Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-04
GEORGE W.CHILDSDEAD.
The World Famed PhilanthrOpiSt
Passes Quietly Away.
IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING
That He Gave Up the Battle Of
Life-A Short History Of His
Last Illness-He Lived For
Others and Was the Most Popu-
lar Man in America.

PHILADELPHIA. February S.-George w.
Childs, editor and proprietor Of the Public
Ledger, died at his home, Twenty-second
and Walnut streets, at SOL o'clock this
morning,
At 10 o'clock last night his respiration
became embarrassed and the physicians at
the bedside saw that the end was close at
hand At midnight the patients pulse was
tagging and he sank gradually but steadily
until death came to put an end to the long
struggle for life. Mrs. Childs and Drs. Da
Costa, Leidy and Mills were in the sick
room at the end.
The end of the great publisher and
world famous philanthrop.s came Win the
same tranquility with which his remark
able career has been marked. At his bed
side were the physicians who had carefully
watched bis every symptom since the day
he was stricken, and Mrs Childs, the com
paniOn OF his years OF usefulness.
1t was scarcely more tI.S two weeks
ago, on Thursday, January Is, that the sad
end was startlingly foreshadowed. Pr
vate Secretary Steele heard a noise as of a
heavy body falling in the publishers pri-
vate Office. Instantly rushing into the
room he found Mr.. Childs outstretched
upon the floor in an utterly helpless condi-
tion. Summouing night editor Shepard,
the two together quietly lifted the sick
man TO a couch and
sTIMULANTs WERE ADMINISTERED,
which revived the sufferer somewhat. It
was then found that be had been attacked
Dy vertigo He nad been sitting IN his
chair at his desk reading when the stroke
fell, and as he lurched forward and fell 20
the floor be still held letter in his clasp.
Even before Or. j. NJ. DaCosta could ar
rive i'm answer 10 the hasty summons 1t
was discovered that Mr.. Chllds' right arm
was hanging limp at his side. They per-
Ceived also something far more serious,
that his brain had been affected. They
finally arrived at the belief that blood
vessel had bursted But in few days his
condition grew alarmingly worse, and he
soon relapsed into his former semi-con-
sciousness. In his pitiful plight, he lay
for DAYS at a time. AT rare intervals he
seemed TO understand what was going on
around him, aud of the many questions al.
dressed 10 him nut only once or twice dur
ing all mis- long illness was he able to utter
words thai the physicians at his bedside
listening carefully as they might could in
terpret
Though once or twice in the last few
days the attending physicians thought they
saw CLEAN OF hope, the bulletins issued
couragement, and the many friends Of the
famous editor felt that the enc was only
question Of
VERY SHORT TIME.
Mr. Childs was changed man from the
day of the sudden death Of his lifelong
friend and bosom companion, Anthony j.
Drexe. in June Of last year. Those who
were close 10 him and capable Of noting
his everyday life saw that the blow fell
heavily and that there was loss of buoy
ancy-a gradual lessening Of his spirit and
vim. The loss of his friend was more than
he could bear Close friends feared the
worst and looked sadly upon the oncoming
disaster.
The change for the worse came unex-
pectedly. Those in position to know said
as late as yesterday afternoon that Mr..
Childs, though certain TO die, would live
four or FIVE days yet One OF the physi-
clans in attendance upon Mr.. Childs made
the following statement this morning to a
representative of the Associated Press:
Mr.. Childs suffered no pain aud his end
was peaceful He had been unconscious
for the past three days except at intervals
The change for the worse became manifest
about $3.50 last evening. His pulse faltered
and he grew rapidly worse. Then it was
apparent the end was near and that his
death was only question OF a few hours
Mr. Childs' lower limbs were not paralyzed
as has been stated. The stroke emily affect
ed his right side, he having lost the use of
both MS right arm and leg. Mr.. Childs
during his last hours lay like q child asleep
and when he grew so much Morse about
midnight, every attempt was made TO rouse
him but without avail.
Mr.. Childs' fortune Is believed to be
large, but whether it be
ONE MILLION OR TEN,
is question that only those intimately
associated with his affairs can say. He
was in receipt of very large income for
years and he made excellent investments
IN many ways But whiie his income was
so large his expenditures also were great
especially so in support of educational and
charits BILE institutions aud in direct chari!
ties.
AS early as 10 o'clock kilograms of con-
dolence began TO pour into the Ledger
ofice. These, as fast as they were re-
ceived, were sent TO Mrs, Childs.