The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-03
GEO. W. CHILDS IS DEAD.
a Great and Good Man Passes Peace
fully Away.

Philadelphia, Feb. S.-The death of
George w. Childs is now question of
but few hours. Shortly after mid
night, one of the physicians said the
case was hopeless A change for the
worse came about 10 o'clock, when
there was a morbid embarra ssment of
the respiration, and since midnight it
has been noticed the pulse was flag
ging.
''The case is now hopeless" added
the physician. "Of course we cannot
give any more definite information
than this. Mr. Childs may live only
few minutes and may linger twenty
four hours; but is rapidly growing
weaker"
1903 a. m.-Childs is dead.
Ch1ldS last illness began with
fainting spell, which seized him while
in his Office in the Ledger building on
Jan. 10. He became unconscious and
DR.. Dacosta was hastily summoned.
Restoratives were applied with the
result that in an hour the patient was
able to walk, with assistance, to his
carriage. He was conveyed home and
Mrs. Childs, who was at their country
place in Wooton, was summoned. DR..
DaCosta called in Drs. Leidy and
Morris. On the following Sunday night
the physicians reluctantly admitted
companied the attack. There was
little reason to doubt but the imme-
diate cause of the attack was over
work and the anxiety attendant upon
his efforts to see that the memory of
his lifelong friend, the late A. ]. DreX-
ell, was properly hOnored. The day
upon which came the attack was spent
by Childs in preparing for the Drexel
memorial services held in the Drexel
institute on Saturday, Jan. 20, two
days after the fatal Thursday. His
enforced absence from the ceremony
worried him profoundly and to this
fact was largely due the relapse which
occurred on the night Of January 81
Mr. Childs was probably as widely
known as any man in the United
States, and there can be no doubt he
was far the best known resident of
( Philadelphia. His popularity in this
city was wonderful. He was familiar
figure on Chestnut street from the
fact that when in the city he always
walked to and from the Ledger office,
| and so regular was he in his habits
| that if he did not appear on the street
! at the regular time the people began
| to inquire whether he was i'll. To all
appearances, Childs was a robust man.,
vet his constitution was very delicate
! He vas of highly nervous temper
iment. and with the attack which
proved the beginning Of his last illness,
ieame almost complete nervous pros
tration.
Those who knew him best believed
he was never a thoroughly happy or
contented man since the death of his
boon companion and business partner,
Anthony ]. Drexel. They were almost
| inseparable in cOmpaniOnShip and it
was a sad blow to have so near. a
friend carried off so suddenly. George
w. Childs Drexel, the youngest son of
the deceased banker, was several years
ago determined upon as the one who
should succeed his father in the inter-
est in the Ledger
The senior Drexel owned a half in
terest in the paper and this interest
became the property Of his son upon
his fathers decease. Young Drexel
had been carefully educated and train
ed with this end in view. Shortly
after his fathers death, his name was
placed at the head Of the editorial col
umns of the Ledger as publisher along
with Childs as editor and proprietor
Childs had three homes, which he and
his family occupied at different seas
ons of the year. His town house on
Walnut street is &, white marble struc-
ture and is one of the most imposing
ledifices on that street of aristocratiC
homes. The country home at WoOten
is surrounded by sixty acres of bea III
tiful grounds. The lawn is said to be
the most beautiful in this country
Here the hospitality which Childs ever
delighted in had one of it's principa
thea tres. The roll of visitors included
many distinguished strangers. In add.
ton to his town and country houses
EChilds had a handsome cottage at Long
Branch, adjoining that of A. ]. Drexel
After midnight, the patient sank rap
idly and it soon became certain the
lend was very near. At his bedside
; where the beloved journalist and phil
anthrophist passed away, were George
. G. Thomas and James w. Paul, of thu
firm of Drexel & Co.; Mr.. and Mrs
John Drexel, Miss Peterson, niece o
Mrs. Childs; Miss Stanley, companion
to Mrs. Childs, and Colonel Edward D
, N0rrnl1