Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-06
Says Death Was Painless,

no pain whatever when he died. The
blood ciot passes instantaneously from
the thrombosed vein to the lungs or
to the brain and the patients death is
immediate.
I'VE had feared a second embolism
Pulmonary embolism occurring in in
fiammatory rheumatism is not a usual
occurrence, yet ii is by no means rare.
Embolism comes in childhood. but not
ordinarily in adult life. Inflammatory
rheumatism itself is common, but a
majority of persons who have 1t At
Col. Roosevelt's time of life do not
have embolism.
But Col Roosevelt once having had
it while at the hospital. 1t was not i'm
possible that it might occur again
within two or three months. especial
iy IL the rheumatism continued to be
acute, as il did in the coloneIs case
After leaving the hospital he con-
tinued to suffer pains. but when last
saw him on Thursday he was in the
best of spirits and had every expecta-
ton of getting well. Myself and Dr..
J. A. Hartwell and Col. w. A. Sher-
wood of Brooklyn. also attending him,
confidently expected he would re-
cover. His death came as a shock to
me-"
When Col Roosevelt left the faospi-
tai here to spend the holiday in Oys-
ter Bay, Miss Stricken. in speaking of
his condition. said he was in slight
PAIN dl tdlSs puI dppdE Chilly was
far from being seriously i'll. On the
Sunday previous to his departure for
his home he had dictated articles for
the Kansas City Star and other pub
LEGATIONS from II am. until pm.
He ate we'll and slept like a child.
Showed Marked Improvement.
ment under the regimen provided at
the hospital that Mrs. Roosevelt, who
at the beginning remained with her
husband continuously. was importuned
by him to rest She went to Oyster
Bay, returning two or three times a
week to visit him and bring him table
delicacies of which he was especially
fond.
Two separate blood tests had been
made at the hospital-one by DR..
well-each of which confirmed the
diagnosis of the other. These tests.
1t was said. indicated that the colonel
was entirely free from any organic
disease and that his only trouble was
the infiammatory rheumatism. This
ailnent was only pronounced in his
left leg, but at times it affected one
of his hands and arms.
IF you could see the trayful of
food that is sent into Col Roose-
velt's room at dinner time" said a
friend of the family, you would
think he was certainly on the mend.
He has the appetite of a vigorous.
healthy schoolboy."
Blood pressure tests, 1t was said.
showed that the patient had arteries
of man of forty instead of sixty
years.
Grieved Over Sons Death.
One of the things that is believed TO
have contributed more than any other
to the coloneTs breakdown was the
death last fall of his SON. Lieut. Quen-
tin Roosevelt, the aviator, in action
in France. Proud of his heroic. sons
achievements. Col. Roosevelt bore UP
fortitude that was in keeping with
his spirit in public life. Friends said
that while the father did not carry
his heart on his sleeve" he suffered
most poignant griefS in silence and
tried to forget them by plunging
harder than ever into his work.
Quentin was killed in combat July
II, 1918, at Chamery. France. For
some weeks previous to confirmation
of his death there were reports that
he had possibly been taken prisoner
by the Germans and might turn up
alive. This suspense added to the
distress of the Roosevelt household.
Preferred Burial in France.
When the sad news finally was
officially confirmed Gen. Pershing
cabled Col Roosevelt that. IL desired.
tho body of Quentin would be re-
moved to America. France mean
while had paid the nlest honors to
the dead aviator and the Roosevelt
family declined to accept the War
Departments offer.
Col Roosevelt was also concerned
over the wound received in action by
his son, Capt Archibald Roosevelt.
which caused paralysis in his arm, for
which he is now being treated.
Sycamore Hill. standing on an emil
nence and always a delightful place In
summer, swept as 1t was by breezes
from Long Island sound. these friends Of
the Rosevelt's said, was not SO comfort
able in winter. Two furnaces In the cell
lar kept going continuously in zero
weather and crate fires In every ROOM
hardly sufficed to heat the long halls
In the former Presidents home Despite
this. the colonel insisted he and the
other members of his family were hardy
and accustomed to the rigors Of winter
:: :-.- In country homes