Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-01-08

New fQgk, Jan. 6.-Nheodore
Roosevelt died at o'clock this morn
ing. The news was received by Miss
Josephine Striker, his secretary, in
a telephone message from Mrs.
Roosevelt.
Miss Striker said the former Presi-
dent suffered an attack of innamma-
tory rheumatism New Years day
and since had been moro or less con-
fined to his room. The attack set
tied in his right hand and his wife
sent at once for nurse. His condi-
tion did not seem alarming at first,
and the turn for the worse Is believ-
ed not to have come until last night.
1t is understood only his wife and
nurse were present at his death.
Other members Of the family were in
other parts Of this country or
abroad.
Death, 1t Is said, came to him
painlessly as he slept. Three ply
sicians had been in attendance for
several days. He was first treated for
what was believed to be sciatica. The
patients trouble later was diagnosed
as infiammatory rheumatism, which,
according to one Of the doctors, had
affected practically every joint in
his body. ,a-..
Forty y-eight hours before his death
the former President had been visit
cd by one of his physicians, who stat
ed he found the colonel apparently
In good condition and spirits. The
colonel, he said, laughed and joked
with him and said he expected soon
to renew his wood chopping on his
Sagamore Hill estate.
Left Hospital. B.
49, On the day before Christmas, when
Col. Roosevelt left the hospital here
to spend the holidays in Oyster Bay,
Dr.. Stricken, in speaking of his CON
dition, said he was in slight pain at
intervals, but apparently was far
from being seriously i'll. On the Sun
Cay previous to his departure for his
home he had dictated articles for the
Kansas City Star and other publica-
| tions from | a. III. until 2 y. m He
ate and slept like child. So mark
ed had been his Improvement under
the regimen provided at the hospital
that Mrs. Roosevelt, who at the be-
ginning remained with her husband
continuously, was importuned by him
to rest. She went to Oyster Bay, re-
turning two or three times week to
visit him and bring him table deli
cac1es OF which he was especially
fond.
No Organic Disease.
Two separate blood tests had been
made at the hospital, one by DR..
Richards and the other by DR.. Hart
well, both OF which confirmed the
diagnosis of the other. These tests,
1t was said, indicated that the colo
mel was entirely free from any or
ganic disease and that his only trou-
rle was the infiammatory rheumat-
Ism. This ailment was only pro-
nounced in his left leg, but at times
1t affected one of his hands and
arms.
Blood pressure tests, 1t was said,
showed that the patient had arteries
Of man Of forty instead of sixty
years.
One Of the things that is believed
to have contributed more than any
other to the colonel's breakdown
was the death Of his. son, Lieut..
Quentin Roosevelt, the aviator, in
action III France. Proud Of his heroic
actions and achievements, Col. Roose-
velt bore up under the sorrow Of his
death with fortitude that was in
Keeping with his spirit in public life.
Friends say that while the father
'did not carry his heart on his his
sleeve he suffered the most poig-
nant griefs In silence and tried to
forget them by plunging harder than
ever into his work
Death Of Quentin.
Quentin was killed in July, and
when the sad news was finally Of
hcially confirmed Gen. Pershing cab
led Col Roosevelt that If he desired.
the body of Quentin would be remov-
ed to America. France meanwhile
Fad paid the fullest honors to the
dead aviator and the family declined
TO accept the War Departments Of
fer. In a letter to Gen. Peyton c..
March, chief OF staff, Col Roosevelt
wrote:
Mrs. Roosevelt and wish to
enter most respectful but empha-
tic protest against the proposed |
course, so far as our son Quentin |
is concerned. We have always be-
lieved that where the tree falls,
there let it le.'
after the war is over Mrs. Roose-
welt and ] intend to visit the grave.
and then to have small stone put
up by us, but not disturbing what
has already been erected to his
memory by his friends and American
comrades In arms"
The colonel had been looking for
ward to his journey overseas with
mingled feelings OF sadness and
pride. No plans had been made for
his departure, 1t was said, but it was
thought that Il his condition i'm