Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-15

1ZU.
IL New York. Jan. 15.-At 10 Stanley
Field, a nephew of Marshall Field, said
his uncle's condition was hopeless and
his death appeared only a matter Of
hours. Field was conscious at that
time, and all his relatives in the city
were at his bedside, by his request.
Gold Starts illness.
" Marshall Fields illness started with
a cold. For three weeks before he left
for New oYrk he had complained Of
slight illness, but when it was sug-
gested, that he place himself under a
physicians orders he made light of the
attack and said it would soon pass
away.
Mr.. Field was anxious to be in New
York and he informed Mrs. Field about
ten days ago that he desired to go east
the following Monday. His wife pro-
tested against his making the trip
while he was not feeling well, and Mr..
Field repeated his belief that the cold
would not annoy him. Accordingly he
started Monday forenoon, January s,
on the Pennsylvania limited. Mr.. and
Mrs. Field were attended by maid
and q valet.
When the train was but a few hours
out Of Chicago Mr.. Field began to
breathe with difficulty. He showed dis
ttnct signs of distress, and Mrs. Field
became alarmed. She acted on her
own Initiative. and wired ahead to
Pittsburg for physician.
34is E1dffs sh11rc y1ydS reached that ovQnfnpr
and the physician boarded the limited
possible. The medical men discerned
that the merchant was threatened
either with bronchitis or with pneu-
monia. Every effort was made to keep
Mr.. Field from taking more cold, but
the drafts that passed through the
train were not to be controlled, and it
was impossible to get the patient into
New York in anything but a weakened
condition.
The train pulled into the Jersey City
station of the Pennsylvania road at
$3.50 o'clock and Mr.. Field, who had
insisted on dressing and not being
treated as an invalid, was helped into
q carriage, which was driven on board
the first ferry, With his wife and
physician the merchant was taken to
the Holland House, where a suite of
sooms had been engaged.
Eminent physicians were called and
DR.. Walter B. James, Of Chicago, the
family physician was sent for.
His condition remained about the
same until Sunday at noon, when a
bulletin was given out saying Mr. Field
was a dangerously sick man, but hope
still was entertained. From such con-
bulletin was regarded as indicative Of
slight chances for recovery.
During the afternoon Mr.. Field was
several times reported dead. Direct
messages from the sickroom said he
still lived, but that probably his
strength would continue to wane and
that he might not survive the night.
Mr.. Fields age-he will be II next
August-is conceded a serious, handi-
cap in opposing the disease Though
his vitality is known to be extra
ordinary for one of his years, the
character of the malady was such that
physicians informed those who inquir-
ed for light on the case that Mr.. Field
might die in the first serious crisis.
They said a man twenty or thirty
years younger might go almost as
quickly as he, tho the younger person
would be capable Of more sustained
resistance.
Marshall Field was born at Con-
way, Mass, August 26, 1885. He at
tended the schools Of his native village,
and at the age of II went to Pittsfield.
spending four years there as clerk in
q general store. He began his business
career in Chicago in 1856 as a. clerk in
the wholesale dry goods house of
Cooley, Wadsworth & Co. In four
years he became partner in the house
of Cooley, Farwell & CO.. and later
of the house Of Farwell Field & Co.,
then the largest house of it's kind in the
west. In 1865 he formed a partnership
with Potter Palmer, and Levi 2. Letter.
Two years later Mr.. Palmer withdrew
and the house became known as Field,
Letter & Co., until 1881, when Mr.. Lett
er retired and the house was and ever
Field & Co. The business grew SO rap
idly that it became the greatest insti-
tuition Of its kind west Of New York
city, the wholesale and retail depart
ments having been separated. Besides
these two magnificent establishments
in Chicago Field had branch houses In
England, France and Germany. Mr..
Fields gift OF Field Columbian Mu-
scum to Chicago for the purpose of
preserving many Of the most valuable
exhibits at the worlds fair was his
naost conspicuous public gift. He also