The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-14
TONGUE DEAD
OREGON CONGRESSMAN SUDDEN
LY EXPIRES IN HIS ROOM IN
WASHINGTON.

Reading the Newspaper and
Died Within an Hour
Body now Enroute to
Oregon for Burial.
Oregonian News Bureau, Wash.
itgton, Jan. 11.-Representative
: Thomas Fl. Tongue, of the first Or
egon Congressional District, in the
/ presence of his daughter Bertha,
and his secretary, Miss Ruane, died
! suddenly in his room at the Irving
ten in this city, at 1880 this after
noon. A few minutes before he
passed away he lapsed into uncon-
sciousness, and died without a
word, without any suffering. His
s,n, Thomas II Jr., did not reside
with his father, but was notified of
his approaching end. and fastened
to his fathers bedside, but did not
reach there until after he had pass
Led dzaWay.
The physicians who were sum-
noned, and the eafamily physician,
DIR. Bavee, as we'll as the coroner,
agree that death was due to acute
indigestion, which superinduced
paralysis of the heart. Mr.. Tongue
had been in unusual health, and
except for occasional attacks of
dyspepsia, to which he has been
subject of late years, has not COM
planned of feeling badly this winter.
He considered that he was in better
health than he had been for two
years past, in fact. Mr.. Tongue at
tended dinner last night, and did
not retire until late hour. When
he slept late this morning, contrary
to custom, nothing was thought of
! it..
| At 10 o'clock he received call
from two Oregon friends, II. Fl.
Gilfry and Orville Dodge, with
whom he discussed at length mat
ters of personal and political char
acter. During the stay of these
gentlemen he remained in bed. but
rose and dressed as they left, and
had light breakfast in his room.
He said at the time that his appe-
tite was not good, and complained
slightly Of dyspepsia. At his re-
quest his daughter, Bertha, brought
Ehim soda solution, which he
drank, and remarked that he
thought that would fix him all
right. She, however, was somewhat
concerned, as he looked unusually
pale, and asked if he did not want
the doctor. He replied that he
did not; that he would soo,l be at
his normal condition. He went
through his morning mail, and
then lay down on the couch to read
1.-The papers. His daughter ioked
with him slightly about being sick
and too stubborn to have doctor,
but he insisted that he was not i'll.
A few minutes later. Miss Bertha
/ noticed that her father was breath
ling heavily and deeply. She be-
came alarmed and telephoned at
once for a number of physicians,
fearing the worst. She also. sent
word to her brother.
i Before the:doctors or his son arrived,
however. Representative Tongue had
j passed away, having become unconscious
at the time heavy breathing set in. In
lhis late moments of consciousness he suf-
/ fered nothing beyond the natural dis
i turbance caused by an attack of dyspep-
| sia. He had no consciousness of his true
condition as he 1apsed into insensibi1ity.
/ His end was quiet and peaceful.
As her father breathed his last, Miss
4 Bertha and Miss Ruane, practically an
adopted daughter, completely collapsed,
and were attended by the physicians
who arrived almost Immediately. This
evening they had rallied. and with the
consolation of Thomas H. Tongue, Jr.,
ARE bearing their bereavement as best
they can. No other member of the fam.
lily is in Washington, Mrs. Tongue being
ters elsewhere in Oregon Miss lBer-
tina this afternoon said that her greatest
tconsolation was that her father had pass.
ed away as he wished Some months a.
go, in speaking of his possible demise
Mr.. Tongue had told her that when he
died he wished to go suddenly, uncon.
tseieusly and peacefully. Throughout
the afternoon, as the sad news spread ov.
er Washington, friends have been throng
| ing to the Irvington. Senator Mitchell
who lives just across the street, was the
| first to arrive, and Representative Moody
followed closely after. Senator Simon
Commissioner Hermann and counties:
friends called later to offer their consol
alton to the bereaved son and daughter
Senator Mitchell and Representative
Moody at once summoned the sergeant
alarms of the House, who fastened te
the Irvington and announced that h,
would take charge of the funeral arrange
ments. With the two Oregon men hs
called on speaker Henderson, who dele
gated Representative Moody to call OF
Representative Tongues colleagues OF