, 1861-06-13
Tho Death Of Judge Douglas.
A letter from Chicago relates the following
In relation to the closing scenes Of the life Of


A letter from Chicago relates the following
In relation to the closing scenes Of the Hfe Of
Judge Douglas;
Ing, Bishop Duggnn called at tho request Of
ffien1a to conyefse with Douglas, who Was
then for the first time, perfectly rational. MF.
Douglas Immediately recognized the Bishop,
and expressed his gratldcatio at the VISIT,
Bishop Duggan soon asked,
! Mi. Douglas, have you ever been baptized
according to the rites Of the church," Mr..
Douglas replied, Never
The Bishop continued Do you desire to
have mass said after the ordinances Of the
holy Catholic church !" Nc, siE When do
The Bishop then tn1ned to Mr.. Rhodes and
said: "Do you think he Is fully possessed Of
his. mental {aculties?" Mr. Rhodes replied,
~ do not know-pe1hsps you had better ask
him agnfn.n The Bishop repeated his ques.
J. tion, to which Mr. Douglss. answered, in
;s5ssS m !eS 7P$ Rha!2f III a !e%na ass aR
The Bishop then remarked to Mr.. Rhodes,
He Is undoubtedly IN his right mind, and
does not desire my ofttcea" He then with.
drew.
During the day Sunday Mr. Douglas seem
entertalned Of his recovery as he slept most
refreshcd. Mrs.. Douglas and Iii. Rhodes re-
mained with him during the night. At about
four o'clock On Monday morning he seemed to
Re mach worse, md aank rapidly his friends
las, Bishop Duggan again visited him. Soon
after the Bishop entered, he approached the
bedside, and addressing the patient said:
Mr. Douglas, Jon know your condition
fully, aud In view Of your approaching disso-
lution do you desire the ceremony Of extrema
unction to be Performed ?" Mr: Douglas re-
piled :-"No I have notime to discuss these
things now"
The Bishop then withdrew. After he had
gone Mrs. Douglas requested Mr. Rhodes to
6sk her husband If he desired the ministrations
Of any other clergyman, Mr. Rhodes then said
men Of this city ?" To which Mr.. Douglas r.
piled =" Nearly every one of them."
Mr. Rhodes-Do you wish to have either or
+ eny ofthem to call to see you and converse
npon religious subjects Nj. Douglss-No, I
soon utfer this, shout i've O'Clock, he deslr-
blinds opened and the windows raised Mr..
Rhodes lifted him to N easier position, where
he could look. out upon the street and drink,
In the fresh morning AZ; .foTa lev moments
sink away IL eyes partially closed, and in
s1ow and measured cadence, With considerable
pause between each accent, he uttered, ,sDeatht
Death death III" :. :.
After this he scanned to revive slightly, and
Mr. Rhodes asked him whether he hid any
messageto send to hts mother, or sister Sarah,
or his boys, " Robbia" and SteVie ;'',to which
be made no reply, evidently not understanding
the question. Mrs. Douglas then placed her
arm around his neck md said, " My dear, do
you know Cousin Dan =" Yes!" he re-
piled
Mrs. Douglas continued Your boys, Rob
n1nA Ia md -. Ii. q
rah-have you any message for them!" The
dying man replied Tell them to obey the
lay, s snd support the constitution Of the Uni.
1t about i've O'Clock Dr.. Miller came into
the rocm, and noticing the open shutters and
windows 1Blsed and 50 much light ?' Mr.
air."
| At. Mr: Doug1as' request, Bfr. Rhodes
changed the dying manA position again in the
bed for the last time. He now lay rather down
his head slightly bent forward And off the pill.
low. His wife eat beside him, holding his
right hand In both Of hers, and leaning tender
| y over him, eobbing. Nj. Rhodes remarked
to Are. Douglas, II am afraid that he does not
iie comfortably y in reply to which Mr. Doug
These were bis lastintelligibie words. From
i've o'clock he was speechless, bat evidently
retained his consciousness. When, = fen mo-
ments before his death, his wife leaned over
him md sobblpgly asked, +" Husband, do yon
knew me! will you kiss me ?" he raised his
| eyes and smiled, and though too weak to
epeak the movements Of the muscles Of his
mouth ev1nced that he Was making an almost
dying struggle to comply with her request.
His death was calm and peacefnl q few faint
breaths after nine O'Clock slight rattling ol
his throat q short, quick, convu1aiva shnd.
der, and Stephen A. Douglas had passed from
| time into eternity. :