Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-18
R. B. HAYES DEAD
The Ex-President Passes to the
Other Shore.
A SUDDEN TURN FOR THE WORSE

Quickly Closes the Record of tho Eminent
Ohio Citizen-His Last Thoughts and
Words Dwell On His Wife, who Had
"Gone Before''-"I Know I am Going to
Where Lucy Is"-Account of His Brief
Illness and Sketch of His Life and Pub
lie Seryices-His Army Record
FREMONT, o. Jan. Is. Ex-President
Rutherford B. Hayes died at II o'clock last
night. Early in the evening an inquiry
elected the response that the general had
passed fairly well day and was resting
nicely last evening The change from bet
ter to worse was rapid and at II o'clock the
distinguished ex-president passed away.
The first intelligence of this was received
when Webb c. Hayes came down town
and quietly announceakthat his father had
just died Ex-President Hayes was
brought here last Saturday suffering from
an attack of rheumatism of the heart, with
which he had been stricken at Cleveland
His Second Attack in Two Weeks.
1t was the second attack of the kind he
had received within two weeks, and al
though his condition was regarded as
somwhat serious and excited the alarm of
his family, the encouragement given them
by DIR. Hilbest, the family physician. led
them to believe that the patient would soon
recover. For this reason all knowledge Of
the eX-president's illness was kept from the
public, and the fact that he was suffering
from heart trouble did not become known
until Monday afternoon. While DR.. Hill
best remained almost constantly at the dis
tinguished patients bedside no alarming
symptoms appeared until last evening,
when he became rapidly worse
Insisted On Going Home.
Ex-President Hayes left homelast Monday
week on a trip to Columbus, Buffalo and
Cleveland. AT the last named place he
spent few days with his son, Webb c.
Hayes. During the last month the en-
president has complained of one or two
slight attacks of neuralgia of the heart,
but as it soon passed away he thought
nothing of it. On Saturday he experienced
a severe recurrence of the malady, but
being prepared for his return home he
proceeded on his journey, accompanied by
his son Webb. At the Union station, upou
entering the car, he complained of exhaus-
tion and asked for stimulaats They were
given him and he refused to return to his
sons house, saying: IL want to go home.
l would rather die in Spiegel Grove than
live anywhere else
Last Thoughts with His Wife.
He was seized with violent pains in the
chest which lasted until after his return
home. He was treated for angina pectoris,
but while relieved of distress his heart
never recovered its vigor, and life was
suddenly terminated at II o'clock last
night by paralysis of the heart While
dying in his own chamber he frequently
referred to visit made to his wife's grave
on the preceding Sunday and spoke of the
quiet beauty of the snow covered landscape
He said that he almost wished he was ly-
ing there by the side of his wife. 1t was
all so peaceful, "and yet,n he said, al a.h
not unhappy. My life is an exceptionally
happy one"
Was "Going Where Lucy Is
The family were hastily summoned to
his bedside when it became apparent about
10 o'clock that the ex-president was sink
ing. His last words were to his family
physician, DIR. Hilhest, to whom he said:
81 know that l am going to where Lucy
is" The words were spoken distinctly and
his face bore happy smile. Earlier in the
evening there was every reason to sup
pose that the patient would pass com
Portable night and the members of the fam
lily retired to rest, but were summoned
when the physician feared that the dread
summons was near. The exact time of
death was 1915.