Evening star., 1924-12-13
GOMPERS EXPIRES,
ENDING 43 YEARS
AS A.. F. OF L. HEAD
CONTINUED from First Pase.)

wanly as some one greeted him.
The ambulance which bore him to
his last bed in life had to pick its
way carefully through the traffic jam
and the crowd. The procession to the
hotel became something of a tri-
UNI phal march.
According to c. N. Idar Of San An
tonic, general organizer for the
American Federation of Labor, Mr..
Gompers' final acute illness came fol-
lowing a walk up a long flight of
steps to the Mexican National Palace
to attend the inauguration OF Presi-
dent Gales a week ago last Tuesday.
When Mr.. Gompers reached the last
step exhausted, he exclaimed to his
escort:
II do not mind climbing the stairs,
stairs just yet.
Mr. Gompers' death recalls the
passing in this city of another ma
tional figure, Maj. Gen. Frederick
Funston, who died February 10, 1917.
Gen. Funston, who returned from
Vera Cruz with the American expe-
ditionary forces in Mexico, in Sep
tember, 1914, assumed command of what
was then the Southern Department in
the following December. After lit
tie more than two years service, ap-
parently in good health, he dropped
dead in hotel.
End Apparent Early.
1t was apparent at $3.50 am. that
Mr.. Gompers was going, his physician
stated He was told by DR.. Lee Rice
of San Antonio, attending him, that
he was in a critical condition and
might not live out the night. The
dying man breathed more heavily for
a moment, but there was no other
response.
onicials of the federation gathered
about the bedside. The strain of the
vigil was apparent on many Of them.
Some Of them stepped into the hall
and q few gave way to tears, rs 1t
was apparent their comrade of many
years was passing on.
DR.. Rice sketched the patients medi-
cal history after his arrival in San
Antonio briefly as follows:
THE heart rate on arrival was $50.
but under the influence of digitalis 1t
had slowed down to 140 at II pm.
From this time he was improving
until a sudden collapse occurred at
2:30 am. when his heart refused to
respond to stimulation.
Rallied Slightly. .-
"Epinephrin was used and he was
bIed a pint and a half OF blood to
relieve congestion of his lungs. After
each procedure he rallied for q few
minutes, but almost at once col
lapsed.
II was told he had been 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 f1brillating (abso
lutte irregularity) when he arrived,
but it Is not known how long this
condition had existed.
II told Mr.. Gompers At 3:30 that he
was in a critical condition and might
not pass through the night. He un-
derstood, but did not respond, his
heavy breathing preventing any
spoken words"
When the doctor announced that
the end had come labor officials
gathered about the bed and each laid
an affectionate hand on the brow or
the hand Of their leader and each in
| turn said "Good-bye. Sam" Each
while he still was in manner theirs.
1t was the end Of long journey for
many OF them, as Gompers had fought
with them through lifetime.
Never Lost Cheerfulness.
At no time did the kindly man lose
his cheerfulness or give up heart. In
the long ride from Mexico City
more than 1000 miles-he was the
most hopeful Of all his party. He
was unafraid, and even when told
that he was going, faced death as he
had faced many another enemy.
Apparently he did not suffer great
ly. After the critical collapse in the
early morning hours the only sign of
his distress was the heavy breathing
as the heart tried to continue its last
work. 1t was believed by his physi-
clan that he was conscious until the
last, though unable to express him
self.
For fully 80 minutes before te end
it was known that Mr.. Gompers was
dying, and in those 80 minutes asso-
ciates told Of lifetime Of devotion
and friendship which they had shared
with the head of their organization,
whispering their sentiments - they