The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-06-20
INTERESTING DETAILS OF DOUG.
LAS, LAST HOURS.

At about elevsp o'clock on Sunday
morning. Bishop ouggan called at the
request Of friepdsto converse with Mr..
Douglas, who wa then. for the first time
perfectly RATIONAL Mr.. Douglas imme.
diately Recognized the Bishop, and ex.
pressed his qualification at the visit.
Bishop Duggan soon asked:
'Mr. Douglas, have you ever been bap.
tized according TO the rles Of any church?'
Mr. Douglas replied:
Never
The Bishop coplinuod-'Do you DO.
sire to have mass said after the ordlnan.
ces VI The holy Catholic Church2' The
answer was: ....
No sir; when / 10 / will communicate
with you freely -
The Bishop thed lurued to Mr. Rhodes
and said;
DO you think he is fully possessed Of
his mental fsculties?' Mr.. Rhodes replied
i do rot know perhaps you had better
ask him again The Bishop repeated his
question, to which Mr.. Douglas answer.
ed, in strong, full voice,
You perhaps did not understand me,
When | desire it, l will communicate
with you freely
The Bishop then remarked to Mr..
Rhodes, He is undoubtedly in his right
mind, and does not desire my offices. /"
He then withdrew.
During the day Sunday Mr.. Douglas
seemed to he much letter, and strong
hopes Were entertained of his recovery;
he slept most of the day, and in the even.
ing seemed much refreshed. Mrs. Doug
las and Mr.. Rhodes remained with him
during the night Al about four o'clock
on Monday morning he seemed to be much
worse, and sank rapidly; his friends were
sent for, and at the request of Mrs.
Douglas, Bishop Duggan again visited
him. Soon after the Bishop entered he
approached the bedside, and addressing
tie patient said.
Mr., Douglas. you know your own con
dition fully, and in view ofyour approach
ing dissolution do yon desire the cere.
mony of extreme JUNCTION to be perform.
edH
Mr.. Douglas replied.
No, l have no time to discuss these
things now" s.n
The Bishop then withdrew. After he
had gone, Mrs Donglas requested MIR.
Rhodes 10 ask her husband if he desire1
.he ministration of any other clergyman.
Mr., Rhodes then said to Mr.. Douglas
"Do you know the clergymen of this
Icity?' To which Mr., Douglas replied.
Nearly every oneof them
Mr.. Rhodes-'Do you wish to have Ell
ther or any OF them call to See you tC
converse, upon religious subjoc,s?
Mr.. Douglas-No. thank you.
Soon after this, about five o'clock, be
desired to have his position in bed chang.
ed, the blinds opened and the windows
raised. Mr.. Rhodes lifted HIM to an ca
sier posture, where he could look out up
on the street, and drink IN thefresh morn
ing air. For few moments ho seemed
to gain new life. Then he began to sink
away. his eyes partially closed, and in
slow and measured cadences, with con.
siderable pause between each accent, he
uttered. ......
Death!-Death!! th!!-Death!p
After this he seemed TO revive slightly
and Mr.. Rhodes asked him whether he
had any message to send TO his mother
or sister Sarah, or his boys, 'Robby'
and Stevie,' to which he made no reply,
evidently not understanding the question
Mrs. Douglas then placed her around his
neck and said. ...."
MY dear, do you know Cousin Dam?
Mrs. Douglas continued.
Your boys, Robby and stevie, and
your mother and sister Sarah-have you
any message for them?'
The dying man replied.
Tell them to obey the laws and sup.
port the constitution of the United States.
AT about Eve O'Clock DR.. Miller came
into the room, and noticing the open shut
ters and windows, inquired. ..
why have you ali these windows rails
ed and so much hght?'
Mr.. Douglas replied.
so that wa can have fresh air.
At Mr.. Douglas request Mr.. Rhodes
changed the dying mans position agaiI
in the bed Tor the last time. He now Ia,
father down in the middle of the bed, up
on his left side, his head slightly ben
forward and off the pillow. His wife sa
beside him. holding his right hand in boil
Of hers and leaning tenderly over him
sobbing Mr.. Rhodes remarked to Mrs
Douglas. aae ..-.s
Il am afraid he does not lie comlorIa
ble.' in reply to which Mr.. Douglas said
He is--very comfortable ...
These were his last ineligible words
( From five O'Clock he was speechless, bu
, evidently retained his consciousness
When, a few moments before his death
his wife leaned lovingly over him ant
sobbiugly asked, Husband, do you know
me, will you kiss me?' He raised hi
eyes and smiled. and though too weak t
81 Leak, the movements of the muscles @
, his mouth evidenced that he was makinl
an almost dying struggle 10 comply will
her request on aaa a-
; His death was calm and PEACEFUL FEY
faint breaths after :,ine O'Clock; Sigh
/ rafting of biS throat; a short quick con
=, Iyulsive sHudder, and Stephen A. Dougla
{ had passed from time into eternity...
/, Mr. Douglas leaves two sons-Rober
, Martin, aged thirteen aud Stephen Al
mold Jr., aged eleven years who are no,
at Georgetown College. These, with hi
, wife, are the only Numbers left of hi