The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
Stricken With Death at a
Pro-Boer Meeting.
HEMORRHAGR OF BRAIN
Wondrous Vitality Shown Even in
Inconsistencies.
LAST SPEECH is CHARACTERISTIC
Health of the Former Illinois Gov
ernor Broken by IL Bank Fall
ure Years Ago.

Joliet, H.. March 12.-Former Cover
nor John P. Altgeld died in this city at
the Hotel Munroe, this morning at 1909
O'Clock. He had been Unconscious since
midnight.
Mr.. Altgeld was the principal speaker
at pro-Boer mass meeting last night in
the Joliet theater. Just at the close of
his speech a sudden dizziness seized him
and he was assisted from the stage. The
meeting proceeded, the audience not real
i2ing what had happened. Mr.. Altgeld
was taken to the door Of the tbeater,
where he was seized with spasm of
vomiting. This continued fer nearly an
hour and was SO violent he could not be
removed to the hotel. Physicians We're
summoned and when the vomiting had
been checked, Mr. Altgeld was carried to
tie Hotel Munroe, across the street. He
retained consciousness and urged the
newspaper men not to publish anything
concerning he occurrence. lest it should
Deedlessly alarm his wife. Shortly be-
fore midnight he became unconscious, SO
remaining until death.
Astonishing Vitality.
At 3:41 this morning it was thought he
had died. but be revived and from that
time until shortly before the end showed
wonderful vitality, although remaining
notiorless.
The medical men here had banqut last
night at which DR.. J. B. Herrick, of the
Rush Medical College of Chicago deliv-
cred a lecture or heart disease. He and
other physicians were called from the
banquet to attend the patient They re-
manned with him the remainder of the
night. They employed all known means
to restore respiration, but to no purpose.
The cause of death given is cerebral
hemorrhage.
The vomiting was at first supposed to
indicate ptomaine poisoning but it was
later determined that this was a mani
festation of the brain trouble
Bank Failure the Beginning.
Mr.. Altgela came to Joliet yesterday
afternoon. He said he was not in the
best health, being troubled by some ap-
parently unimoortant stomach ailment.
He would not allow this to interfere with
his engagement, however. 1t was noted
during the address that the ex-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 saw
ings bank in 1896 in which he was in-
.volved, Mr.. Altgeld has not been we'll
and for some months after the Spalding
crash It was feared that his life was in
peril. Even when serving his last year
as governor his health was Door For
time he suffered from locomotor
ataXia; but he rallied, although he never
again was his old vigorous self. Lately.
the disease marked him strongly and quite
recently his appearance caused anxiety.
Still, his mind was rs clear and active
as ever. r. &c.. g..
later a law partner of the ex-governor
reached here this morning. He said that
the governor died as he had lived, plead
Ing the cause of the lowly.
.sst s.. His Last Speech.
Mr.. Altge1d, in his last speech declared
that all griends of humanity owed a debt
Of gratitude to Governor Yates for issu-
ing a proclamation soliciting assistance
for the Poer women and children in their
concentration camps in South Africa.
The speaker said the people of America
had raised large sum Of money with
which to relieve the distress Of the Boer
women with children. but were unable to
send it to them because Lord Paunce-
fote, British AMBASSADOR at Washingt on,
objected. He charged that Lord Paunce
fote had for years neddled in American
affairs. There were eighteen counts and
specific charges in Governor Altgeld's in
dictment. He said:
Just before the beginning of the Spanish
war Lord Pauncefote, representing the arts
tocracy meddled in affairs and tried to
unite the governments Of Europe in making
a Joint protest against Americas interfer-
, ence on behalf of Cuba. But when the Amer
lean people asserted themselves and our gov
eminent was compelled to go to the rescue
i. of Cuba England issued a strong neutrality
proclamation, forbdding all of her subjects
! everywhere from furnishing us any aid or
doing anything that would In any way be a
violation OF the strictest neutrality.
It was speech typical of the old gov
ernor who had risen from the tow path
s to the chief office Of the state. It was
Governor Altgeld who pardoned the three
Chicago anarchists.
Mr.. barrow took charge of the body
and opened scores of kilograms from all
parts of the country.
There will be no post norton examina-
ton. The family does not wish it, being
/. content with the statement of the ply
sicians that Mr.. Altgeld died Of cere-
bral hemorrhage. The remains will be
yembalmed and will leave for Chicago at
1855 this afternoon.
Mrs. Altgeld, the widow, was Frustrated
by the shock. Grave apprehension for