Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-25
CLEVELAND DIES
VERY SUDDENLY.
Former President Had Shown
Signs of Improvement and
Gained Weight.
HEART FAILURE AT THE LAST
Mrs. Cleveland by His side hut None
of His children lind Bccn Called
from Summer IIomc-NeSsnSes
Of Coincidence from All
over the World.

Princeton. n. j.. June 24--Grover Clevc-
land, twice President of tho United
states. died at $40 O'Clock this morning
at his home "Westland' In this college
town, where he had liyed since his retire
ment as the nations chief executive,
almost IL years ago
When death came, which was sudden,
there were in the death chamber on the
second floor Of the Cleveland residence.
Mrs. Cleveland. DR. Joseph D. Bryant Of
New York Mr. Cleveland's family ply
scan and personal friend, DR.. George
Lockwood, also of New York. and Dr.
John NJ. Carnochan of Princeton.
An official statement given ont and
signed by the physicians gave heart trou-
bile, superinduced by stomach and kidney
ailments of long standing as the cause
Of death.
While Mr.. Cleveland had been in poor
health for the last two years and lost
a hundred pounds in weight his death
came unexpectedly.
Some three weeks ago he was brought
home from Lakewood and his condition
for time was such that the hotel at
which he was staying was kept open
after its regular season because he was
too i'll to be moved. But when Mr.,
Cleveland was brought back to Princeton
he showed signs of Improvement and
gained five pounds in weight.
FIRST ALARM OVER CONDITION.
Although confined TO his room con-
tinuously after his return to Prince
ton, II was not until yesterday that
Mr. Cleveland's condition aroused
uneasiness on the part of Mrs, Cleve-
land. Undoubtedly affected by the
heat, Mr. Cleveland showed signs Of
failure and Mrs. Cleveland telephone ID
to DR.. Bryant who came over from
New York on the train arriving here
at 4:24 .. m. Or. Lockwood followed
Dr. Bryant from New York and when
they reached here Or. Carnochan,
who had been Mr.. Cleveland's local
physician since the former President
came to Princeton, was also called
In. During the evening Mr.. Cleveland
rnllicd and Mrs. Cleveland. who always
has been optimistic about her hus-
bands health, felt assured that it
was merely another OF the many at
tacks Mr. cleveland had suffered and
she informed those who inquired that
Mr.. Clevcland's condition was not ser
ious.
Mr.. Cleveland became worse during
the night and Mrs. Cleveland was call
ed to the bedside of her husband. Tho
distinguished patient sank into un-
consciousness from which he recover
e. at times only to suffer a relapse,
This continued throughout the night
and early morning. The last time he
became unconscious was about two
hours before he died. Death was
peaceful, Just before he died Mr.. Gle
veland sought u say something but
his words were inaudible.
OFFICIAL DEATH STATEMENT.
The text of the official statement given
out short time after Mr.. Cleveland 3
death as follows:
Mr.. Cleveland had for many years suf-
fered from repeated attacks of gastric in
testnal origin. Also he had long stand
ng organic disease OF the heart and Kid
neys, Heart failure complicated with
pulmonary thrombosis and oedcma were
the immediate causes of his death.
Two or three hours later Dr. Bryant
in answer to question said, That the
was induced with "a hours of the end and
death was finally due to that" thus con-
tributing the unofficial information that
MIR. Cleveland began to grow worse yes
tcrday afternoon,
The news OF Mr. Cleveand's death
came as a sudden shock to the people in
Princeton as II did to the people of the
rest of tho country. Everybody in
Princeton knew he was sick and was
interested In him, but none seemed to
think the end so near. AS the news
spread about the university town nags
were placed at half staff and everybody
was disposed to stop and ta... and ex-
press regrets and extol Mr., Cleveland s
virtues.
HORDES OF NEWSPAPER MEN.
Many of the intimate friends of the
family and many others not so close
called at the cleveland home, Many
called to see Mrs. Cleveland and all OF
them left cards. The visiting newspaper
men and photographers became 80
numerous that the police authorities
placed a policeman on guard at the
Cleveland home and no one but intimate
friends and those in charge of the fun
eral arrangements were permitted to ap-
proach the house.
The Cleveland residence stands In a
beautiful spot at Bayard lane and
Hodges avenue on the northwestern part
of Princeton. The house. a comfortable
looking two and half story structure
of colonial architecture, is well back
from the two thoroughfares. 1t is painted
white and almost hidden by stately pine
trees. Here It was Mr.. Cleveland s wont
to roam and enjoy the life of retire
ment.
1t was not until late in the day that
messages Of coincidence began to come
in to Mrs. Cleveland from all parts OF the
world One of the first was from Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who will attend the
funeral which will be held on Friday
afternoon and which In Difference to Mrs.
Cleveland's wishes will be as private
as possible.
TO BE BURIED BESIDE CHILD.