The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-22
HIS DESIRE FULFILLED
Deaths Instant Summons to
Robert G. Ingersoll.
GREAT AGNOSTIC NO MORE
Falnlessly and Without Warning, the
Matchless Orator Passed Away,
He Was Stricken by Heart
Disease,

| ulcu at his nome, WalStOn
on-Hudson, near Dobbs Ferry, to-day.
His death was sudden and unexpected
and resulted from the heart disease
from which he had suffered since 1896.
In that year. during the republican ma
tional convention, he was taken i'll and
had to return home. He never fully
recovered from the attack of heart dis
ease and was under the care of ply
sicians constantly. For the last three
days Mr.. IngersolI has not been feel
ing well. Last night he was in better
health and spent portion of the even
ing playing billiards with Walston H.
Brown, his son-in-law, and c. P. Far
rell, his brotherin-law and private sec
retary. 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 break
fast He then said he had spent a bad
night, but felt better. He had been
suffering from abdominal pains. He
did not think his condition at all dan
gerous After breakfast he telephoned
to DR.. Smith, his physician, who is at
Bell Haven. and told him of his expe-
rience during the night. DIR. Smith
told him he should continue the use of
nitro -glycerine and that he would see
him during the day.
Colonel IngersOll spent the morning
swinging in hammock and sitting on
the verandah with the members of h
family. He said he was better and had
no pain. At 1890 o'clock he started to
go upstairs.
On reaching the head of the stairs.
Colonel Ingersoll turned into his wifes
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 a few minutes, Colonel In
gersoll crossed the room and sat down
in a rocking chair FIe 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 We're his last words 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 a groan as death came. Doc
tors were hastily called. but their YER
dict was that death had come in
stantly.
! No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral, but it will probab
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 death were his daughter, Miss
Maud Ingersoll, his daughter, Mrs. w.
H. Brown, Mr. Brown, Mrs. ID. W.
Parker, mother of Mrs. Ingersoll. and
Mrs. c. F. Farrell and daughter.
Mrs. Ingersol1 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,
i,, old he ,,ysc1 u 10
slowly with a full consciousness so he
might tell those about him how it felt.
Recently he experienced a change of
desire, to die painlessly and without
warning.
Robert Green Ingersol was born
Aug. II, 1898, in Dresden, N Y He
was the son of a Congregational cler-
gyman, whose views were broad in the
extreme. The family removed to Wis
cousin in 1S4S, and afterwards to I'LL
nois. In those two states the boyhood
of Robert was passed. Robert chose
the law as his profession, and took up
the study of it when quite young. His
| first experience as a practicing attor-
ney was gained at Shawneetown, ILL.,,
| where, with his brother Eben, Robert
| opened an office.
Both of the brothers engaged in poll
tics. The community in which they
! found themselves, however, did not af-
ford sufficiently large field for their
ambitions, and in 1857 they removed to
Peoria. Robert was the democratic
candidate, in 1860, for congress, but
was defeated. He Joined the army in
1862, with the rank of colonel in the
11th Illinois cavalry. in the course Of
a few years he allied himself with the
republican party He was appointed,
in 1855, attorney general for the state
of Illinois.
In 1876 at the republican national
convention, Colonel Ingersoll made a
remarkable speech in nominating
| James G. Blaine for the presidency.
The address attracted a great deal of
! attention, and stands as a notable ef-
fort. That was practically the begin
| ming of Colonel Ingersolls immense
| popularity as political speaker. De-
mands were made on him from every
| part of the country, and he found it
| impossible to accept more than small
| fraction o fthe invitations for speeches
that We're showered upon him.
A year later, in 1877, Colonel Inger-
| soil was offered the post of minister to
| Germany. The offer was refused.
| AS a lawyer. Ingersoll stood high in
| the ranks of the profession. He took
part in numerous lawsuits in all parts
of the country, including some of the
| most notable cases in history. Chief
among these was the so-called, star
route conspiracy case. Colonel Inger-
SOIL represented the defense and the
trial ended in a verdict of acquittal in
1888.
His writings have attracted world
| wide attention. Among the products
OF his literary work are THE Gods"
some Mistakes of Moses" prose,
Poems and Selections" Ghosts" and
| host OF others. He also wrote the
Introductory chapters for Modern
| Thinkers" and THE Brain and the
Bible" In the lecture field Colonel
lngersoll was particularly strong His
language was simple, but forceful, and
his eloquence of the highest order.