The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-23
His Condition Is Such That Ply
sicians Hold Out No Hope
for Recovery.
HAS NO INTEREST IN EVENTS.
Indigestion, Coming Upon Him
While He Was in Ill Health.
Has Greatly Weakened
His Constitution.
BIT A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

Rf A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
sweet Springs, Mo-, July 22.-George
Graham Vest. for thirty years United
States Senator from Missouri, was no
worse to-day. though little better than
yesterday.
His physician. Doctor J. S. Jarvis, will
not say that he has hopes of recovery. 1t
would seem. from the best information to
De had. that his long career OF useful pub
lie service is slowly drawing toward a
quiet and peaceful close.
Alexander Vest and Mr.. and Mrs.
George p. B. Jackson. son. son-in-law
and daughter of the Senator, arrived in
Sweet Springs this morning. They were
called from s.. Louis by the alarming con-
dition OF Senator Vest.
Doctor Jarvis said this afternoon:
"A week ago Senator Vest suffered a
severe attack of indigestion. In his de-
moralized state. brought about by gradual
decline for several years, this became a
serious matter. The former Senator is not
exactly unconscious: he seems half awake
and half sleeping, though but little inter-
ested In what Is transpiring around him.
or In the State and nation. He does not
recover strength subsequent to attacks,
which is the fact that discourages me- 1t
is as these things always are-he might
take turn for the better. but / greatly
fear that he is slowly sinking"
Senator Vest lives in darkened room
at the cottage which he built twenty-five
years ago. and near which-not 100 yards
distant-bubbles up a water often declared
by him to equal any found in Carlsbad,
Baden-Baden. Switzerland or Italy.
He built the cottage on the site he first
saw and loved more than forty years
ago. Then. living at Georgetown. in Pet
tis County. he was accustomed to hunt in
Saline County. On one such expedition he
first drank Of the Sweet Springs Later
the resort became popular. and was a sort
of political headquarters
Now most Of the cottages are neglected,
the lawns overGrown and the attractions
gone, but 1t is still the place where Sem
ator Vest has preferred to live of sum-
mers, and his cottage is an embowered
and cool retreat ideal in its quiet COM
fort.
The Senator's family has been reluctant
to admit his serious condition. fearing to
unnecessarily alarm his many friends in
all parts OF the country. As II is, many
kilograms have been sent here. Should
tie Senator know Of this. It would much
disturb him. He talks little. and in the
last few days has not asked for his mail
or the newspaper
On Monday. in conversing for a moment
with a friend. he recalled that on the
next day the State Convention would con-
vene. Then he said:
Folk has the people. but the ring has
the State"
Not again has he referred to politics.
He is attended by a nurse and a valet,
Woodson Porter. son Of Dan Porter, a ne
gro to whom Senator Vest has been par
tial for thirty years. The son of Dan
Porter died as the Senator's valet. then
the old negro Immediately supplied him
with another for the place.
Such weak nourishment as he can take
Is supplied by a negro cook, Minnie Cole.
who served him for years in Washing
ton.