Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-08-22
A. C. Sherwood Dead.
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CEN
TRIAL COMMITTEEMAN MEETS
WITH A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Attacked With Vertigo at the st.
Louis Jockey Club-He Fell
Twenty-Eight Feet.
From the st. Louis Republic.

Alex. c. Sherwood, Democratic
State Central Committeeman from the
Thirteenth Congressional District, met
with a deplorable accident at the St.
Louis Jockey Club House last night,
which resulted in his death at st.
Johns Hospital about an hour and a
half later. Mr.. Sherwood had visited
the club house rs the guest of Mr.. c.
c. Maffitt, President, who had gone out
to see Secretary Gwynn on business.
They had partaken of a light luncheon
early in the evening and after sitting
out on the veranda for awhile, Mr..
Maffitt suggested that they go to the
third floor and take a short nap.
About IL O'Clock they arose and
after Mr.. Maf1itt had ordered his ar
rage proceeded to descend the wind
ing stairway which leads to the lower
floors. Mr.. Maffitt was walking about
ten feet ahead of Mr.. Sherwood, when
suddenly he heard q sharp scream.
Turning he saw Mr.. Sherwood top
ping over the banister and grasping
wildly in the air. Mr.. Maffitt rushed
up the steps, but before he could
reach Sherwood he had lost his bal
ance and went dashing down the
opening to the first floor, a distance of
about twenty eight feet. Mr.. Maffitt,
with the assistance of several walters,
picked up the unconscious man and
laid him on a lounge.
DR.. a. V. l.. Brokaw was imme-
diately sent for, and Mr.. Maffitt also
hurried his carriage off for Gov
ernor Francis, who was at his
father-in-law's house in Vandeventer
place. MIR. Sherwood was unconscious
from the time of his fall and did not
speak a word. 1t was surmised that
he had suddenly been attacked with a
fit of vertigo, and as the railing along
the club house steps is very low, he
reeled and, being a very heavy man,
lost his balance completely and was
precipitated below. Mr.. Maffitt said
the whole thing happened in less time
than he could tell it.
Within 20 minutes after the accident
Drs. PIN and Williamson of DR.. Bro
kaw's Office arrived and found on ex-
animation that Mr.. Sherwood had
broken his left arm and his right
shoulder, besides sustaining internal
injuries, He was bandaged up and at
once removed to st. Johns Hospital,
accompanied by Mr.. Mafitt and Gov
ernor Francis, who had by this time
arrived. He never regained con-
sciousness, but sank slowly, and quiet
ly passed away about 1 O'Clock this
morning.
His wife, who is at jefferson City,
was at n notified to come here.
Mr.. Sherwood came to St. Louis
Friday night to purchase a camping
outfit. Saturday he attended the
races with Mr.. Maffitt, and yesterday
morning Mr.. Maffitt called at the
Southern Hotel, and, finding Mr.. Sher-
wood still here, invited him to go to
the Fair Grounds. He was apparently
in the best of health, and Mr.. Mafitt
is at a complete loss to account for his
sudden attack of vertigo, or apoplexy,
or whatever it might have been that
caused him to make the fatal fall.
Alex. G. Sherwood was about 45
years old, and at the time of his death
was clerk in the State Auditors office
at jefferson City. He formerly re-
sided with his wife in Cape Girardeau
county.
Mr.. Sherwood was one of the ablest
and best known politicians in the state.
He was present at the Pertle Springs
convention and ably represented his
district there.
Governor Francis said last night in
speaking of his sudden death that it
was a deplorable thing for the State
Committee, and his loss would be
deeply felt by the entire Democratic
party of the state.