Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-03
WITHOUT WARNING
Engineer Samuel Stranger Sud-
denly Expires.
ATTRIBUTED TO HEART DIEEAsE.

Arrives Home About O'clock This Morn.
Ing and Is Discovered Few Hours Later
Dead In HIS Bed Charles 8. l.. Qoilles
Encounters . Tragic Death n Moline.
Samuel Stranger. the well-known
Rock Island passenger engineer, ex-
pired suddenly and Unexpectedly
early this morning at his home, 22O6
Fifth avenue. and from the fact that
he apparently had been enjoying
good health and displayed no symp-
toms of an approaching attack. his
demise is a shock to his family and
acquaintance. The discovery was
made by Mrs. Stranger about 1880
when she repaired to his room
to summon him to breakfast.
which she had prepared iu the
kitchen adjoining the death cham
Der, in total ignorance Of the horror
which she was about to encounter in
finding her husband dead in bed.
Mr.. Stranger returned fro m his rail-
road duties at the usual time-4
o'clock-and Immediately sought his
couch. Before retiring he inquired of
his wife, who had been suffering a
little indisposition, as to how she
was feeling. Receiving an encour-
aging answer, he retired to the
sleep from which he never awoke.
She Heard HIN Snoring
Disturbed by his coming, the wife
lay awake a considerable time, and
was attracted by loud snoring, but
was not alarmed, as it was his nature
to breath heavily when sleeping, es-
peciallv if he was tired. She paid
no more attention to this, aud arose
about o'clock to prepare the
morning meal. This completed, his
presence was sought. Summoning
him by calls, he did not respond.
Cold Unto Death.
Thinking him sleeping soundly,
she entered the room to arouse him.
and was Mortified to find him cold
and dead, lying on his back in the
center of the bed. From appear
ances the end came painlessly, as
there were no evidences of struggle
with the grim destroyer. DIR. j. r.
Comegys was summoned. and upon
examination of the body, attributed
death to an attack of heart disease,
While Mr.. Stranger had never been
subjected to an irregularity of this
nature, brother, Francis Stranger,
died several years ago with the same
disease.
An Old Engineer.
Tho Iaoaocol xuoS onn - 81
prominent engineers on the Rock
Island system, with which he had
been connected in that capacity for
35 years as q faithful and steady
servant. For the last Is years he
had presided at the throttle of a pas
senger train running between here
and Chicago. prior to that having
charge of a freight engine. He was
formerly member of the Brother
hood Of Engineers. but of late years
had ceased his membership with the
order. He was not associated with
any fraternal or BENEFICIARY organiza-
tions. Mr.. Stranger was born in
Michigan, and was 64 years of age.
Beside wife. two daughters, Miss
Grace Stranger and Mrs. Howard
Murphy. both of Chicago, survive.
The funeral arrangements have
been deferred, pending the arrival
OF the children this evening.
The Coroner's Inquest.
Inquisition over the remains was
conducted by Deputy Coroner Eek
hart and the following jurors: I.
+. Wheelan, J. j. Kelly, James
McQuaid, John Gaffey, Sr., James
Bein. and Charles Wheelan, who
after hearing the testimony, returned
verdict that Samuel Stranger came
to his death from an attack of heart
disease.