The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-24
Native of Indiana Who Served in IlIi-
nOis Regiments and Filled Sew
eraI Offices i'm Adopted state.
DEATH OF A NOTED BURGHER
MARTHINUS VESSELS PRETORIUS,
FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE BOERs.
He Dies at POchefstroom, Transvanl
Colony, After Brief Illness
DIR. Thomas RumbOld Dead.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, May 23.-Former
Governor John r. Tanner, died here sud-
denly in the Leland Hotel at 2:45 o'clock
heart. He had been confined to his room
Gay, with rheumatism in the left side, but
the case was not considered in the least
serious. He felt much worse this after
noon and DIR. ]. n. Dixon, the Governors s
physician. was called about 2:SO p. and
found the Governor dying.
1t was learned this evening that Mr.. Tan
ner had not been feeling well for nearly
two weeks. He had contracted a cold when
hunting in Clay county, his old home,
few weeks ago, and from that resulted
bad attack of rheumatism. 1t is believed
rheumatism of the heart caused his death,
though DR.. ]. n. Dixon, the attending
physician, said tonight he was unable to
give the exact cause of death. He said Mr.
Tanner had no organic heart trouble or
kidney disease. This forenoon DR.. Dixon
called and said his patient seemed better
His son. Col. J. Mack Tanner, also called
and after dinner Mrs Tanners sister, Mrs
Buck, called. and she and Mrs. Tanner
were with the former Governor when he
died. About 2:30 o'clock he was seized with
an attack of gasping and strangling. and
DR.. Dixon was Immediately called He re-
sponded at once but Mr.. Tanner was dead
when he arrived.
An afternoon paper jntimated that former
Governor Tanner had committed suicide.
but DR.. Dixon stated positively tonight
that, although he was unable to state the
absolute and real cause of death, he would
unhesitatingly say that death was due to
natural causes. His opinion being that
death was due TO a cerebral blood clot,
or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.
When former Governor Tanner returned
from Chicago recently his eyes were badly
congested and a specialist was called. Con-
sestiOn became so severe that a blood YES
sci in the left eye burst. He had frequently
expressed fear that ms rheumatism might
have fatal results, and had once left his
Office at important time and gone to
Hot Springs, Ark, for treatment, mourning
severe criticism from a number of papers
in the State for leaving his office at the
time he did.
The remains were taken to the residence
of Mrs Tanners father Turney English,
where they will remain until the funeral.
Governor Yates, Secretary of State Rose
and other State officials called soon after
the former Governors death.
Governor Yates and other States officials
will meet at the Governors office to-mor-
row morning and Will make arrangements
for the funeral. the date and place Of
which have not yet been determined.
Governor Yates tonight issued procla-
nation announcing the death of the former
Governor and paying tribute to his worth
as man and statesman.
John Riley Tanner was born in Warrick
county. Indiana, April 4, 1874. He served as
q private in the Fffty-eightn and Sixty
first Illinois Infantry Regiments. He had
held various positions besides that of Gov
ernor, having been member of the Illinois
House and Senate, United States marshal
OF the Southern district of Illinois. member
of the railroad and warehouse commission,
state treasurer, and was for many years
a member of the Republican State Central
committee, and chairman of the same and
was a candidate for United States senator
this year against Senator Culom. He
leaves one son, Col j. Mack Tanner, Of
Springfield, colonel OF the Fourth Infantry,
1. n. G., and one daughter. Mrs. John A.
Barnes, of Chicago.