The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-13
End Of the Aged Statesman Hastened
by n Serious Fall I'm HIS Library
Over a Month Ago.
INCIDENTS OF HIS LAST DAYS
ONE OF HIS WHIMs WAS TO TALK
FRENCH WITH THE DOCTOR.
Career of the Ex-Senator-Proclam
ton by Gov. neutrality-suspicious.
from Old-Time Colleagues.

COLUMBUS, o., Dec. 1-The long and
useful career OF Judge Anen G. Thurman
came to close this afternoon at Ills
o'clock at his residence, corner OF Rich
street and Washington avenue. The end
was peaceful In the extreme, and the soul
OF the Democratic statesman left the earth
ly habitation without sign of physical dis
tress At the instant OF dissolution and for
some hours before Judge Thurman had
been lying in an unconscious condition. He
passed merely from sleep temporal to sleep
eternal, and the change was hardly notice.
able even to the loved ones who surrounded
his bedside. In the midst of the volumes OF
knowledge he priced SO dearly and amid
the scenes where he has spent so many
pleasant hours Of his happy old age, the
vital spark took wings from the image of
clay. Judge Thurman died in his beloved
library, which looks toward the setting sun.
Shortly after his fall several weeks ago his
bed was moved from the adjoining room to
his library and he remained there. Judge
Thurman has lived with his son. Allen w.
Thurman, since the death of his wife sew
eral years ago. and, being unable to leave
the house, he occupied apartments In the
second story OF the residence. where he
spent the last days OF his life IN remarks
ably pleasant and agreeable manner.
The beginning of Judge Thurman's fatal
Illness dates from Nov last, when he fell
heavily while walking across the library
floor. A few days after the fall Judge Thur
mans life was despaired OF, but he rallied
from the shock and at times apparently
seemed to have regained his old-time vigor
Nov. 1a Judge Thurman was eighty-two
years old. and on that date several OF his
old friends called on him and had a pleas
ant chat. On that occasion he smoked a
cigar with his friends and seemed unusually
cheerful and bright. Since the accident he
had his good days and his bad ones. He
had been confined to his bed nearly all the
time and his physician, DR.. W. H. Whit
aker, called on him daily. That he was
steadily growing weaker was apparent to
all, and it had been known for some time
that his lease on life could not be pro-
tracted much longer On account of his
confinement to bed Judge Thurman began
to be afflicted with bed sores, and In order
to relieve this unpleasantness he at times
sat up and stood up. but he had not at
tempted to walk since his fall. Last Tues
day when DR.. Whitaker called he found his
patient sitting up in a chair smoking a
cigar and apparently enjoying it. He shook
hands with the doctor and said: My dear
doctor, sit down and talk to me-" He
seemed very buoyant and cracked a joke,
and, as was his habit, talked TO the doctor
in French. 1t should be remarked that re-
Gently it seemed to be one of Judge Thur
mans delights to talk French, showing the
remarkable vigor of his mental powers.
LastTuesday DR.. Whitaker noticed that he
did not continue his French conversation
1n., y. 1t~-
and when he got back into bed his pulse
was rather feeble.
When DR.. Whitaker saw Judge Thurman
Wednesday about p. m. he seemed listless
and rather heavy about his eyes. and in
his mental operations. However. he recog-
nized the physician and members of the
family. The change for the worse became
quite marked shortly after midnight
Wednesday and at a. m. the family be-
came alarmed and sent for DR.. Whitaker.
At that time DR.. Whitaker found his vener-
able patient almost unconscious. Mucus
had filled the bronchial tubes and his
breathing was labored. DR.. Whitaker
aroused him sufficiently to ask him if
he was thirsty and Judge Thurman nodded
his head in assent. DR.. Whitaker gave him
little water and whisky. which he swal-
lowed with difficulty. He seemed. however,
to be partially conscious of what he was
doing. He then sunk into heavy stupor
from which he was never aroused. 1t was
known at Q a. m. that the beginning of the
end had set in and the family were SO noti-
fed.
AT 10 o'clock this morning DR.. Whitaker
found the patient gradually sinking. He
gave him q little water and whisky, which
was swallowed mechanically. Judge Thur
man was perfectly unconscious and re-
mained so until he passed away at 1:15 p.
m. At the final scene all of the immediate
family were at his bedside. He seemed to
be free from all distress and during the
morning hours all that the sorrowing family
could do was to moisten his parched lips
at intervals. Those present at the death
were Mr.. and Mrs Allen w. Thurman and
the following grandchildren: Lee, Miss
Catherine, Allen c., jr., Daniel c.
and sterling Thurman. all children of
Mr.. Allen w. Thurman.
1t was decided tonight to have the fun
eral at the residence at 10 a. m. Saturday
While efforts viii be made to have the
services as l.ivately as possible, in defer
ence to public sentiment al who desire
will be given an opportunity to view the
remains at the residence. Rev. j. L. Grow
er. who to-day celebrated his eighty-ninth
birthday, will preach the sermon 1t was
Judge Thurman's request that II Rev. Mr..
Grover was living and in good health the
latter should preach the sermon at his
funeral Mr.. Grover is at present city
librarian. a position he has held for twenty
two years, and Is still very active man.