The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-09
EXPIRED SATURDAY EVENING
AT WASHINGTON, D.. c,
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Entered Congress in 1876 and Retired
in 1895, Declining a
denomination.

house OF representatives and for many
years prominent in public life, died
here last night at 1910 O'Clock in his
apartments in the Arlington. The i'm
mediate cause of his death was urae-
mia.
A change for the worse was noted
in Mr.. Reeds condition early in the
morning. At $50 o'clock he was
given a simultaneous saline trans
fusion in order to stimulate his kid
neys, which were failing to perform
their proper functions. At 5 o'clock
in the afternoon saline solution was
again administered, about three
quarts of the fluid being used. The
heart became weaker and weaker.
but the patient retained cor, sciousness
until II o'clock, when a complete coma
came on.
At the bedside when he died were
Mrs. Reed and Miss Katherine Reed,
Doctors Wardner, Mcdonald, Bishop
and Goodnow and the nurses. DR..
Goodnow, who had been in consulta-
tion with the local physicians Thurs
day, was again summoned from Phil
adelphia in the afternoon Inc ar
rived at $50 last night. Mr.. Reeds
mind was in such a state during the
day that he did not realize the serious
ness of his condition. He was cheer
full and conversed with those about
his bedside. When it became appar-
ent that he could not survive his i'll
ness the wife and daughter were mott
fed and they remained constantly at
the bedside until the distinguished
patient breathed his last. With only
a faint hope of saving his life, oxygen
was administered throughout the
day.
1t was stated that Mr.. Reed had
been suffering from Bright's disease
for some time, which reached the
acute stage yesterday, and this fur
nished an additional cause for alarm.
Mr.. Reed passed away peacefully and
without pain.
Mr.. Reed reached Washington last
Sunday, having come to attend to
some matters in the United States
court. He was at the capitol
Monday visiting with friends and
former associates in congress and
witnessed the converting of the second
session of the fifty-eighth congress-.
Apparently he was enjoying good
health, but later in the day he called
in DR.. F. A. Gardner and complained
of gastric distress.
The following day his physicians
him to remain in bed while
a diagnosis was made. of his condi-
ton. Mr.. Reed was strongly adverse
to staying in bed, but a rise in tenn
perature made it imperative that he
quiet. Symptoms of appen-
dicitis appeared, though his condition
vas not considered alarming. A
trained nurse remained with him
throughout Tuesday night, and the
patient showed signs of Improvement.
Mrs. Reed and daughter, Miss Kit
tie, arrived Wednesday and have re-
with Mr.. Reed at the Airing
ton hotel since. On Thursday the
announced that the appen-
symptoms were abating, but
that kidney trouble had developed,
giving a more serious aspect to the
case. Dr.. w. Z. Goodnow was sum-
from Philadelphia for con-
sultation. An attack of nausea Fri
day night distressed the patient
greatly.
Sketch Of His Career.
Thomas Bracket Reed was born in
Portland, Me-, October IS, 1889, and
graduated from Bowdoin in 1860. In
1864 he was appointed assistant pay
of the United States navy,
serving until the close of the civil !
war. He was soon afterwards admit
ted to the bar and began the practice
of his profession at Portland. In 1868
he was elected to the lower house of
the Maine legislature, where he serv-
ed until 1870.
He began his congressional career
in 1876, and was continuously re-
until his voluntary retirement
in 1899.
In 1895 he was chosen speaker of
the house of representatives, and
while in this position he was desig-
mated Gear" Reed, owing to the great
power he exercised over legislation.
1898 Speaker Reed announced his
Intention to retire from congress, and
declined a denomination. On leav-
ing congress in 1899, he removed to
New York, where he resumed the