The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-06-29

The LAST DAYS OF Ex- PRESIDENT POLK
An interesting account OF the closing scenes
in the lite OF the late President is given by a
Nashville correspondent OF the Herald Mr.
Folks fatal illness, it appears, induced by
over. exertlon while arranging the details OF his
spacious mansion, and more dire city the labor OF
placing the books in his large library. For the
first three days his complaints, Chronic diarrhoa)
which was with him OF many years. standing,
excited no alarm-but the disease battling all the
skill of his medical advisers, other aid was call
ed in, but to no purposes Mr.. Polk continued
gradually to sink from day TO day. The disease
was checked upon him four days be fore his death.
but his constitution was weakened that there
did not remain recuperative energy enough in
the system for healthy reaction. He sank awav
so slowly and insensibly that it was eight hours
before he died after the heavy death respirations
commenced. He died without a struggle. sim
ply ceasng TO breathe, as when deep and ouei
sleep falls upon weary man.
About half an hour preceding his death his
venerable mother entered the room and kneel-
ing by his bedside offered up a beautiful PRAYER.
The scene was strikingly impressive Major
Polk, the Presidents brother, was also by his
bedside, with other members the family
On the succeeding day the body lay in state.
and the mansion was everywhere shrouded m
black. Masonic ceremonies were performed
over the corpse before 1t was encoffined The
coffin bore the simple inscription 81 X. Polk:
Born November, 1905. Died June Is, 1872
The body was deposited in the Grundy vault:
temporarily; but it will soon be removed to y
vault on the lawn Of the expresidential mansion.
where willow now stands, and over it riIl he
erected stately marble cenctaph; thus the BODY
OF the President from Tennessee will lie entomb.
ed in the heart of its Capital. Mr.. Polk by will
the evening before his death, gave the lawn 20
the State, in perpetuity, for this purpose.
Mr.. Polk sent Tor Rev. DR.. Edgar, of the Pres
byterian Church, seven days before his death,
desiring to be baptized by him. He said to him
impressively:
"Sir, il | had suspected twenty years ago that
should come to my death bed unprepared If
would have made me wretched man. am about
to die and have not made preparation. have not
even been baptized Tell me, Sir, eau there be
any ground for man thus situated to hope -
The conversation fatiguing Mr.. Polk too much
for him 10 be then baptized. it was postponed, TO
take place next evening; but in the interval, the
ex-Presdent recollected that when he was Gov.
ernor and lived here, he had held many aryu.
ments with Rev. Mr.. McFerren the talented and
popular Methodist minister of the place. his warm
personal and political friend, and that he prom
ised him that when he did embrace Chrstiantv
that the Rev. Mr.. McFerren should baptize him
He, therefore sent for Rev. DR.. Edear. made
known this obligation, expressed his intention N
be baptized by his friend the Methodist minister
and accordingly was SO consecrated.
Mr.. Polk has died worth about $IOO 600. the
bulk OF which is settled upon his smiable LADY,.
p:onaa. = ..... ". -