Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-17
Former Speaker Henderson's
Mental Condition Has Become
Serious, Due to Paresis
MIND wANDERs TO THE WAR
Weakened Physically and Mentally He
is Living Over Again tho Days of His
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Orders to His
Aides on Battle Field and Speaks
Before Congress.
Special to Times-Republican.

| Special to Times Republican
Dubuque, July 17.-Living over
again the days Of his glory on the
battlefield, sending messages to mag
mary secretaries as If he were still
one Of the chiefs OF the nation, Colonel
David b. Henderson is existing in an
enfeebled mental state that threatens
to carry him to the grave.
Calling for his sword and dwelling
in fancy amid the battle scenes OF for
ty years ago, the man who has devoted
the better part of his life to the service
of his country as soldier. statesman
and orator, is pitiful wreck of his
former self. Paresis has set it's seal
upon him. and stroke Of paralysis,
suffered three weeks ago. has brought
him to a condition which physicians
pronounced hopeless
Not long ago the speaker OF the ma
tional house of representatives and
therefore second only to the president
OF the United States In power. Colonel
Henderson now is only the shadow Of
his former self. haunted by dreams Of
his former greatness and cherished an
ambition that Is doomed to disappoint-
ment.
The secret of Colonel Henderson's
retirement from the speakership OF
Congress and from public life in 1902
Is known at last--a mental difficulty
that finally has defeated him after
years Of heroic suffering that resulted
from q wound received in the war Of
the rebellion.
The battle Of Corinth where he re-
ceived the wound that cast shadow
over his entire subsequent life, is the
event that is uppermost in his
thoughts, now confused beyond hope
OF repair 1t was at Corinth that Col
onel Henderson, then captain in an
Iowa regiment, received a wound In
the foot. which resulted in amputation
after amputation, until at last almost
the whole of one leg had been removed
by the surgeons.
Laid Low by Paralysis.
Colonel Henderson had been in fair
health until he was laid low by the
stroke Of paralysis. He was able to
converse nationally with his family and
friends at most times but since his
acute attack. he has been incompetent
of mind and physically he is barely
able to move across his room at the
Hotel Julien. The recent stroke af-
fected his right side, and aside from
this he suffers from insomnia Even
in his brief periods of sleep he imag-
ines himself either on the battlefield
or in the legislative halls at Washing
ton. shouting out his orders and par
lianientary rulings with the great voice
that time has never weakened.
All Dubuque is sorrowing since the
soldier statesmans condition has be-
come known generally The hero of
Dubuque" long has been the favorite
phrase of 1owans In referring to him.
In the days of his mental vigor though
he was handicapped by the loss of his
leg, he was an enthusiastic sportsman.
and as such, aside from his strong per-
sonality, his craftsmanship and his
power as an orator, he was known no.
only throughout his state but through
the northwest and in many other sec
tions as WELL