The age-herald., 1901-01-07
DEATH CLAIMS
 PHIL ). ARMOUR Never Rallied from the Shock of His SOns Death HE LEFT A VAST FORTUNE The Armour Properties to Be
 Held Intact THE MlLLIONAIRE's EARLY LIFE He Walked from New York to Caifor- nia, and Was Gold Winner from the Start-His Pack
 ing Interests.
THE MILLIONAIRE's EARLY LIFE

Chicago, H., January 6.-Phillip Dan- forth Armour, philanthropist, financier and ti-millionaire, head of the vast commer- .cial establishment that bears his name, died at his home, 2115 Prairie avenue, at 5:45 o'clock this afternoon.
 A muscular affection of the heart, known to the medical profession as myocarditis. was the immediate cause of death. He had been slowly recovering from pneumo- mia that for three weeks had threatened his life. At o'clock this morning his heart gave way under the strain of his re- cent illness, his pulse running up to 103 That was the beginning of the end. MT. Armour was surrounded by his family when he died Those at his bedside besides his physician and nurses were his wife, Mrs. Philip D. Armour, Jr., and MT. and Mrs. J. Ogden Armour and Rev. Frank w. Gunsaulus. The millionaire retained sciousness until within an hour of his death
 During the day he had realized that death was near. To those around him he had said:
 "I know I am very sick, and am ready for death when it comes.''
 Soon after luncheon and just before the physician forbade his talking more MT. Ar mour in feeble tones said that he would like to hear the Lords Prayer read One of the trained nurses who had been attend ing him drew a chair to the bedside and slowly read from the Bible the prayer for which the dying man had asked. It was read, sentence by sentence, and each was 4epeated by Mr.. Armour When the "amen" had been repeated by him he sank back on the pillow and closed his eyes rest fully. It was the last word the great fDancier spoke except feeble farewells to his family a little later
 For several weeks the dead millionaire had been living at the old family home in Prairie avenue, the usual trip to southern California not taking place this winter. He came down to the office in the Home Insur- ance building but seldom, and as the cold increased he did not come at all. It was understood in the office that he had had an jncipien attack of pneumonia. but 1t was given out no later than a week ago that he was on the road to recovery It was noted, however, that the constant atten- dance of Dr. Frank Billings, the family physician at the bedside of the sick man, did not corroborate the favorable reports
 
 death had been feared as the outcome by the close associates of the great capitalist of industry. When death came, his grand children, Who had so close d place in his heart were at the family residence, as was J. Ogden Armour, the surviving son.
 The Breaking Down.
 Mir. Armour had lost strength steadily from day to day since the commencement of the winter. The firm grip he had so long maintained upon the business of Armour & Co.,, whether at the office or thousands of miles away, slowly relaxed. Reports no longer interested him. as they were wont 10 do during the first months of his de- clining health. The sudden death of his son and namesake nearly year ago, hung heavily on nim during the closing months of his life. In fact he never recovered from the shock he experienced from that event. It stopped his progress towards recovery in his winter home at Pasadena, and its sorrow remained fresh until the end
 His treadmill of work and his firm affairs were maintained until the spring of 1899. Then the machine began to show, signs of breaking MT Armour was reported to be 6 sick man and these reports were con- firmed when he sailed for Germany to take baths at Bad-Nauheim. He spent most of the summer at the baths and was suffi- ciently restored to health to take trip to Switzerland, where he remained month among the mountains
 When he returned to Chicago that fall he was looking well and his friends hoped his recovery was complete. He went to Danforth Lake, Wisconsin, and he remained there until nearly winter. Then he jour neyed to Pasadena, in Southern California, for the cold months All the time he was at Oconomowoc he made weekly trips to his office in the Home Insurance building and was receiving constant reports of the general drift of his business affairs.
 The death of his son, P. D. Armour, Jr., in southern California on January 29, 1900, was great shock. to the health-broken man. The son had gone on visit to his father and was taken suddenly with pneu-, monia. His death followed with scarcely days warning. The son had largely inter- ested the father and inherited the business ability of the Armours, and was closely following the footsteps of the head when he was stricken down.
 After the death of P. D. Armour, Jr., the vast interests of Armour & Co.,, which had been carried on as a co-partnership, were incorporated under the old name of Ar mour & Co. This was to provide greater stability in case of death and made no change in the practical ownership of prop erty. Some years before the grain depart ment had been incorporated under the title of the Armour Elevating Company
 Dr. Frank Billings, who was at MT Ar mours bedside when the end came and