Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-04-12

short walk on the afternoon preyi-
Gus. At tea he ate and appeared as
usual. and left the table at seven
o'clock to 60 to his room, intending
to return in few minutes to the
parlor. He had not been gone more
than fifteen minutes. when | heard
him feebly call me. | ran to him,
and found him sitting at the top of
the first flight of stair. holding to the
bannister with his right hand. Upon
inquiring what was the matter. he
said: 81 don't know; my left leg and
arm are growing stiff" He insisted
that he could walk if he could only
get upon his feet. He made repeated
efforts to do so. but failing. he re-
marked that he felt very dizzy.
Immediately summoned physi-
clan, who as soon as he.saw him,pro-
nouncsd the attack paralysis. and an
alarming case; said the dizziness was
bad symptom. We succeeded in
removing him to his bed. where he
continued for some time TO exert him.
self to move his paralyzed limbs,
thinking that no doubt by SO doing he
could overcome the state in which he
was in. He remarked to the doctor,
Il can't understand this; | can't even
will to move" His speech was
somewhat affected from the first, and
by morning he had lost the power of
articulating audibly. For two or three
days after he only spoke in whispers,
and with great effort and indistinct-
ness. He seldom attempted to say
anything except in reply to questions
as to how he felt, &c. He said he
suffered all over his body when he
talked. What little communication
he had with us after that was by wrl-
ting, but so much was illegible that a
great deal could not be read. Two
DAYS before he died he had no. mus
cular power in his right hand to hold
a pencil, and all communication In
that way was prevented.
A few hours after he was attacked
he closed his eyes, and never opened
them again. except partially two or
three times, but only for moment each
time. He retained his consciousness
TO the last. ! would sometimes open
his ewes and ask him if he knew me
to press my hand; he would instantly
do so. and with such an intense, yearn-
ing look, seeming to exert himself to
speak, that it was agonizing to wit
ness it. His eyes were all the time
perfectly clear and natural. About
half an hour before his death / opened
his eyes and asked him if he knew
me to turn them in an opposite direc
ton; he did it instantly, showing tc
the physician and all around that hC
r still retained his mental faculties per
fectly. His sufferings seemed to b'
; intense all the time. The affection o
his throat no doubt hastened his end
! having no power to expectorate, th'
mucus would collect and obstruct hi
2 respiration, causing him the greatest
l labor to breathe. He has frequently
| told me that he thought the difficulty
S with his throat would some day ter
inmate his life. 1t has in a measure
S proved true. / had the stronges
faith to the last that the Lord, in mi
S infinite goodness, would permit hin
to give us some of those beautilu
l things that / knew he was strainint
every nerve to utter. 1t was ordered
: otherwise, but it was hard, very hard
to submit.
4 A few minutes before he left II
e his respiration became easier, and h
: passed away as sweetly and peaceful
y ly as though he had dropped into
gentle sleep. 1t was fifteen minute
after seven o'clock when he drew tn
Il last almost inaudible breath-just on
week to q minute, we think. from tn
# time he was attacked. His wish tina
J. his last illness might be n short on
e was fulfilled. He was so fearful h
,f might give his friends trouble wa
: the principal reason for the wish.-
IS His thoughts were always more {
t. others than himself, and it was hi
le chief delight to communicate know
edge to others; he was untiring i
lie this particular. He never learned
truth to selfshly hoard it. but wa
ever ready and desirous to have an
and all Of his fellow-creature tal
ID unsparingly from the great stor'
in house of his mind. He was new,
l. happier than when he felt he was d.
lie ing good. His whole life was OF
le continued scene of usefulness. q
i. the fourth day of his attack he wro
r for n gentleman. who came In TO s,