Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-01
.CoIlapses at Midnight
and Dies in a Few
Minutes.
ONLY WIFE AT HIS SIDE
Nation Deeply Feels the Less.
Taft PrebabIe Successor
In Cabinet.

Newbury, N. H.. July John Hay
secretary of state, died today at his
summer home, 1.-The Fells," on the
shore of Lake Sunapee. The last mo
ments of the statesman were peaceful
struggle
The suddenness in it all was stagger-
ing. AT midnight all was quiet. In
another moment nurses and physicians
were summoned to the bedside There
had been a collapse. twenty-five min
utes afterward, all was over.
Only Wife Present.
So swiftly had the end come the dy-
ing man passed away unattended by
all the members of his family save the
wife. The son and daughter were sum-
moned, but reached the bedside only
to find their distinguished parent dead.
The secretary yesterday had passed
the most comfortable day since his ill
ness began week ago. He was to
sit up today. The patient had hidden
his wife and physicians good night at
10 O'Clock last night. An hour later
he was sleeping quietly.
Seized at II.
Almost at the stroke of II the sec
retary was seized with the turn. He
called feebly. and the nurse responded
The sick man was breathing with great
difficulty.
DIR. Sudder was speedily summoned,
and 1t required but a glance for him
to determine that the end was but min
utes away.
The household was aroused. The
wife watched her husband as he was
breathing his last.
Death was caused by pulmonary
embolism. form OF heart disease.
Aside from great difficulty in breath
ing, there was no struggle.
Taken III In aMrch.
The illness which so weakened
Hays physical powers as to finally
bring about death made itself notice
able last March Tired, and worn from
the strain of overwork, he was ordered
by physicians to make a trip abroad in
order to obtain special treatment and
complete rest. His condition improved
while making the trip across the ocean,
and in Italy the secretary was so much
better he was able to journey quietly
to various cities. finally going to Bad
Nauheim, where he took baths.
Took a Cold.
Later, he visited France and Great
Britain. and his health seemed much
better. His return from Europe was
made about a fortnight ago. and he
took up for brief period the duties as
secretary of state.
Last Saturday evening he arrived at
his summer home here. The journey
faugued the secretary, however, and
furthermore, while leaving Nauheim
he contracted a slight cold. When Hay
suddenly collapsed on the following
day. his wife and son became alarmed
and summoned a local physician and
Drs. Scudder and Murphy from Ber
lin.
Almost at the first il was pronounc
ed uraemia, resulting from a severe
cold. but was later found to be an acute
attack of cystitiS. Relief came with
the administration of powerful medi-
cines, and the doctors on Monday were
able TO pronounce Hays condition not
at all serious.
They required the secretary to re-
MAN III Deu IOT period In order TO
avoid augmenting the cold. Since
Tuesday the secretary had been re-
ported as steadily improved and moth
ing occurred until midnight to cause
any anxiety to the family or physicians.
There was nothing. Dr. Scudder de-
clared today, to cause anxiety when he
reached the bedside and after bidding
his wife and the doctors cheerful good
night. the secretary fell into an un-
troubled and restful sleep. The nurse.
watching by his bedside. felt assured
the patient was on the sure road to re-
covery.
Called Nurse.
At midnight and in a moment of
time this was all changed. Hay awoke
with breathing labored. and quick and
in tones choked and feeble, so unlike
those of a few hours before, that the
nurse could scarcely believe Hay was
speaking the sick man murmured al
most in a whisper: Come"
The trained eye of the nurse detect
ed the symptoms. She hurried for DIR.
Scudder who was in the next room.
The doctors first glance confirmed
fHonsinusa On pa~e Three