The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-31


from Pennsylvania, slept peacefully
into death at 2:4S this afternoon, after
an illness which had been more or less
persistent for the past year, which
took turn for the worst ten days ago
and which the doctors diagnosed as
chronic gastritis.
The funeral will be at O'clock on the
afternoon of Tuesday, May 81 and the
remains will be inferred in the historic
family burial plot in Beaver cemetery.
Senator Quay's illness began about a
year ago. 1t was a recurrence of the
trouble that beset him during the latter
part of 1900 and the early days of jan
uary 1901 when he was undergoing the
strain of a desperate fight for re-elec-
tion to the Senate.
For time he seemed improved and
gave much of his time to outdoor exer-
else. Never a strong man physically,
Senator Quay prided himself on his en-
durance and believed firmly that out
door life would restore him to health
and give him years longer lease of life.
Colonel Quay, in health, was great
eater and his trouble of later years
dated from over draughts on his vital
system, due to heavy eating, smoking
and the great nervous strain which he
underwent. -
Last summer, after the political situ-
alton had cleared up in the state, Quay
| decided to take a long outing. Accom-
panied by United States Marshal Ste
| phen Stone, of Beaver, and Ben Sooy,
| he went into the heart of the great
! Maine wilderness, travelling miles and
q
| complained of weakness and continued
| loss of strength. The malady which
! brought him to his bed and death was
| then taking firm hold.
! He began to lose -flesh-at first grad
ually and later pound by pound. His
! stomach refused to assimilate the food
it took and nutrition failing, weakness
| followed. On his return from the
woods, Quay was bronzed as a veteran
and looked sturdy enough to live years.
! He celebrated his SEVENTEEN birthday
| at Beaver last fall and at the time
| seemed in excellent health. The loss of
| weight, however, weighed constantly on
his mind. Day in and day out he went
to a scale to see what his avodupois
was. He dropped in weight SO persis-
tently that the alarm which pervaded
| his own mind spread to friends and
| family. The result was that he forsook
| his duties in the United States Senate
| and betook himself to Florida, hoping
that the mild weather there would
| bring relief, il was case Of gradually
releasing the grip of life. Florida fail
| ed to restore vitality.
| The Senator went back to Washing
ton and very soon after, was taken to
| Philadelphia where he was placed un-
der treatment of Doctors White and
| StengeL two eminent specialists of that
| city. They ordered him to Atlantic
! City hoping the sea air would aid in
| recovery, but the loss continued and
the Senator returned to Washington. -
Senator Quay constantly expected
| death and told his friends so. The last
| call he made at the White House he
| pected never to recover and would
| hardly see him again. To Attorney
| Knox he gave the same Information.
| In order to escape the worries of Off
| cial life and be entirely secure against
intrusion, Senator Quay decided 10
| come to Pennsylvania. In going to
| Morgansea where his brother Jerome
Quay was superintendent Of the West
| ern Pennsylvania Reform school, the
| thought was that in that place he could
| be visited by none but his physicians
| and the family.
His condition after arriving there
was such as to give no hope to the
| family, although he appeared brighter
| some days. 1t was realized that the
only chance of recovery Senator Quay
had was to restore some life and ac-
| tivity to the stomach, which absolutely
refused to perform it's functions. Quay
himself told them all it was useless, Re
| had run his course and was gradually
slipping away. Ten days ago he be.
gan the arrangement of his personal af-
fairs, looking toward the finality.
The last papers were not signed un-
til yesterday morning (Friday), bu
the arrangements were all made. II
the meantime no relief came and tn.
| sapping OF the patients vitality contin
ued. The only food he could take wa.
leben, a milk preparation, such as i
used for babies, and he frequently re
volted against this.
| Sunday last his condition became s,
alarming that the family decided to re
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