The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-24
NEWS IS RECEIVED WITH
SORROW At BUzzARDS BAY
Last Fishing Trip Was Taken With
Ex-President CleveIand-Made
One Favorable Rally
During illness.

West Palm Beach, Fla, April 2S.-Joseph
Jefferson died at his home, The Reefs,
at Palm Beach at 6:15 o'clock this even
Ing. The end came after a day of uncon-
sciousness, and after heroic struggle of
days which had exhausted his vitality
At his death bed were his wife, his sons.
Charles b. and Frank jefferson, his
nurse Miss Mabel Bingham, DR.. r. b.
Potter and his faithful old servant. Carl
kettler.
The end not a surprise to his fami-
ly. Ever since his last sinking SPELL
which came after a rally on Thursday
morning. and which was followed by an
apparent improvement until Friday, the
family has been waiting for the end.
Mr.. Jeffersons condition Saturday night
grew steadily worse, and the family who
had retired were summoned from their
beds, and DIR. Potter was called. The
patients condition continued to grow
worse all through today, and the brief
bulletins from the bedside contained no
words of encouragement.
The sickness of Mr.. jefferson which
ended in his death was contracted, it Is
believed, while on a recent visit to his
son, Charles b. jefferson, at Hobe Sound.
few miles above Palm Beach. where he
went to meet his friend former President
Cleveland, 1t is believed that from a
slight indiscretion In his eating he suf-
fered an attack of indigestion, Since his
return to his home this condition grew
steadily worse, with slight rallies until
the end
The body of Mr.. Jefferson will be taken
to Buzzards Bay on a special train leav-
ing here tomorrow evening, accompanied
by all the members of his family who are
here. 1t will reach New York Wednes-
day morning. and the family hope to
reach Buzzards Bay the evening of that
day
Went to Meet Mr.. Cleveland.
1t was on April l that Mr. Jefferson
went to Hobe Sound to meet Mr. cleye-
land and other friends at the home OF
his son. Charles B. jefferson. The party
spent about week there, and during
that time there were frequent fishing
expeditions. During that time Mr.. JEFF
ferson appeared active. but as he had
been resting at his home at Palm Beach,
and had almost recovered his strength
from the illness which pulled him down
last spring, he was overconfident and
overexerted himself. To add to this, there
was Dutch supper one night, when he
overtaxed himself as stated
When he became i'll he returned at
once to THE Reefs" and was taken to
his room on the second floor of the cot.
tage, which is only 100 feet from the
ocean. and where he could watch the
sea- The weather was favorable through
out his Illness. DR.. Potter the family
physician at the Florida home, lived
three miles from "'rhe Reefs and went
only occasionally to the bedside of his
patient, feeling that Mr.. jefferson might
survive.
Called In Noted Specialist.
But when the first critical period oc-
CURED he spent most of his time there.
and called in DR. Worley of st. Angus
tine, noted specialist for consultation.
DR.. Worley went to Palm Beach, aTiv-
ing there last Monday and leaving there
the following morning, thinking that Mr.
Jefferson might recover 1t was the he
roic fight the veteran actor was making
against death and his great determina-
ton to survive, in order that he could
reach his northern home. that resulted
in the few temporary changes for the
better. On Thursday he was well enough
to take nourishment and to retain ii. At
one time he called for chicken bis
and then thought he was well enough
to eat the meat. But this was denied
him. DIR. Potter was so confident Thurs
day at 4 o'clock that he told a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press at that
time that he believed Mr.. Jefferson would
recover. But the next day brought the
most serious and the last change for the
worse and from which Mr.. jefferson could
not revive.