The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-12
ALIGELU Is UEAU.
Seized Suddenly With Dizziness
and Vomiting
After Finishing a Pro BOer
Speech at Joliet.
CARRIED FROM STAGE.
Lived but Few Hours and Was
Mostly Unconscious.
Sketch of a Short but Eventful
Career.
CARRIED FROM STAGE.

Joliet, Ill. March 12.-Former Cover
nor John P AitgeId died in room 5s.
Hotel Munroe, this morning at 1909
o'clock He had been unconscious since
midnight.
Mr.. Altgeld was the principal speaker
at a pro-Boer mass meeting last night
In the Joliet theater.
Just at the close of his speech, sud
den dizziness seized him and he was as
listed from the stage. The meeting pro-
ceeded, the audience not realizing what
had happened. Mr.. NAltgeld was taken
to the door of the theater where several
vomiting spells seized him This con-
tinued for nearly an hour and was so
pronounced he could not be removed to
the hotel.
Physicians were hastily summoned
and Mr.. Altgeld was carried to the no
tel across the street. He retained con-
sciousness and urged the newspaper
men to keep the affair quiet for fear OF
alarming his wife. Shortly before mid
night he became unconscious.
He remained in this condition until
death.
At S:41 this morning it was thought
he had died but he revived and from
that time until shortly before the end
showed wonderful vitality, although he
made no move.
The medical men here had a banquet
last night at which DR.. J. B. Herrick OF
the Rush Medical college of Chicago de-
1ivered a lecture on heart disease He
and other physicians were called from
the banquet to attend the patient. They
remained with him the balance of the
night When the end cane they work
ed his arms vigorously to revive reSplr-
alton, but all to no purpose The cause
of death is given as cerebral hem
orrhages, there having been an apoplec-
tic seizure of the brain.
The vomiting at first was taken to in
dicate ptomaine poisoning, but 1t was
determined this was due to dlnerent rent
manifestations of the brain trouble. The
physicians desire to hold post mOrteLn,
IF relatives will agree
NOT IN GOOD HEALTH.
Mr.. Altgeld came to Toilet Yesterday
afternoon, having been advertised as the
special orator for the big VIII county
pro- -Boer meeting. He confessed that
he was not in the best of health, having
been troubled with some apparently
simple stomach ailment.
He was not willing to allow that to
interfere with his speech, however, his
great interest in the South African
struggle having been heightened by the
announcement of the Boer success IN
the capture of General Methuen.
1t was noticed during the address that
the former governor threw an unusual
amount of energy and feeling into his
words, and the collapse, the physicians
think, resulted from over Straining his
already weakened physical powers.
Ever since the failure of the Globe
Savings bank, in 1896. in which he was
involved, Mr.. AltgeId has not been
well man, and for some months after
the Spalding crash it was feared that
his life was only a question of a short
time Even when serving his last year
as governor his health was none too
good.
victim of locomotor ataxia, his friends
gave him up But he rallied, although
he was never again his old vigorous
self Lately, however, the disease
marked him strongly, and quite recent
" his appearance caused grave fore
bodings and anxiety. His mind was
just as clear and active as of Old but
though his spirit was willing the flesh
was weak.
DIED AS HE HAD LIVED"
Clarence Darrow, lifelong friend
and later a law partner of the former
governor, reached here this morning.
He said that the governor died as he
had lived, pleading the cause of the
lowly. Mr.. Altgeld, in the speech which
was fated to be his last, declared that
all friends of humanity owed a debt
of gratitude to Governor Yates for is
suing a proclamation soliciting assist
ance for the BOer women and children
in their concentration camps which the
British are maintaining in South Africa
The speaker said that the people of
America had raised large sum of
money with which to relieve the dis
tress of the BOer women and children
but were unable to send it to them be-
cause Lord Pauncefote, the British am
DdSStuOE at washington, objected to II.
He further charged that Lord Paunce-
tote had for years meddled in American
affalrS. There were eighteen counts and
specific charges in Governor Altgeld's
indictment He said in substance:
INDICTMENT OF PAUNCEFOTE
Just before the beginning of the
Spanish war Lord Pauncefote repre-
senting the aristocracy, meddled in our
affairs and tried to unite the govern
ments of Europe in making a joint pro
test against Americas Interference in
behalf of Cuba But when the Ameri-
can people asserted themselves and our
government was compelled to go to the
rescue of Cuba, England issued strong
neutrality proclamation, forbidding all
or doing anything that would in any
way be a violation of the strictest neu-
trality.'
1t was a speech typical of the old
governor, who had risen from the tow
path TO the chief office of the state
Death was at hand, but his voice had
all the old fire and all the old sympathy
which had won him the hearts of many
people. 1t was Gov. Altgeld who par
doned the three Chicago anarchists and
whose views were frequently called an
archiStic, yet his sincerity was aues-
toned by few.
Mr. Darrow upon his arrival took
charge of the body and opened scores
of kilograms from all parts of the coun-
try. Some, sent before death had come
asking for early information of the
patients condition, while those that
came late expressed the deepest regret
at the former governors demise
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
John Peter Altgeld, ex-governor of
Illinois, was born in Germany in De-
cember, 1S4i. He was therefore 55 years
of age. He was brought to the United
States when he was but three months
old, by his parents, who settled near
Mansfield, Ohio.
His education was received in the