The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-15
Death of Starr King.
An Affecting Account of the Last
Illness and Death of Rev.
II. Starr King.

From the San francisco Bulletin, March 4.
For two or three months
before his death, it was evident that he
was not so well as usual, and he had fire.
quentiy spoken of the necessity of giving
up all literary labor. He thought it would
be impossible for him to endure another
year Of work, and they were already agi-
tating the question of who should fill the
pulpit while he took a years respite from
labor, in travel. 1t may not be unworthy
OF mention, in this connection, that Mr.
King always had strong and strange pre-
sentiment that he would not live beyond
the age of 40-and one of his friends in
this city now has letter written by him,
some four years since, giving his reasons
for this belief. It is curious, too, thatjust
before his sickness he had dream, which
he narrated to friend at the time, re-
marking that it made more impression
upon him than he cared to confess. In
his dream he thought he was shaving him
self, and the razor slipping, gashed his
throat. Physicians who were called told
him he could not live ten minutes. He
argued the case with them-holding the
edges of the wound together with his hand
telling them that neither the windpipe
nor any of the arteries were severed, and
that he could recover if they would only
stop the bleeding. They said it was use
less, however, and he must prepare to die:
The dream was probably induced by the
pain which had already begun to settle in
his throat. About two weeks before his
death he first complained of not feeling
well, and of some trouble with his throat.
His friends urged him to be more
careful, and not expose himself to the
atmosphere but he thought it was
only an ordinary case of cold or sore throat
and declined to confire himself or call in
the aid of physician until Friday last.
In the evening he had his regular recep-
ton, and between 10 and IL, o'clock went
down to social gathering at the church,
though still suffering. On Saturday eve
ming he had invited a number of friends
to supper, but when evening came he was
unable to appear at the table. While sup.
per was going on, however, bridal party
came to be- married. Mr. King had re-
ceived no previous intimation of such
visit. and sent down asking to be excused,
saying that he was sick and confined to his
bed. The party replied that they had set
their hearts on being married by Mr. King,
and would come up to his bedside sooner
than be defeated in their desire With
that spirit of self-sacriice for which he
was so remarkable, he then said he would
get up and go down into the pa~lor. He
did 50, and went through the ceremony,
but though it was performed in very few
minutes, he was 90 weak at its conclusion
that he had to be assisted up to his room.
On Sunday morning his congregation were
alarmed by the announcement that he was
unable to preach The attending physi-
clan pronounced it serious case of Dip
liberia, and said he should have been
called at least week sooner-it had
been too long neglected. The disease
gained strength, and the patients pros
tration increased. On Wednesday, how
ever, the complaint seemed under medical
control, but so Frustrated was the patient
that for two days it had been difficult to
keep up his vital energies. Yesterday he
was visited by an attack of pneumonia,
and experienced great difficulty of res
piratiOn. At O'Clock last evening the
attack was very severe, and DR.. Eckel
feared that it might prove fatal, but the
patient possessed wonderful recuperative
power, and seemed to revive, passing a
very comfortable night. 1T was always a
popularity of Mr.. King that he possessed
a remarkable degree of vitality, and that
Notwithstanding his feeble frame, he would
endure vast deal of fatigue, being sus
tanned by the sheer force of indcmitable
will. 1t was remarked also that bis con-
stitution yielded to medical treatment
with remarkable ease, a half grain OF quiz
nine producing more effect OIL him than
two grains would on an ordinary man--so
sensitive and delicate was his physical Or
ganizatiOn that he could drink neither cof-
fee nor strong tea A consultation of
physicians yesterday had pronounced the
disease checked, though they feared his
system might not be able to recover from
its prostration. During last night light
stimulants we're administered him to keep
up the vital forces, and he seemed getting
along remarkably well until about half
past 5 in the morning, when second at
tack of pneumonia set in-the doctor hav-
ing previously stated that he feared that
his patient could not survive another at
tack.
This second attack was not more vio-
lent than the first, but the patients
strength was 30 expended that there was
little or nothing for medicine to build
upon. When taken with the first attack,
Mr.. King had remarked to some one
standing by-"I know what this is--it is
a severe attack of pneumonia" When
the second occurred, he said to the Doc
tor .s'sWhat is this?' Is this pneumonia,
too?" The Doctor replied that it was.
Mr.. King then asked-"Oan / survive iti"