Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-22
BOB INCERSOLL DEAD,
He Passes Away Suddenly
and Unexpectedly
HIS AILMENT HEART DISEASE,
He Had Suffered from This Since
1895.
DEATH CAME AS HE WISHED IN
lie Once Thought lie Would Lik. ia
Die Slowly, So That lie Could Tell
Hoped for Sudden Death.

NEW YORK, July a.-Colonel Robert
G. Ingersoll died at his home. Walston-
on-Hudson, near Dobb's Ferry, to-day.
His death was sudden and unexpected.
and resulted from heart-disease. from
which he had suffered since 1896. In that
year during the Republican National
Convention. he was taken III, and had to
return home. He never fully recovered
from the attack Of heart-disease. and was
under the care Of physicians constantly.
For the last three days Mr.. Ingersoll
had not been feeling wei. Last night he
was in better health. and spent portion
of the evening playing billiards with Wal.
ston II. Brown, his son-in-law and c. p.
Farrell. his brother-in-law and private
secretary. He seemed to be in better
health and spirits when he retired than
he bad been for several days.
This morning he rose at the usual hour
and joined the family at breakfast. lie
then said he had spent a bad night, but
felt better. He had been suffering from
abdominal pains and tightness about the
chest. He did not think his condition at
all dangerous.
Colonel Ingerson spent the morning
swinging in hammock and sitting on
the yeranda with the members OF tho
family. He said he was better and had
no pain. At 1890 he started to 80 up
stairs
HIS DEATH INSTANTANEOUS
ON reaching the head of the stairs Col.
onel lngers0ll turned into his wife's room.
Mrs. lngersoll was thore. Together they
discussed what they would have for
/ luncheon, and Colonel lngersoll said hs
! had better not eat much, owing TO III,
/ trouble with his stomach IIe Deeraeh ~
/ good spirits then. After talking FOR a few
minutes Colonel Ingcrsoll crossed the
room and sat down In a rocking chair. He
! leaned his head upon his hand, which
rested on the back of the chair. Mrs In
! gers0ll asked him how he was feeling.
| and he replied "Oh! BETTER
| These were his last words. second
| after they were uttered ne was dead.
! The only sign noticed by Mrs. Ingersoll
was that the whites OF his eyes suddenly
! showed. There was not even a sigh or
81 groan as death came.
Doctors were hastily called, but their
/ verdict was that death had come in
/ stantly
FUNERAL MONDAY. -
40 arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral. but 81 will probably taka
place on Monday at the house. ana the
lutcrment viii be In Sleepy-Hollow Gene
terry. NJ Tarrytown.
Mrs lngarsoll was the only person in
the room with the Colonel when he died.
Death came 10 him as ne had recently
| expressed a desire IL should. He often
| IN old times said he wished TO die slowly,
! with fun consciousness. so that he might
] tell those about him how IL felt Recently
ne experienced a change. and said he de-
sired 20 die panlessy and without warn
ing.
COLONEL INGERSOLLS CAREER.
Robert Greene Ingcrsoll was born IN
Dresden. ~ y. August II, 1893. Ills fa'
Their was a Congregational clergyman OF
such broad Views as frequently % cause
dissenslon between himself and hi
parish. The sons boyhood was spent ~
Wisconsin and Illinois. where the family
removed I'm 1913. After studying law he
opened a law office in Snawneetown. H.
with his brother. Eben. who was suisse
queutly a member OF Congress.
Both engaged I'm politics, but the sur
roundngs were uncongenial. and 10 10
| ne removed 10 ItNi lis HI lou AA'A'ii VIZ
| "a Democratic candidate for Congress
but was defeated In 1862 hos became col
onel of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, anc
q year and half later united with tho
Republican party.
IN 1866 he was appointed Aitorney-Gen
eral for Illinois. At the National Repub
llcan Convention OF 1876 he proposed th'
name of James G.. Blaine FOR the presi
dental nomination I'm 4 speech that at
tractcd much attention.
From that time his services as cam
paign orator were IN demand throughou
the country. In 1871 h. refused the pos
/ Of Minister 20 Germany
Re has aiken part I'm numerous law
suits I'm all parts OF the country, and wa.
counsel for the so-called star-Toute con
spirators. whose trial ended in acquitted
I'm 1883. lie became well known by hr
books. pamphlets. and speeches directed
against the Christian religion.
Mr.. Ingorsoll went 20 Washington II
1879. and, with his brother, +. c. Inger'
soil. opened law offices there I'm 1855 n
went 10 New York and continued hi
practice there.