Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-22


he was taken i'll 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
has not been feeling we'll Last night he
of the evening playing billiards with Wal
ston H. Brown, his son-in-law, and C. P.
Farrell, his brother-in-law and private sec
retary. He seemed to be in better health
and spirits when he retired than he had
been in several days.
This morning he rose at the usual hour
/. and Joined the family. at breakfast. He
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. After breakfast, he tele-
phoned TO DR.. Smith, his physician, who
is at Bell Haven, and told him of his ex-
perience during the night. DR.. Smith told
him, he said. TO continue the use of nitro
glycerine and that he would see him dur
ing the day. ---,.- -.
Colonel Ingersoll spent the, morning
swinging in a hammock and sitting on the
He said he was better and had no pain.
At 1880 he started to go upstairs. On
reaching the head of, the stairs Colonel In
serson turned into his wifes room. Mrs.
Ingersor was there. Together they dis
cussed what they would have for luncheon
and. Colonel Ingersoll said he would better
not. eat much, owing to the trouble with
hts stomach. He~seemed in good spirits
then. After talking for few minutes,
Colonel Ingersoll crossed the room and sat
down in rocking chair. He leaned his
head upon his hand, which rested on the
back of the chair. Mrs. Ingersoll asked
him how he was feeling, and he replied:
"Oh, better"
These were his last words. a second
after they were uttered he-~as dead. The
only sign noticed by Mrs "fsiger-cll- was
that the whites of HIS eyes suddenly
showed. There was not even sigh or a
groan as death came. Doctors were has
tily called. but their verdict was that death
had come instantly.
No arrangements have yet been made for
the funeral, but 1t will probably take place
on Monday al the house, and the interment
will be in Sleep Hollow cemetery. at Tarry-
town.
Those present In the house at the time OF
his death were his daughter, Miss Maud
Ingersoll; his daughter, Mrs. w. II. Brown:
sAIr. Brown. Mrs. d. ". Parker, mother OF
Mrs Ingersol, and Mrs. c. b. Farrell and
daughter. ''----- - - '.-----''----
= Mrs. Ineersolr was the only person in
the room with him when he died. Death
came TO him as he had recently expressed
"a desire it should He often in cid times
SAID he wished TO die slowly, with full
consciousness, so he might tell those about
A. ~. lrx,- ~ alt Raearaflv he eynartapna
q change OF desire, TO die painlessly and
without warning. s-es-s- :s--s.s-y,s--,
Robert Green Ingersoll was born in Dres-
Den; n. ", [August-ii 1883. His father was
a Congregational minister of such broao
views. as Frequently to cause dissensions
the family moved e-Wisconsin and then
90 -4aliaois-+rphere- the sons -boyhood was
spent. with his brother Eben he began
-ihe practice. of Law in. Shawneetown. H.,
in -lAsz- -Eben VAS Subsequently sent To
-Icongress.- Both engaged in politics and
-caplipped. their activity IN this DIRECTION un-
Ill 1854 when they removed to Peoria TO
give wider scope to their ambitions. In
1860 Robert was Democratic nominee for
defeated. The partnership between the
brothers continued for Il years with some
intermission. At the outbreak of the civil
war Robert was strong abolitionist and
enlisted In the Union army. afterwards be-
coming colonel of the Eleventh regiment OF
Jllionis cavalry and a-syeaS ana a. hall
later he united his>fortunes with the Re-
publican party. - f, ------ss.- 81.
AT the close Iof the war he was appoint
ed attorney general for Illinois. In the
natlona! Sspublican convention OF lSI6 ht
proposed the name of James G.. Blaine
for thai partys candidate for president ol
the Thited States 1t was in this .speeot
that Colonel Ingersoll made use Of the
reference to the chivalric nature Of
Biaine's exposition of Republican princt
piles on the floor of congress. This expires
Sion became the rallying cry of the Re
publican campaign and stuck to Blaine al
bis life 1t was this presidential nominal
ing speech that directed national attention
10 the new orator. From that time ht
was in great demand as political speak
er and he did energetic service for-the Re
publican party campaign. In 1871 he re
fused the post of minister to Germany
preferring TO devote his time and talent!
10 his profession and literary pursuits.
Colonel lngersoll has taken part in mum
erous celebrated lawsuits in all parts o.
called star route conspirators, whose tria
ended in an acquittal in 1883. During lat,
years he was located in New York city
where he had elaborate offices in Wal
IngersoH's views on religion are. prob
ably, the greatest source OF his notoriety
and everywhere his books. lectures an'
pamphlets, directed against the Christian
- religion, were commented upon OF hi
books, the most famous are THE Gods.
Ghosts and Prose, Poems and Selec
tions,' while Some Mistakes of Moses
and "Superstitions' are his best knowl
lectures. The latter he delivered in Kan
sas City last January
Il was in the constant exploitation of nj
agnostic views that Colonel Ingersoll hell
public attention. Opposed as he was t
all religious teachings, his chief object Il
life was 70 disproye the authenticity of tn
bible and the divinity of Christ. Althougl
tice IN New York eity, he yet spent muc