The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-29
A SUDDEN SUMMONS.
A. c. Runyau Dies suddenly OF Heart Disea sc
AZ tn. Stock Yards.


casa Runyan is dead"
This was the startling announcement
that passed around from mouth to mouth
about O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
People didn't believe it, aud many went
up to the stock yards to see for themselves
only to find that it was too true.
An EAGLE reporter was the first On the
ground after the announcement was made,
and saw the body before it Was disturbed.
1t was found in remote corner Of the hay
warehouse of the stock yards. and the po-
sition indicated that he died while asleep.
One foot rested on a bale OF hay, with the
knee bent, while the other limb was
straight and in such position as would
De expected if a man was sleeping where
the body lay. The hat was pulled down
over the eyes. and one hand was under the
oack of the head, while the other rested up
against the chin. There was no
sign o. struggle Not mus
Gle was moved, and the prob
ability is that he went from one sleep Into
another without realizing it.
The doctors agree that heart failure was
The cause OF death. He probably had
taken little morphins to ease pains he
had been having for several days, and it
was thought at first that he might have
taken an overdose OF =, but the doctors
examined the pupil Of the eye, where
morphine manifests itself, but no evidence
that he had taken any could be found
there. There were some powders found
in his pocket but he evidently had used
of -
matter is Mr.. Runyan was sub
ject to cramps and on various
occasions took morphine for relief He
understood the use Of the drug, and he
could hot have taken an overdose of it.
On the other hand he was badly afflicted
with heart disease. He knew ne had it
and he feared it every day. Wednesday
he felt pains in the region of the heart and
he told street car driver that be expected
TO be taken CT suddenly at any time. Re-
Gently he wanted his insurance changed,
but his physician advised him not to as
his heart was in such II very bad condition
that he had better remain in the company
be was in. AS late as Friday night Dr..
Chenauit, his father-in-law told him that
his heart was in a very serious condition
and advised him to quit smoking at once
if he desired to live. Mr. Runyan was an
excessive smoker and it was this excess
that ruined his heart and no doubt, caused
his DEATH He was very sick yesterday
morning with intestinal troubles and
went to the warehouse to lay down and
get relief. That be fell asleep. there is no
doubt, and in that sleep his heart failed
him. When he started to the ware
house he told Joe Ransom that he
Was sick and would go home. This was
shortly after 10 O'Clock and the body was
not found until after p. III. No one ex-
pected there was anything wrong. and the
finding of the body in the hay warehouse
was purely accidental. as it was thought
all day that he had gone home. Friday
he was sick also and took peppermint and
ginger all day to relieve his internal pains
When the body was found the coroner
was telephoned for as we'll as DR.. St John
and DR.. Oldham. When the coroner ar
rived there he empannelled Il jury who
viewed the body after it had been taken
from the scene of the death to the Office of
the Stock Exchange company. The jurors
are j. L. Gregory, G. NJ. Grimes. W. NJ.
Paugh, Frank Robbins. George Rankin
and Joe Rawsome. DIR. Chenault was
present also. The jurors. as stated,
viewed the body and adjourned to meet at
the coroner's office Monday morning.
Undertaken Gill prepared the remains and
the body was taken to his late home on
North Topeka avenue about o'clock.
The funeral services will be held this
afternoon at O'Clock and the remains VIII
be shipped to Lexington, Kentucky. for
burial. The funeral services will be held
under the auspices of the Knights Temp
lar, Of which he was an honored member.
The A. .. L. w. and Company A Wichita
Light Infantry will also attend The funeral
services. His life was insured i'll two orders
for about S., 900 and his assessments were
paid regularly.
A. c. Runyan was born at Lexin gton,
Kentucky. in May, 1853, and was there
fore on his thirty-six years at the time of
his death. His mother WAS cousin to !
Senator Joe Blackburn and his father, |
Who was here recently, is one of the most |
men OF the blue grass regions. |
He WAS the only son, and the only child |
except a sister, who is living in Wisconsin. |
Five years ago he became secretary of the !
Stock exchange. a position which he has !
leld ever since. A nober fellow than |
Asa" Runyon never lived in Wichita. |
He had As many friends as any man in
own and they were warm ones. He was
If a very cheerful disposition and |
wherever he was he was happy himself |
md made every one around him happy
lie was very popular at the stock yards
md great stout men shed tears when the |
ad announcement was made that he was
lead. He was 4 model husband and "a
model father aud made the elegant new
loms he built recently very happy. His
leath is greatly regretted by all classes.
Don't forget the debate between Doug