The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-31
I.
POSSIBILITY
IS ELIMINATED
Death Comes Suddenly as So.
lon Was About TO Make
Campaign Speech
HEM0RRHAGE Is CAUSE
Unexpected Demise Leaves
Peculiar Situation il Il
Ohio Politics IA

Delaware, Ohio, March 31.-(API
United States Senator Frank b.
Willis, Ohio's 1avorite son candidats
for the Republican presidential nome
ination, was eliminated from the
contest by death last night, while
attending m old-fashioned home<
coming demonstration.
He was stricken Z few minutes bes
fore he was to deliver = campaign
address to his fellow townsme1l ~
Ohio Wesleyan university, and 5uDt
~ tho Columbus Republican, R1eo
club was singing "a Soldiers 1Aze-
we'll"
Winnie the glee club was singing.
the senator left the stage. telling
friends he wanted to get . byeAth,
Of fresh air" His death, which five
physicians said was caused by coze-
bral hemorrhages, occurred Within
five minutes. He was s. scld.
Was Net Feeling WSIt
He had told his private secretarys
Charles A. Jones, he. Wa feeling
very bad" Soon sitter the senator
collapsed. Mrs. Willis, called from
the stage where abe had been sitting
with her husband, reached his side .
few minutes before he died
The audience first Was informed
the senator had been taken III and
would Be unable to speak. ] They
ssnsed something more distressing
had happened and, - they fingered
to learn the truth, many Of his Old
friends, both men and women, cried.
Some women became almost hystsriSi
cal.
National guard troops that had
participated in tho parade md dem-
onstratien, took charge and dispersed
the crowd. which became excited but
orderly.
with the senator when the end
came, besides Mrs. Willis, were his
brother, Buell. w. Willis, his father
in-law, John Dustin Of Galena, three
brothers.in-l1w, his private secretary
and . few personal friends. - = Il
Widow Almost Hysterica1
Mrs. Willis was unconvinced for
some time her husband was dead.
Escorted from the chamber on tho
verge Of hysteria. she was taken to
tho home Of her father in Galena.
Miss Helen Willis, the only child.
was notified 1t Ada, Ohio, where
she is . professor at Ohio Northern
University.
National guard troops formed m
escort Of honor as the senator's body
was removed to an undertaking es-
tablishment. Major L. C. Riddle an
nounced he would maintain q guard
over the body until the funeral.
News Spreads Rapidly
News Of the senator's death
spread rapidly over the city. His
pictures, displayed in the homes and
business places. were draped in
mourning.
While funeral arrangements have
not yet been made, burial probably
will b 1t Galena, his birthplace, IL
miles southeast Of this city. :
The hour just preceding TIN sen-
ator's death had been one Of pleas
ing triumph for him. In the town
he called home he had been signally
honored. The streets were decorat-
ed in red, white and blue, his name
streamed across the thoroughfares
| teeming with his admirers.
Senator Willis had arrived in
Delaware yesterday afternoon from
Columbus, whore he was met by =
boyhood friend, Roy Brewer.
Slept During Afternoon
Mr.. Willis told Brewer he wished
to rest and went to . hotel for about
two hours sleep. Upon arising, ap-
pareutly refreshed, Senator Willis
CONTINUED on page tWo)