Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-25
How He Met the Inevitable.

by the several chiefs of departments.
How He Met the Inevitable.
Monday morning he was feeling badly.
and to his son-in-law. DR.. Wagner, the
physician of the company. he said: II want
you to make a full examination of me and
give me your diagnosis of the case. Don't
hesitate about expressing your deductions
and opinions"
DR.. Wagner performed his task, told the
governor he was firmly convinced that he
was in bad way, that his trouble was ap-
pendicitis, and that he must take heroic
action.
THAT means that I am a pretty sick
man, does it % said the governor.
Eyes, sir; that is the situation" said the
doctor.
The governor looked at him for moment
and said, "Well, Robert, It's fight Let's
you and l start into the battle determined
But. alas! his opponent differed from any
Of the many he had encountered in his
eventful life
Yielding himself to the doctors direction,
the battle between life and death began.
Tuesday his temperature began to rise, and
that night and Wednesday it hung between
104 and 1O5. Wednesday afternoon 1t re-
ceded little, and the family were slightly
cheerful. the governor helping the general
feeling of relief by the remark Il don't
think I'll die this time" But again came
the rise in temperature, and Thursday he
clear and apparently active. He recognized
his sons and daughters by look and seemed
to understand every effort they were max
ing. All through Thursday night this was
the condition. AS daylight came Friday
morning he became weaker but more COM
posed, and it was evident the end was nigh.
Surrounded by his family two hours after,
at 7:45 o'clock, ne passed away as though
dropping off to sleep. Mrs. Shepherd, who
was in Washington, had been telegraphed
for on Monday, and she is now on the road.
The telegram announcing his demise prob
ably reached her before nearing Chihuahua
city. Her daughter, with her husband,
DR.. Merchant, is with her. The son
Grant is in Washington Mrs w. M.
Brodie another daughter, with her hus-
band, is living in Mexico City.
After Death Came.
Its a rough country to live in, and
hard country to die in,' was the remark
made by an American, as again 1 reached
Batopilas And the truth thereof was soon
made apparent to me, but the same ndom-
table push and energy which had charac-
terized the life of the dead man here were
felt and seen in the action of the sons, sons
! in-law and trusted American employees he
| had left behind him. The death occurred
| at 7:45 am. The consequent first outburst
| of grief at the shock was hardly over be-
| fore stern reality had to be met. Prepare
| lions for the elimination of the dread I'M
| there was no one to look to. The people
| here have none of our ideas as to proceed
| Ing In such case. The Mexicans were
willing to act, but they did not know how.
There were only the few white men outside
of thu family who could help, and they
| needed direction. Therefore the boys had
to carry their grief with them in order to
accomplish what was necessary to be done
They were Alex. r. Shepherd, Jr., John
CONFESS Shepherd, the sons, Edward A.
Quintard and Robert s. Wagner. M. D.,
the sons-in-law The skilled Americans
were Messrs. w. r. Kaufman, master ma
chinist; George Bryan, machinist; selden
| Kirbysmith, assayer, and Henry Yandle,
tDokkeeper. A metal casket, to be sealed
| Theoretically, was begun, a force Of ma
sons put to work upon tomb, and for
| twenty-five hours, night and day, the work
speeded on.
The Cemetery on the Hill.
Some years ago Governor Shepherd con-
ceived and worked out the idea Of con-
| structing a cemetery on the cliffs above
the Hacienda SAP Miguel. Here, on the
side hill overlooking the hacienda. the river
and the town of Batopilas, a wooded inclo-
| sure was leveled of and planted for rest
ing place for the dead. There have been
| but four interments there up to this time.
| The governor, two Americans employed In
| the hacienda and a child Of the governor 8
| eldest son. Mexican law and usage re-
| quire here graves lined with stone mason
| ry, and covered Herewith. The inaexible
| rule here, on account Of the hot climate is
| that interment shall be made mot later"
| than 10 am. Of 1.-THE day succeeding the
/ demise.
There are skilled Mexican masons, and at
| $50 am. today they had within twenty four
| hours constructed OF hewn sandstone a
tomb Of massive Dimensions (from a plan
by Mr.. Quntard), with every Joint so care
| fully fitted that It seemed to be Of one
| piece-a proper mausoleum for its occupant