New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-30
Political Leader Falls Into Arms
of Friends While Speaking
Son Denies Serious
ParaIytiC Stroke.
DOCTORS FIND BRAIN CL0T
Reels on Stage, and Condition
Alarms Great Audience Even
Before Collapse-Wife
Rushes from Her
Floor Seat to Aid.


with paralysis on the stage of Cooper
| Union last night at the notification OF
| John Purroy Mitchell and other fusion
! candidates before an audience that
hacked the great auditorium. He had
Just ended his speech when he stag
| pered and fell into the arms of the
other persons on the PLATFORM VINO
| saw his condition. He was completely
dazed for several minutes, but after
lie was carried to the outer air he re-
covered TO some extent and was able
TO speak reassuringly TO Mrs. Wood
ruff and his friends.
The incident was most dramatic ana
created a sensation. From the time
Mr.. Woodruff uttered his first words
It was apparent that he was not him
self. Those about him on the platform
and I'm the front rows Of seats saw that
his face was deeply flushed, almost
purple. and even in the furthest part
Of the hall IT was seen that he was
unsteady on his feet.
As he neared the end Of his speech
| ne tottered so Enthusiastically that con-
/ troIler William 4. Prendergast. on one
side. and Francis W. Bird. Progress
, sive county chairman. on the other,
wore prepared for what was 10 come.
Grasps Table for Support.
Mr.. Woodruff in his speech. which
was on the Progressive element of inc
lfusIonlsts. bestowed high praise upon
Mr. NcAneny. Mr. Prendergast and
Mr.. Price. II required great determine
tion on his part. in the opinion or those
who saw him. 70 continue speaking
while Iaboring under such extreme
phvsical distress as he evidently felt in
the last few minutes. As he turned AZ
last 10 address Mr.. McAneny and Mr..
Prendergnst he grasped the speakers
table for support. Precipitation stood
out I'm beads on his forehead.
'I notify you. Mr. McAneny; notify
YOU. Mr.. Prendergast," he said. and at
the same time his knees buckled and
he leaned go heavily against the table
that IL slid forward and nearly shot
off the stage.
Those nearest 10 Mr.. Woodruff were
lust In time 10 save him from railing.
Mrs. Woodruff was sitting directly III
front Of her husband in the front row
Of seats with Mr.. Kruger. Mr.. MitcheFs
secretary, at the Custom House. she
reached her husbands side soon after
he was carried into an anteroom.
Coroner Israel Feinberg and Or. Arthur
Kozma. OF No. 81 East 1th street, who
were on the stage, at once attended Mr..
Woodruff.
In a few minutes Mr.. Woodruff re-
covered command Of his mental facul-
hes and asked to be permitted to walk
out TO the street without aid. The ply
sicians. however, would not consent to
this.
Mr.. Woodruff was much perplexed
over the seizure. and kept saying:
II can't make IT out. ! don't know
what it is"
Mrs. Woodruff said that her husband
was In good health. so far as she knew,
and that although he was growing
somewhat stout. his general physical
condition until last night was believed
to be unusually good.
Wife Becomes hysterical.
Mr.. Woodruff was taken In an auto
mobile owned by Lucien l.. Bonheur,
a Progressive leader and old friend or
the Woodruffs. 10 the Carlton House.
the apartment house branch Of the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Mrs Woodruff ar
rived shortly aftcrward.
Or. Norman Ditman, the hotel phys
ician. took charge OF the case, pending
the arrival OF DR.. Walter +. James.
the Woodruff family physician. Dr.
Israel l.. Feinberg, who is also Coro-
ner. accompanied Mr.. Woodruff to his
home. He said that Mr.. Woodruff was
overcome by the heat. but 1t later be-
came known that he was suffering
from n clot on the brain. which paral-
wed his whole left side. His son was
summt ned
Dr. Ditman sent for a trained nurse
at midnight. and himself remained
with the patient throughout the night.
Mr.. Woodruff's son, John f. Wood
riff vbo was at Greenwich, Conn. re-
ceived word of his fathers illness last
night and boarded train for New
York. He went directly to the Carl
ton apartments, and after seeing his
father and DR.. Ditman he said his
father was in no danger
In the opinion Of DR.. Ditman 1t was
said. Mr.. Woodruff suffered only
comnlete nervous breakdown. and that
bis ailment was not paralysis. The
younger Mr.. Woodruff said his father
mas IN before he went to the meeting.
and that he suffered similar attack
two weeks ago. while in the Adiron-
dacks. but quickly recovered.
Timothy l.. Woodruff was elected
7 lieutenant Governor of New York on
the Republican ticket. with b. b. Odell.
,r Mr.. Woodruff was born at New
Haven. August 4. 1858. and was gradu-
ated from Yale In 1879. He Is presi-
don't Of The Maltine Manufacturing
company and largely interested in the
Continued on third page. seventh colup'"