The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
SENATOR GEAR IS DEAD
Iowa's Legislator Yields to
Heart Disease.
END CAME UNEXPECTED
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL
ATTEND FUNERAL.

Washington, July 14.-United States
Senator John Henry Gear of Burling-
ton, Ia, died at 4.SO today of heart
failure. in his apartments at the Port
land in this city. While Senator Gear
had been in iIl-health for a year or
more, death came at an entirely unex-
pected time. He was in excellent health
I and spirits last night, and made en-
gagements with some political friends.
Shortly before 9 O'Clock last evening,
accompanied by Mrs. Gear. he went cut
driving with Secretary Wilson of the
agricultural department They return
I ed about 10 o'clock, and the senator re-
tired an hour later in his usual health
Shortly before o'clock this morning
the senator summoned his confidential
secretary. Colonel Root. and informed
him that he was troubled with conges-
ton in his chest. Mrs. Gear was called
and she and Colonel Root applied
some simple remedies which seemed
! to relieve the senator's suffering
At 2:30 o'clock Senator Gear COM
planned of serious difficulty in breath
ing. His condition became critical, and
his family physician. DIR. Davis, was
summoned. An examination convinced
DR. Davis that his distinguished pa
tient was suffering from heart trouble,
and. calling Colonel Root aside, he in
| formed him that Senator Gear could
last scarcely an hour.
About 1 O'clock the senator seemed
to be easier. and when asked by Mrs.
Gear as to his condition. replied faint
ly: Il feel a trifle better"
These We're his last words.
Fifteen minutes later he was dead.
Today Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell of
the senate was notified Of Senator
: Gears death. and began arranging for
the funeral The remains will be taken
directly to Burlington, Ia, which for
/ many years has been the home of Sem
ator Gear.
A special car will be attached to the
$3.50 o'clock Pennsylvania train tomor-
row afternoon. for the accommodation
of the funeral party.
Senators to Attend Funeral.
Colonel Ransden communicated with
Senator Frye of Maine, president pro
temDore of the senate. who will name
a committee of senators to represent
the senate at the funeral.
Through the sergeant-at-arms of the
house Speaker Henderson also was no
titled officially of the death. He will
designate a committee of the house to
attend the funeral. Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson will accompany Mrs.
Gear on her sad journey westward
Senator Gear left. beside his widow,
two daughters. Mrs. j. w Blythe, wife
of the principal attorney Of the Chi
cago. Burlington & Quincy railroad,
and Mrs. Horace Rand. wife of a prom
inent business man, both residing in
Burlington. They will join the funeral
party at Chicago on Monday.
Funeral services will be held in Bur-
lington on Wednesday. No services are
to be held here.
The news of Senator Gears death
was a great shock to his personal and
political friends in Washington, by
whom he was very highly regarded.
shocked when the news was conveyed
to him. He had been a lifelong friend
of the senator. the two being almost
as closely allied as brothers. He was
among the early callers at the Portland
this morning. Mrs. Gear, Frustrated
with grief, was unable to receive call
e=s.
Widely Known and Loved.
Few men in public life were more
generally loved and respected than
Senator Gear. Some of his most init
mate friends were found among those
who differed from him in politics. He
was known particularly for his unos-
tentatious but effective charitable
works
Senator Gear was born in Ithaca, N
Y, in 1925, where he received a common
school education. He removed to Ga
lena, H., in 1884, and thence to Fort
Smelling, Ia, then a territory, in 1898: