New Britain herald., 1924-12-13
SAMUEL GOMPERS
 DIES AT AGE OF 74
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accompanied him north, said tha' had Mir. Gompers remained in the high altitude of Mexico City si, hours longer he could not have reached the home land alive.
 III For Several Years.
 The complications which com bined to end the career of the fa- nous labor leader have beset hi. aging body for several years accord. ing to his physlcians; but the final acute attack was brought on by a change of weather in Mexico City which resulted in a cold and conges. lion Of the lungs, and the body worn by intense labor at the recent Amer. ican Federation of Labor convention in Fl Paso, could offer little resis. tance. His mind and will, however resisted with all their might and their determination 10 live If only 2 few hours longer enabled him 10 go 10 his final rest In the country O the laboring men he had champion 1 ed and defended through a who'll l life time.
 Knew They Loved Him.
 In his dying moments, MT. Con pers had an opportunity to witne the affection in which he was heir by his own people and the public 2, well. AS his cot was being lowered | from the special car in the railroa | yards here at o'clock yesterday af, ernoon, a great throng gathered. Us temper was indicated when the per. sons nearest him prevented photo graphs being taken.
 Tt is no way to treat a sick man, they shouted. .. Mir. Gompers wore his familiar cap and spcctacles as he was lowered from the train. He pulled the cnp down slightly over his face 10 pro tect himself from the cool air ani smiled wanly as someone greetcd him.
 The ambulance which bore him {, his last bed in life had to pick il. way carefully through the traffic jam and the crowd. The procession to thr hotel became something Of a trium phal march.
 According to C. N. Idar of San An tonio, general organizer for th, American Federation of Labor, Mir Gompers' final acute illness cam, following a walk up a long flight oi steps to the Mexican National palace 10 attend the inauguration of Presi. dent Gales. week ago last Tues, day. When Gomrers reached the last step, exhausted, he exclaimed 10 hi. escort:
 Did Not Want to Die.
 T do not mind climbing the stair but l do not want to climb the 'Gol. den Stairs just yet"
 Mr. Gompers' death recalls the passing in this city of another na- tional figure, Major General Fred erlck Funston, who died February l9, 1917. General Funston, who re- turned from Vera Cruz with the American expeditionary forces in Mexico, in September, 1914, assumed command of what was then the southern department, in the follow ing December After a little more than two years service apparently in good health, he dropped dead in hotel.
 Cause Of Death.
 The primary cause of Mr. Com pers' death was acute heart disease with pulmonary oedema, complicated by advanced nephrtis and arterial hyperte ension.
 MT, Gompers had been improving early in the night and had taken two or three maps but change occurred al 2;SO a, an. and his heart began to fail, refusing to respond to drugs.
 It was apparent al 2;3O a. m. that MT Gompers was going. he physician said, He was told by Dr. Lee Rice Of San Antonio, attending him, that he was in critical condition and might not live out the night. The dying man hreathed more heavily for moment but there was no other re- sponse.
 Officials of the federation gathered about the bedside. The strain of the vigil was apparent on many of them.
 Some of them stepped into the hail and few gave way to tears, as il was apparent their comrado of many years was passing on.
 Medical History.
 Dr. Rice sketched the patients medical history after his arrival in San Antonio briefly as follows
 The heart rate on arrival was 1G0 but under the influence of digitalis ii had slowed down to l40 at II D. m. From this time he was improving until a sudden collapse occurred at 2SO a. m, when his heart refused 10 respond 10 stimulation.
 "Epinephrkn was used and he was bled a pint and a half of blood 10 relieve congestion of his lungs. After each procedure he rallied for a few minutes but almost at once collapsed.
 T was told he had beon suffering from diabetes. Two specimens taken during the evening were free from sugar and this disease did not par ticipate in the final attack.
 The heart was fibrllliatIng tabso- solute irregularity) when he arrived but 1t is not known how long this condition had existed.
 T told MT. Gompers at S:s0 that he was in critical condition and might not pass through the night. He understood but did not respond, his heavy breathing preventing any spoken words"