The record-union., 1899-07-22
Inc Brilliant Orator Numbered With
the Silent Majority.
Passed Away Yesterday at His Home at
Oohhs Ferry Of ApopIeIy.
Was Apparently Enjoying Good
Health When He Went to His
Summer Resort Two Days Ago
His Wife and Two Daughters at
His Bedside When Death Oc-
CURED.

His Wife and Two Daughters at
His Bedside When Death Oc-
CURED.
NEW YORK, July 21.-Robert G..
Ingersoll died at his home in Dopb's
Ferry, N. Y, this afternoon of apo
plexy. '
Mr.. Ingersoll went to his summer
home in Dobb's Ferry two days ago
apparently in good health. Shortly
after his arrival there he complained
of a slight indisposition- He spent this
morning in his room. and shortly be-
fore he was stricken his wife offered
to have his luncheon taken up to him.
so that he would not have to walk
down stairs to the dining room. He
laughingly replied that while he did
not feel quite as young as he used TO,
he guessed he was not yet an invalid,
and he would go down with the others
AS he finished speaking and was about
to rise he fell back into his chair. A
physician was Immediately summoned,
but when he reached the house he
found that Mr.. Ingersoll had died al
most instantly. The physician did not
believe it was due to apopleXy.
Mr.. IngersolPs wife and two daugh-
ters were with him when he died.
Robert G. Ingersoll was born at Dres-
den, N. Y, in 1888. His family re-
moved to Illinois in 1915. where Robert
was educated; he studied law and was
admitted to the bar there. He also
entered the political arena as a Demo,
crat. He was nominated for Congress
in 1860, but was defeated. In 1862 he
entered the army as Colonel of a regi-
ment of cavalry and was taken prison.
er, but was exchanged. Returning to
civil life he became Republican, and
in 1868 was made Attorney General of
Illinois.
At the Republican convention of 1870
his speech, in proposing Mr.. Blaine
name for the Presidency, aroused gen.
eral attention for it's eloquence, and
since that time Colonel Ingersoll has
been prominently before the country as
an orator. He frequently appeared
upon the lecture platform in advocacy
of views opposed to Christianity and
the Bible, which he also maintained in
contribution to the periodicals. 1t is
chiefly to this skepticism that he owed
his celebrity
Colonel Ingersoll resided in Washing
ton. where he had lucrative and ex-
tensive practice. His defense in the
Star Route trial was published all
over the country. His fee from ex-
Senator Dorsey awakened much inter-
est among the members of the bar, as
it amounted to the enormous sum of
S100OG0
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 Walston H. 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 had been for several
days.
This morning he rose at the usual
time and joined the family at breakfast.
He then said he had spent 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 telephoned to DR.. Smith,
his physician, who is at Bell Haven.
and told him of his experience during
the night DIR. Smith told him, he said,
to continue the use of nitro-glycerine
and that he would see him during the
day Colonel Ingersoll spent the morn
ing swinging in hammock and sit
ting on the veranda with the members
of the family. He said he was better
and had no pain. At 1890 he started
to go upstairs.
On reaching the head of the stairs
Colonel Ingersoll turned into his wife's
room. Mrs. Ingersoll was there. To-
gether they discussed what they would
have for luncheon, and Colonel Inger-
soil 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 Ing
ersoll 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. Ingersoll asked
him how he was feeling and he re-
piled: "Oh. better"
These were his last words. A second
after they were uttered he was dead
The only sign noticed by Mrs. Inger-
soil was that the whites of his eyes
suddenly showed. There was not even
a sigh or 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 it will probably
take place on Monday at the home and
the interment will be in Sleepy Hollow
Cemetery, Tarrytown.
Ingersoll was primarily an orator. He
ha0, to pre-eminent degree, the gift
of expressing emotion so as to create
emotions in others. Whether those who
heard him opposed his views concern
ing politics, religion or the guilt Of q
prisoner at the bar. the result of a
patient hearing made friends for the
Peoria orator.
Because he espoused the cause of the
anti-creed people Ingersoll was dubbed
"Pope Bob" by the Chicago Times
as long ago as 1879: and the New York
"Herald" at that time spoke of him as
"a sixtv-year-old cherub in a twenty
vear-olds vest" for his appearance was
that Of q premature gray man.
Lawyers will not place Ingersoll IN
the front rank as jurist, though his
place as an advocate was high. He
cared more for men than for the hair
snlittfng opinions of courts. Many
years aes he made great name IN