The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-04
DEATHS CALL.
1t Comes Suddenly to Captain
John Smith.
Found in a Dying Condition at
the Copeland
BY FRIENDS TODAY.
He Is Entirely Unconscious
When Found,
And Life is Extinct in a Few
Moments.

known of the Republican politicians of
Kansas, died suddenly at the Copeland
hotel at half past nine o'clock this morn
ing.
His tragic death occurred in the wash
room of the hotel. There were dozen
people in the room at the time.
Captain Smiths dying condition was
discovered when a deep gro4n followed
by gurgling sound was heard. L. S
Crum of Oswego heard the sound and
ran to the spot Captain Smith was sit
ting in an apparently easy position but
his head had fallen on his breast and
his breath came in gasps.
'Johnw called Mr.. Crum, but Mr..
Smith did not answer. The hand of
death had already closed with tighten
ing grip on the heart of the unfortunate
man. Two or three others had come up
by this time and another effort was made
to have the dying man speak, but his
head dropped lower on his breast, his
eyes closed, his jaw fell, and with a sud
den gasp he died.
There was no struggle and no evidence
of pain-the heart seemed to suddenly
stop beating and after nature had failed
to continue the circulation of the blood
his life went out
The hands of friends tenderly picked
up the body of the dead man and laid it
on cot. The porter of the hotel breath
lessIy ran for DR.. Sheldon, but when he
arrived glance told him that there was
no hope of restoring life. He felt the
pulse, put his ear to the chest of the in
animate man, listened in vain for the
heart beat and pronounced Captain John
Smith dead.
All was excitement in the hotel Half
a dozen men hurried TO the state house
to notify the governor, state officers and
senate and house of representatives of
the sudden death. The news few over
the city and it was not long until it was
the principal topic.
Crowds surged into the wash room
where the body was stretched on the cot.
Many who had known him in life looked
with fearful eyes upon the form of the
man they had known in political contro-
versies and contests.
Senator Householder. Capt Smiths
old political rival, l. S. Crum and ]. G.
Haskell, his friends and associates, stood
silently over the cot aud gazed on the
lifeless body. Tears moistened Senator
Householder's eyes. John was a good
fellow" said he, "and this is an awful
death"
81 ate breakfast with him." said ex-
state Senator Kelly, "and he seemed un-
usually jolly. There was no wittier,
brighter man than John Ii. Smith, and
this morning his sallies were brighter
than usual"
"Only ten minutes ago he shook hands
with me- said j. G. Haskell, E'and there
was absolutely no indication that he was
not as we'll as usual"
Captain Smiths most intimate friends
never heard that he has ever suffered
with heart disease, though DR.. Sheldon
who was called in attributed his death to
paralysis of the heart He was of an
exceedingly strong constitution and was
never sick.
Captain Smith was 81 years of age.
He lived in Columbus He moved to
Kansas shortly after the war. His family
consists of wife and two children. Mrs.
Smith is at Columbus, Miss Mona Smith,
the daughter is attending Bethany col
lege, and Harry Smith, the son, is in
Mexico.
There was no more familiar figure
among Republican politicians than capt.
John II Smith. He attended every state
convention and when the slate was made
he WAS always consulted He was a
/ member of the legislature many years
| ago, had been deputy United States mar
snail, warden of the state penitentiary,
| and president of the state board of pub
| lie works. When the first Populist leg
islature was elected in 1890 and Governor
| Humphrey and the other state officers
got in by scratch, Capt Smith was sec
retary of the state central committee
He was acknowledged to be a shrewd
politician.
He has been in Topeka during the
session of this legislature, working for
the appropriation for the state Reforma-
! tory at Hutchinson. He was successful,
and late last week the appropriation
| passed both houses and went to the gov
ernor. The reason Captain Smith took
SO much interest in this appropriation
was because he expected to be appointed
superintendent of the institution. and il
was the general talk among politicians
that he was to be given the place.
Captain Smith has been in business al
Columbus. He was a silent partner in
the general store of KIeinneld. Hoy &
Co, which failed about year ago.
The body WAS taken to Palmer's under
taking establishment and viewed by the
coroner, who did not consider it necessary
to hold an inquest.