deprived his wife and daughters OF even
the poor boon of taking farewell Of the dying
man.
THE FAMILY COULD NOT BE- SUMMONED.
Wcrd OF her husbands danger could not b
sent to Mrs. Shepard. message was sent to
Mrs Schiefelin, but she was not at home, and
could not be found. Either the younger daugh-
ters could not be communicated with, it was
deemed unwise to bring them to their dying
fathers side.
The application Of oxygen was Of marked value
but only temporarily. IL kept the patient alive
for over two hours longer. About o'clock he
tegan sink. Death was only a question OF
minutes, and finally Of seconds. At twenty
minutes after o'clock it came.
The news was at once tclephoned to Cornelius
Vanderbilt Dr. w. Seward Webb and Chauncey NJ.
Depew at the Grand Central Station. 1t was
known that Mrs Shepard would arrive in the
city on a train due soon after o'clock. DR..
Webb went home and told the news to his wife,
that she might meet her sister and break IL to
her. When Mrs. Shepard stepped from the train
at the Grand Central Station her sister was there
20 make known to her her wdowhood. They
went to the house Of death together, and the wife
was The first near relative to approach the corpse.
Mr. and Mrs Scheffelin arrived at the house
not long afterward and did Alice and Marguerite
Shepard. The son came home from Lawrence.
willie late at night. Cornelius Vanderbilt. John
Sloane, DR.. Webb and DR.. Depew reached the
house in the late afternoon.
A. B. de Frece. business manager Of :" The Mall
and Express" was also among the first comers
He could not help dwelling in thought on his
parting with Colonel Shepard the afternoon b.
fore As the Colonel was leaving his onaoa. NJ.
de Ftece put rose In his buttenhsls. Celond
Rhnpard Was eonooisllH m e lnHooA ~ -