Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-25
COL. SHEPARD'S DEATH
The Well Known New Yorker
 Killed by Ether.
UNEXPECTED END OF A USEFUL LIFE


 Family Funeral Arrangements!
 NEW YORK, March 25.-Up to a late hour to-day the final arrangement for the funeral of the late Col. Elliott F: Shepard had not been made. So sudden and unex- pected was his death that the family can scarcely believe that it is necessary to pro vide for the funeral.
 It is probable that the ceremony will be held Monday afternoon in the church of which he was an officer and will be con ducted by the pastor, Dr. John Hall.
 Col. Elliott Fitch Shepard, editor of the Mail and Express, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at his residence. His death followed the administration of ether by Dr. Charles McBurney and the family physician, Dr. J. W. McIane, who were about to make an examination to ascer4 tain whether the Colonel's suspicion that he suffered from stone in the bladder was correct.
 Ee had been in good health, but nearly a month ago he noticed symptoms that led him to believe that he was afflicted with stone in the bladder. He let it go, and did not consult a physician until week ago, when he went to Dr. McLane and told him of his suspicious.
 The doctor confirmed them, and advised him to at least submit to an examination and to undergo an operation should it be deemed necessary. He agreed to this, and yesterday was decided upon for the exam4 ination.
 Up to the morning he had attended to his business in the usual way. He was at his office every day, and no one there knew of the contemplated operation. He merely told his manager, A. B. DeFreece, that he might not be down on Friday, but would Saturday.
 In the morning about 9 o'clock before the arrival of the doctor he complained of severe pains, and said he thought he would go to bed. But first he went to the tele- phone, called up the office of his paper; and gave number of instructions about the future conduct of the paper should any thing happen to him. @
 As nobody in the office knew he was ill these instructions caused considerable wonder. but it was never the habit of any one there to question anything he did, and net even an inquiry was made as to what might be the matter
 He had induced his wife and his young est daughters, Marguerite and Alice, who were at home, to go off to Scarboro for the day. His son, Elliott F. Shepard, jr., was at home.
 About 1 o'clock the nurses and surgeons being on hand, Col. Shepard said that he was ready for them, and they began the work of putting him under ether. He had inhaled the drug but two or three times when the physician detected dangerous symptoms and stopped the inhalation. He sank rapidly, and for time it was feared that he could not be rallied. Powerful re- storatives were administered. At the end of an hours work with oxygen he was re- stored to partial consciousness, and he con tinued apparently to rally until about o'clock.
 Then, without warning, and for no ap- parent reason, he began rapidly to sink. The oxygen treatment was resumed, but it was of no avail; at 4:20 o'clock he died 4.e was unconscious and his death was peaceful.
 The cause of the death given by the phy- sicians was oedema of the lungs.
 Immediately before Col. Shepards death messages were sent to Mrs. Shepard an nouncing that he was very low and that he might not live. She hurried to the city but did not reach the house until about o'clock.
 Immediate friends of the family began arriving at about 6:30 o'clock Cornelius Vanderbilt was one of the first. Dr. John Hall came about 2 o'clock. Chauncey M.
 
 string of carriages was continually at the Fifth avenue side of the house all the evening.
 Elliott Fitch Shepard was born in James town, Chautauqua county, N. Y., July 25, 1883. He was educated at the University of the City of New York, admitted to the bar in 1858, and for many years practiced in New York city.
 In 1861 and '62 he was elie-de camp on the staff of Gov. Edwin D. Morgan, was in command of the depot volunteers at Elmira, N. Y., and aided in organizing, equiping and forwarding to the field nearly 90, ,0OG troops. He was instrumental in raising the Fifty-frst New York regiment. which was named for him the Shepard rifles He'was the founder of the New York State Bar Association in 1866, which has formed the model for the organization of similar associations in other States. In March, 1888, he purchased the New York Mail and Express.
 In 1867 Col. Shepard became acquainted with Margaret Louise Vanderbilt, the eldest daughter of Wm. H. Vanderbilt, whose l father, the Commodore, was then the head | of the family. It was at a reception of the Governors staff. He fell in love with her and after long courtship proposed mar riage to her It is said that the union was | opposed by Miss Vanderbilt's father, but | the daughter had her own way, and in 1865 | they were married.
 Mrs Shepard, at the death of her father Inherited $12, 2,000,0 ,00O as her share of his estate. The property is safely placed il the securities of the New York Central railroad, with the other Vanderbilt prop erty, and is so arranged that the principa can not be touched The income of tho family is about $1 ,000, ,000 year. Col. Shepard was largely interested ir religious work and was leading member for many years of Dr. John Halls Fifrl Avenue Presbyterian church. l lie was president of the American Sab bath Union, and also vice-president of St Pauls Institute in Asia Minor, which wa mainly endowed by him. In politics he was a Republican. H never ran for any office. He was 6 dele gate to the last Republican convention which renominated MT. Harrison, whom h strongly supported in the last Presidentia campaign.
 l Although he was spoken of as a candi | date for President, his name was no formally proposed at the convention. 6 He was a delegate to all the Republica