Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-18
The Last Illness of MIR. Adams--Th,
Scene in the House.

I
Scene in the House.
The National lntelligencer gives the fol-
lowing account of the mournful event of the
last illness of Mr.. Adams:-- e
just after the yeas and nays were taken
on a question, and the Speaker had risen TO
put another question to the House, a sud-
den cry was heard on the left of the chair,
I g Mr.. ADAMS is dyingm Turning our eyes
to the spot, we behed the venerable man
in the act of falling over the left arm of his
chair, while his right arm was extended,
grasping his desk Tor support. He would
have dropped upon the floor had he not
been caught in the arms of the member sit
ting next him. A great sensation was crea-
ted in the House: members from all quar-
tiers rushing from their seats and gathering
round the fallen statesman, who was Imme-
diately lifted into the area in front of the
Clerks table. The Speaker Instantly sug-
gested that some gentleman move an adj
tournament, which being promptly done, the
/ House adjourned. A sofa was brought, and
/ Mr. Adams, in a state of perfect helpless
ness, though not of entire insensibiity, was
gently laid upon it. The sofa was then TIA
ken up and borne out of the Hall into the
Rotunda, where it was set down, and MEM
bers of both Houses and strangers who were
fast crowdng around were with some diff
Guilty repressed and an open space cleared
III its Immediate vicinity; but a medical gen.
teman, a member of the House, (who was
prompt, active, and self-possessed through
out the whole scene,) advised that he be re-
moved to the door Of the Rotunda opening
on the east portion, where fresh wind was
/ blowing. This was done; but the air being
chilly and loaded with vapor, the sofa was,
at the suggestion of MIR. Winthrop, once
more taken up and removed TO the Speak
er's apartment, the doors of which were
forthwith closed to all but professional gen.
tlemen, several of whom arrived in success
sion as the news spread into the city,
While lying in this apartment Mr.. Adams
partially recovered the use of his speech,
and observed, in faltering accents, This
is the end of earthl'' but quickly added, "
am composed" Members had by this time
reached MIR. AS. abode with the melancholy
intelligence, and soon after, Mrs. Adams
and his nephew and niece arrived and made
their way to the appalling scene. Mrs. A.
was deeply affected and for some moments
quite Frustrated by the sight Of her husband,
now insensible, the palor of death upon his
countenance, and those sad premonitories
fast making their appearance which fall
with such chill upon the heart.
In the Hall, meanwhile, gloomy pause
occurred in the usual hum of voices that
fills it. Some members sat in mute sus-
pense; others stood in groups, and made or
answered inquiries as to the cause and prob
able issue of the attack; others hastened to-
ward the Speakers room TO get the latest
intelligence of the sufferers condition; and
many were busily engaged in writing to
their friends Mt home the alarming news
A remark very frequently heard was,
q Well, this is just what Mr.. Adams could
have wished; it is an appropriate ending of
his public career; he falls like second
Chatham, in the Senate House."
! MIR. Adams, though for some months very
feeble, was, when he entered the Hall in
the morning, in his usual health, and had
but few minutes before delivered his vote
on a motion before the House, in an unusu-
I ally distinct and emphatic manner. The
attack was believed, at first, to have been a
fainting fit; but this idea soon gave place to
the appalling conviction that it was a recur-
renee Of paralysis, which has twice before
affected Mr.. Adams, though in a niilder de-
gree.