The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-22
DEATH CAME
LIKE A THIEF
in THE NIGHT
To Col. Robert G. IngersOll, the
Great Asnostie, and just
as he Wished it.
SLIPPED away FROM LIFE
"Into the Tongusless Silence OF
the Dreamless Dust"..Death
From Heart Disease.

NEW YORK, July 21.-colonel Robert
@. Ingersoll died at his home. walston-
on-Hudson, near Dobbs Ferry to-day,
His death was sudden and unexpected
and resulted from the heart disease
from which he suffered since 1ss6. In
that year during the Republican ma
tional convention, he was taken III and
had to return home. He never fully re-
covered from the attack Of heart dis
ease and was under the care Of ply
siclan constantly.
For the last three days Mr.. IngersOll
has not been feeling well, Last night
he was in better health and spent a
portion Of the evening playing billiards
with waiston H. Brown, his son-ln-law,
and C. P. Farrell, his brother-ln-law
and private secretary. He seemed to
be in better health and spirits when he
retired than he had been for several
days.
This morning he rose at the usual
hour and Joined the family at break
fast. He then said he had spent a bad
night but felt better. He had been suf-
fering from abdominal pains and tight
ness about the chest. He did not think
his condition at all dangerous. After
breaG,ast he telsphoned to DR.. Smith,
his physician, who is at Belle Haven,
and told him Of his experience during
the night. DR.. Smith told him he
should continue the use Of nitro-glycer-
inc and that he would see him during
the day.
Colonel Ingersoll spent the morning
swinging in hammock and sitting on
the yeranda with the members of the
family. He said he was better and had
no pain. At 1880 he started to go up
stairs. on reaching the head Of the
stairs Colonel Ingersoll turned into his
wife's room. Mrs. Ingersoll was there.
Together they discussed what they
would have for luncheon, and Colonel
Ingersoll said he had better not eat
much owing to the trouble with his
stomach. He seemed in good spirits
then. After talking for few minutes
Colonel Ingersoll crossed the room and
sat down in rocking chair. He lean
ed his head on his hand which rested
on the back OF the chair. Mrs. Inger-
soil asked him how he was feeling and
he replied; "oh, better"
These were his last words. A second
after they were uttered he was dead.
The only sign noticed by Mrs. Ingersoll
was that the whites OF his eyes sudden
ly shpwed. There was not even a sigh
or a groan as death came. Doctors
were hastily called but their verdict
was that death had come instantly.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral. but 1t viii probably
take place on Monday at the house. and
the interment will be in Sleepy Hollow
cemetery at Tarrytown. Those present
in the house at the time OF the death
were his daughter, Miss Maud Ingersoll,
his daughter, Mrs. w. H. Brown, Mr..
Brown, Mrs. d. w. Parker, mother OF
Mrs. 1Agersoll, and Mrs. C. F. Farrell
and daughter. Mrs. Ingersoll was the
only person in the room with him when
he died. Death came to him as he had
recently expressed desire 1t should.
He often in old times said he wished to
die slowly with full Consciousness so
he might tell those about him how 1t
felt. Recently he expressed a change
of desire to die palnlessly and without
warning.