The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-07-10
Death and Burial of Edgar a.
Poe.

The clergyman, DR.. Snodgras,, !, who at
tended the author of "The Raven" in hi
last sickness, gives the following account o
il:
On chilly and wet November evening
Ireceived a note stating man answerin!
the name Of Edgar Allen Poe, who claimet
to know me, and was at drinking saloor
in Lombard street, Baltimore, in a state O
deep intoxication and great destitution.
repaired Immediately to the spot. When
entered the bar-roum of the house, I instant
ly recognized the face of one whom | haC
often seen and knew we'll, although it wore
an aspect OF vacant stupidity that made me
shudder. The intellectual flash of his eve
had vanished, or rather had been quencheC
in the bowl, but the broad capacious fore.
head of the author, "The Raven" as you
have appropriately designated him, was still
there, with width in the region of Ideally
such as few men have ever possessed. Blu,
perhaps would not have so readily recog-
nized him, had | not been notified by his ap.
parcl. His hat-or rather the hat of some
body else, for he had evidently been robbed
of his clothing. or cheated in an exchange
was cheap palm leaf one, without band
and soied; his coat, of commonest alpaca,
and evidently second hand; and his pants OF
gray mixed cashmere, ,dingy and badly fitting.
He wore neither vest or neck cloth, if re-
member right, while his shirt was badly
crumpled and soiled. He was so utterly stu
pifed with liquor that thought it best not to
seek recognition or conversation, especially
as he was surrounded by crowd of drink
ing men. actuated by idle curiosity rather
than sympathy. l Immediately ordered a
room for him where he could be comfortable
until | got word to his relatives-for there
were several in Baltimore.
Just at that moment one or two of the per-
sons referred to, getting information of tie
case, arrived at the spot. They declined to
take private care of him, assigning as rea-
son. that he had been very abusive and un-
grateful on former occasions when drunk,
and advised that he be sent to a hospital
He was accordingly placed in coach and
conveyed to Washington College Hospital,
and put under the care Of the competent and
attentive resi- ident physician of that institu-
ton. So insensible was he, that we had to
carry him to the carriage as if a corpse
the muscles of articulation seemed paralyz-
ed to recklessness, and mere incoherent
mutterings were all that were heard.
"He died in the hospital after some three
or four days, during which time he enjoyed
only occasio ional and ftlul seasons of con-
seriousness. His disease as will have been
Anticipated, mania a potu-a disease whose
finale is always fearful in its maniacal man
ifestations. Inone of his more lucid moments,
when asked by the physicians whether he
would like to see his freinds, he exclaimed:
"Friend My best friend would be he who
would take pistol and blow my brains out,
and thus relieve me ofmy agony"
These were among the last words.
Now for the manner of his burial:
The remains ofthe author of"The Raven"
do not "lie moudering in the corner of the
Potter's Field at Baltimore The truth, as
remarked, is bad enough, and discredit-
able enough to his relatives, not to say the
city where he died. He was inferred in an
old Presbyterian burying ground in Green
street, which has not been much used for
many years. On portion Of it church
has since been built, but not over his grave
In the removal Of the dead, which will soon
er or later take place, it's quite probable the
bones of poor Poe will be collected among
the remains of the friendless and unknown
and removed beyond recognition, for nothing
but couple of pine boards were placed at
grave. in lieu Of grave stone."
or The streets of London extend in
length one thousand seven hundred and fif-
~ milas fha nav;uo nf which coat e. A. aNa :