Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-31
FOUND DEAD ON The FLOOR
Joel Eaton, an Old Resident, Dies Alone
in His Room,
HEART DISEASE PLAINLY THE CAUSE
Manager of the City's First Gas Plant
md n Familiar Figure for
More Than Twenty
Five Years.

Joel Eaton was found dead in his room at
the Ogden house at o'clock yesterday morn
ing. Death was the result of heart disease,
and as nearly as can be ascertaned he ex-
pred shortly after o'clock on the previous
evening.
Mr.. Eaton's splendid physique and APP
parently ruddy health concealed all evidences
OF the fatal malady, and the news yesterday
morning greatly shocked his friends. His
health had been perfect up to ten days ago,
when he complained of feeling the effects OF
slight cold. On Monday afternoon he told
some of his friends that he was suffering
from severe pains in his chest He was out
walking and stopped at Atkins drug store
and told MIR. Atkins he feared while he was
walking that he would not be able to reach
the hotel. Simple remedies were given him
and he apparently recovered. He ate light
supper between 6 and o'clock and after
smoking a cigar in the hotel rotunda went
up to his room, No. 80, in which he has lived
for nearly twenty years. This was the last
time he was seen alive.
Shortly after 8 o'clock a guest in an ad-
Joining room heard sound in Eaton's room
as If a heavy body had fallen to the floor.
Mr.. Eaton was an early riser and was usu-
ally ready for breakfast at o'clock. AS
he did not appear at the dining room at
that hour yesterday, Clerk Gibbs sent bell
boy to Mr.. Eaton's room. The boy reported
the room locked and that he was unable
to get response to his calls. The clerk
went to- the room and looking over the
transom saw Mr.. Eaton's corpse lying on the
floor. 1t was fully dressed, and chair
beside the body partly overturned Indicated
that the deceased had fallen from 1t. The
door was forced and a hasty examination
made The body was found rigid and cold.
l. II. f~n,. no 1ns1 and
thrown upon couch where Mr.. Eaton had
evidently laid a short time after reaching
his room. He had evidently risen to go into
his bedroom and had reached the chair when
the fatal paroxysm came.
CORONER HOLDS AN INQUEST.
The coroner was notified and took charge
of the remains. An inquest was held at 10
o'clock and the fact developed beyond all
doubt that death resulted from heart disease.
The only remedy taken during the afternoon
or evening was a cup or two of not water.
]. B. Atkins, Day Clerk Gibbs, w. w. Han
thorn and the bell boy were the only wit
nesses examined. Mr.. Atkins testified that
Mr.. Eaton came into his store late in the
afternoon of Monday and told him that while
walking in the vicinity of the Northwestern
depot he was stricken with such severe
pains in his chest that he was fearful he
would never reach his hotel He described
the pains as starting from the center of his
breast anu spreading dCIoSs. WI. fNIhiiS
thought it was acute indigestion, and recon-
mended cup of hot water This gave ap-
parent relief and Mr.. Eaton continued on
his way to the hotel.
Joel Eaton has been familiar figure in
Council Bluffs for nearly thirty years. He
came here from his home in Dedham, Mass,
and in company with A. o. Swift, a Maine
man, built the Council Bluffs gas works in
1870. He continued as the manager of the
works until the new company took possess
sion q few years ago. Mr.. Eaton never was
married. He was SO years old. So far as
known, his only relatives are brother and
sister, Granville N. Eaton and Lucy e. Eaton
who are now residents of San Diego, CAL
They were notified of the sudden death by
wire yesterday morning. A reply was re-
ceived during the day announcing that the
sister would start for Council Blufs TINS
morning Arrangements for the funeral Will
not be made until she arrives. 1t is prob
able that the body Will be taken BACK to
Massachusetts for burial. Other members Of
the family are buried in the cemetery at
Dsdham, and it has always been Mr.. Eaton'o
wish to be buried in the family lot.
But little is known concerning Mr.. Eaton's
property, but he has always been supposed
to be wealthy. Among his papers which were
examined yesterday was found a life insur-
ance policy in the Northwestern Mutual for
SO 900, in which his brother and sister are
named as the benefciaries 1t is understood
that all of his property will go to his brother
and sister.
Mr. Eaton has made his home at the Ogden
house ever since he came to the city. He
was guest when the fire destroyed the build
ing twenty-five years ago, and when 1t was
rebuilt and reopened by Colonel John T.
Baldwin in 1876, he took the rooms he was
occupying at the time of his death. When
the hotel was closed several times during
changes of ownership, Mr.. Eaton never re-