Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-08-17

ou' d Stu der Or who was impelled by a
stern senseof duty to the wounded, DIVING
and dead, to listen to the wild wall of aoo7
ny that went up from the spot where the
havoc was worst, will ever desire to hear
it again. Many home, on which no
shadow rested when the sun rose, was
clothed in mourning, when it set. TIE
design Of this imperfect sketch does not
| require me to dwell longer on this melan-
| choly disaster. Though all hearts were
melted and sabdued by
| THE resistless eloquence of woe,n
all hands were ready to help. 1t is enough
| to state that the dead we're shrouded for
| the tomb, the mortally hurt received every
| alleviation that could mitigate their expi.
ring sutferings, the injured watched over
with tenderness and assiduity that knew
no exhaustion or slumber And when all
this had been done, how different were
| thoughts, feelings, words and bearing Of
that agitated and bereaved company, as
they slowly, silently, sadly moved home
| ward, In the deepening twilight of evening,
bowed down with the burden of loss and
grief none could measure, yet might be
| heavier still With the rest of the excur-
sionists, the two whose singularly connec-
ted fatewe have been contemplating, were
brough to the city of my residence--one
to be clad for the grave, the other to re-
ceive all it was possible for medical skill,
sisterly affection. brotherly soicitude or
friendly aid to do for his restoration. Des-
perate as his case at first seemed, he grad
ually regained bis senses, reason remounted
its throne, he fully comprehended his crit
ical condition, and day by day for few
weeks, appeared to be progressing towards
ultimate recovery, but all these pleasing
anticipations proved delusive. Alarming 3
symptoms began to appear, sinking him
lower every relapse, until it became fear-
fully evident he must follow his companion
to the "returnless bourne" He died at
the Planters Hotel, in the city of Water
town, about 5 o'clock Wednesday morning,
December 2lst, 1859, in the twenty-third
year of his age, universally 1amented
There was no tumuit Of passion no con-
fiict Of emotions, no complaining, but life
softly and imperceptibly ebbed itself away
and the released spirit took its fight to an
other sphere, without leaving the slightest
impress of pain on the calm and composed
features, now cold and speechless. The
angel Of death sealed bis lips with smile.
Hardly conscious Of his real situation, for
. day or two previous to his dissolution.
his mind wandered in the dreamy mazes of
q mild delirium, and unaware that the nlys-
terious change was SO near-that the su-
preme hour had come-he passed from the
quietneSs Of sleep, to the stiffness of the
last rest.
have no eulcgy to pronounce. Deeds
are the best logists-words are idle, and
Aattery and blame are alike Indifferent tc
him. have endeavored to make his life
tell his story, and his acts speak his praise
In view OF the foundations Of future use
fulness he had carefully laid, we may vel
believe that every succeeding year would
have given solidity to his Judgment, every
fresh acquisition would have extended the
boundaries of his knowledge, every new
fact would have increased the fund of his
information, every new effort would have
strengthened his force Of will, every new
trial would have given him greater endu-
rance, every appeal to his sympathies
would have enlarged the limits of his
charity but all such hopes and speculations
must now be surrendered-we must say
farewell to the self-taught scholar, the ri.
sing Journalist, the able writer the cher.
ished friend, the golden promises of youth
farewell Van Buren, Smead.