Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-01-18
PRINCE OF MERCHANTS
CLOSES EvENTFUL LIFE.
Marshall Field Dies After Eight Days Of
Pneumonia
End Comes With Family Gathered Around
the Death Bed
Last Small Ray Of Hope Goes Out in
Troubled Sleep

the Holland house, New York physi-
clan was called and consultation
held. Mr.. Field was ut once placed in
charge of trained nurses and later
the family physician and Stanley
Field, Mr.. Fields nephew, were sum
moued from Chicago.
Cheered by Physicians Presence
Wednesday ii was announced thai
while Mr., Field had a high tempera-
ture he was improving Later in the
day. however his condition became
more serious and a consultation Of
physicians was held. 1t was then an,
nounced that Mir. Field was suffering
from pneumonia. Congestion. it was
said at that time, was slight There
was an Improvement in Mr. Fields
condition Thursday and in the follow
ing two days there was no intimation
that the patient was not progressing
tayorably. Dr. Frank Billings of Chi
cago, Mr.. Fields family physician.
had arrived from Chicago in the mean,
time, and his presence seemed to
cheer the sick man greatly DR. Bill
ings has been a personal friend for
many years and the effect of his ar
rival on the patient was taken as a
favorable indication of Improvement
in the condition of the sick man.
Change for the Worse.
Saturday night, however, there
came a sudden change for the worse
Through that night and Sunday there
was no appreciable change in the sick
mans condition save that his strength
seemed gradually to wane. During
Sunday night Mr.. Field seemed to be
sinking rapidly and Monday morning
physicians announced that all hope
for his recovery had been abandoned
Mr.. Field himself apparently believed
the end was at hand and by his re-
quest all members of his family were
summoned to the bedside. Every one
present regarded the scene As a death
watch and all had neryed themselves
for the closing of the final chapter in
the career of the great merchant For
hours there was no appreCiable change
| in the condition of the sick man and
the tiny strand which held him was
expected to break a any moment
| Suddenly, however, about the mid
afternoon, there came a remarkable
change. The strength which gradu-
ally had slipped away from the pa
| tient seemed suddenly to be rushing
back He looked up and smiled asked
for drink and then sank into
peaceful, resttul sleep He was better,
the physicians said, much better ana
there was even hope that he might
successfully pass the crisis in his i'll
ness if the improvement continued.
Gloom in Sick Room.
In the evening and again at mid,
night bulletins issued by his physi-
clans carried with them ray OF hope.
In the early morning hours yesterday,
however gloom once more began to
settle over those around the sick
room Mr. Field did not rest well dur
ing the last hours of the night. The
disease spread to the lungs and his
condition at a. N, was described by
Physicians as worse than last even
ing" His condition continued TO be
come desperate with every moment.
however, and by noon the last ray OF
hope was gone At O'Clock it was
announced that the patient was sink-
ing steadily and at 800 word came
from the sick room that Mr.. Field
had only few minutes more 10 live
Death came at o'clock with the
members of the family gathered al
the bedside
J. N. Field to Pc Successor
Announcement was made last night
that Mr. Fields successor would be
his brother j. y. Field of Manchester.
England, who will take charge Of all
the Field houses. J. y. Field for
Yeas mas been az the heal OF the
Manchester branch of tho Field bust
NESS and has had general charge o.
all foreign business lone by the firm
He has moi been in Chicago for many
years
Funeral TO Be Simple.
Chicago, Jan. 1.-THE funeral Of
Marshall Field will be simple aud I'm
ostentations Members OF the family
and intimate friends will gather around
the bier In the Field mansion ar 1905
Prairie avenue at noon Friday IN hear
short service and then the body will |
be taken to the Field grounds in Grace |
land cemetery, where the merchant
will be placed beside his son, who r.. |
Gently preceded him in death.
Largest Taxpayer.
Mr.. Field was the largest Individual |