dricks, on the strength of Mr. Chandler's own testimony before a Senate Committee, charged that there had been a defalcation in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the Navy Department amounting to $63,000. The Secretary answered in an open letter in the newspapers, but when Mr. Hendricks's reply was made public, it was seen not only that there had been ample ground for the charge, but also that Mr. Chandler's explanation had not mended

matters.

Mr. Hendricks marked out the lines upon which the battle was to be fought; no step was taken without his advice; he led his party; there was no part of the State in which his voice was not heard, and the grand Democratic victory was largely due to his tireless energy, and to the enthusiasm which his splendid leadership inspired in every subordinate. With such a leader defeat was simply impossible. Not even the presence of both the Republican candidates within her borders, not the desperate efforts and unscrupulous methods of political managers, could win Indiana away from Thomas A. Hendricks.

He carried the war across the border to Ohio and Illinois. Everywhere the people flocked to hear and see him. His speeches were uniformly good-strong, dignified and temperate in their tone, they made a profound impression upon thinking people.

In September, on his way to Peoria, Ill., he was accompanied in a private car by two of his nieces, and by Mr. J. C. Shoemaker, Mr. F. T. Lee, Mr. Elliott Hord and others. About four o'clock in the morning the car jumped the track and fell on its side with a crash into the ditch. The lights went out. Confusion reigned. Men and bedding were thrown across the aisle, and buried those on the under side. Several persons were badly bruised; but the first question of each as he emerged from the debris was, "Where is Mr. Hendricks?" or, "Is the Governor hurt?" Fortunately he escaped with but slight

bruises, and was able to keep his appointment at Peoria, speaking to immense throngs in the afternoon and evening. On the return the Bloomington people intercepted his car, and took him to Saybrook, a small village in their county, to address a mass meeting. At this place there was a great demonstration, and his carriage was drawn by a club of uniformed men. On the ride back to Bloomington a party of young ladies was brought into the car by the courtly and chivalrous Bayless W. Hanna, and the Governor greatly enjoyed their chat and laughter and songs, as they crowded round him; while they in return pronounced him quite the loveliest gentleman they had ever met, and wished the young men were like him.

His influence was felt as a great help to his ticket in New York. Mr. John Kelly had bitterly opposed the nomination of Mr. Cleveland, and it was found that, as Mr. Kelly virtually controlled some 70,000 votes, his opposition would give New York to Blaine, notwithstanding the large Republican defection. Mr. Hendricks, on the other hand, was a warm friend of Mr. Kelly and a great favorite with the Tammany organization, and the very fact that his name was on the ticket, taken in connection with his personal influence with the Tammany chieftain, did much to check the threatened bolt. He made several trips to New York during the canvass and spoke at a number of points.

But Mr. Hendricks's best work was done in Indiana. Here he knew the people and was known by them. At the barbecue at Shelbyville-his old town-it seemed as though the whole State had turned out to do him honor. The roads in every direction were choked with vehicles, the trains were crowded, and it is estimated that there were at least thirty thousand strangers packed in the streets of the little city. They all came to welcome Hendricks to Shelbyville. He was not there, having received

an imperative summons to Ohio. His absence was a great disappointment, but its necessity was recognized.

The Democratic party of Indiana was fortunate in its candidates, for they were all good campaigners. We have seen what effective work Mr. Hendricks did; and he was ably seconded by Hon. Isaac P. Gray, the nominee for Governor. The competitor of the latter was Hon. William H. Calkins, a talented and popular gentleman, who had resigned from Congress to become the head of the Republican State ticket.

A series of joint debates between the candidates for Governor had been arranged, but Maj. Calkins broke down physically, and they had to be abandoned. Col. Gray went through the canvass in fine shape, speaking at many points in city, town and hamlet, and fairly earning the splendid victory which he won. In spite, however, of the fact that the drift all seemed to be with the Democrats, and notwithstanding the Independent Republican movement, there were many things that made the result extremely doubtful. The situation was full of uncertainty. The Republicans were disturbed by the candidacy of St. John, the Prohibitionist; and Butler, the Greenback candidate, was the Democratic thorn in the flesh.

It was known, or at least supposed, that Butler would have a large following among Tammany men in New York, as he was strongly supported by the New York Sun. But though majorities suffered somewhat, it turned out that the Republican States went Republican and the Democratic States Democratic. Those Tammany men who could not support Mr. Cleveland, either did not vote at all or voted for Mr. Blaine directly, so that Butler did not cut much of a figure in New York; and when the votes were counted it was found that that State-by a very small majority it is true-together with Indiana,

New Jersey, Connecticut and all the Southern States, had chosen Cleveland and Hendricks electors.

But the Republican managers were not disposed to give up until they were compelled to, and by the aid of Mr. Jay Gould and his Western Union Telegraph they held back the returns as long as possible, in the hope that something might turn up. The hope was vain.

It was a great victory, won over a skillful and experienced foe aided by all the power and patronage of the Federal Government and fighting with a desperate determination to hold its ground. After a twenty-four years' lease of power, the Republican party looked upon the National Government as its own peculiar propertycertainly it used it in that way.

Naturally there was much rejoicing among Democrats everywhere over the result. Jollification meetings were held all over the country. Speeches were made, cannon were fired, there were processions and music and flags and fire-works. People seemed to have gone wild—the news was too good to be true. Mr. Hendricks was the recipient of congratulatory telegrams and letters by the bushel. He kept "open house," and he had all the callers he could shake hands with. Every night and nearly all day long for a week, the streets of Indianapolis were thronged with people shouting themselves hoarse over the victory. The city was ablaze with the light of bonfires, buildings were illuminated, the air was full of fireworks, and above and through it all was a continuous roar of voices.

Thus the battle was won, and, so far as Indiana was concerned, Thomas A. Hendricks was its hero.

CHAPTER XX.

VICE PRESIDENT.

The Democratic success was at last an established fact. Some degree of quiet succeeded the great excitement that immediately followed the election, and the people turned from their boisterous demonstrations of joy over the victory to honor the victors. Democrats everywhere seemed more than anxious to show their great satisfaction at having finally succeeded beyond the shadow of a doubt in electing Mr. Hendricks Vice President.

The weeks of November immediately following the election he spent in New York, where he was almost overwhelmed with honors. On the 21st he addressed an audience numbering thousands, in the Brooklyn Rink. With characteristic eloquence he gave to New York greeting from the Indiana Democracy, and discussed the living questions of the day in a manner that met the hearty approval of his hearers. On the 24th he was serenaded by the Sullivan Club at Newark, where he had gone to review a parade, and the speech in which he expressed his gratitude for the honor paid him was received with enthusiasm, such as was everywhere called forth by his appearance. The rooms occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks at the Fifth Avenue Hotel were crowded with distinguished visitors, who could not honor too highly the Vice President elect and his accomplished wife. Indeed, he said to a friend that if he should remain in New York much longer, he would be killed with kindness.

In February Mr. Hendricks met Governor Cleveland