Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-08-12


Mr., George Woke, yno attended Mr..
Seward, gives sl,s fsiloAins sccdsns Which
is translated from thev Iliissis S<oss gsitxng:
On the ,morpipg after the assassination he
said to his nurses bis sepsations Immediately
after the assault had by me- means been Of
sn uupleasanti nature. He .haG, ex periepcsd
no extraordinary pains, but while the blood
had been gushing from his arteries he had
supposed that his hast end was Nigh and
Thought tiithe same time what o. pleasant
thing twas 70 die thus, without pain.s 'n
Toward his nurses, and toward all who
came near, bin during, his sickness, Mr.
Seward was uniformity friendly, even sffec.
tionate and never, when awake, did his
philosophical frmness desert him. Only
when asleep he would, at times, during the
first two weeks after the attack, suddenly
start up and beat around with his hands
when dreams brought thes assassin to his
imagination, but in two or three. minutes ne
was always Quietetl.l OTA 1TLlkH
During the first three weeks Mrs. Seward
was constantly, day and night, at the bed
side either of her husband or that of Freder-
ick, and these exertions have since hastened
tile death of d lady equally. distinguished
for the excellent qualities of her head and
of her heart. No less noble wasfthe con-
duct OF Mr. Stewards daughter, Miss Fanny.
Indeed, it is perhaps to her courage that
her father and the nation owe the salvation
of his life. Like her mother, Miss Fanny
was an untiring attendent upon her sutfer-
ing relatives. ,,.,...,-s . ,,.,..,.,.. q, ,..,..y
The greatest trouble to the physicians was
Stewards mental activity which, did not
abate even during his greatest physical
weakness and severcst pains. In order to
prevent all excitement during this critical
period, and on account of the shattered jaw
bone, the physicians enioned I'm him not to
speak, but it was difficult to- get him to
comply. &c -i1s ~
! 1t was not mere idle, loauacity that rem
dered silence SO irksome to the statesman,
but chiefly his patriotic anxiety about the
Republic. he desired to express his mind
about the country, to fulfill his official du
ties as Sccretary51of State. The attending
| phys icians had prohibited speaking before
the attemptc assassination, but to express
his thoughts by writing was also impractica-
ble, US his right arm was broken. But US
soon as the condition OF his fractured ZONES
would allow the medical gentlemen had to
SsndaSe and fasten the upper third Of the
arm (wbere the fracture existed) 80 as to
enable him to use the lower pnrt and the
hand for writing. In this manner he con
versed with the President daring the last
days of that lamented functionary's life
The Pres,.uent would sit at his bedside and
express himself on the exciting questions ol
: the day, when Seward would write his views
on u slate. In the salne manner he conduct
ed his interview before and after the assas-
sination, with Mr.. H9nter, and the Assis'
tant Secretary of State, aud thus actual.
conducted the affairs Of the Department o
State, the papers, dispatches, documents
&c, of which had to be carried to his bed
side, even during the critical period OF hi
iffHess. -----------, ..,-..-,r..rr
1t was the same pstri tic rcstlessness ant
activity OF AFR, Seward Which prevailed OF
the physiciahs to send tor skilltull pbysi
elan of New York. who arranged an artit
cat wire apparatus in his mouth, which
enabled him to speak without risk, even be
fore his jawbone was healed. This applra
tus caused the illustrious patriot ut first ex
cruciating pains, and oneI time bccanse dis
placed, 50 that she New York physician Aa'
to be tclegraphed in order to replace 1t
But all these great and little annOyancrs di'
not for a moment disturb Sewurd's philo
sophie intellect nor siackeD his patriotic
activity. r...,.-.r
j Few men in history have evinced sucl
sublimity OF character and strength of mint
as William uenry Seward on his bed o
sickness, surrounded by the terrors OF sssas
snalion and conspiracy. He maintained
these qualities even wiien after his partla
recovery he received the additional blov
ofthe intelligence OF th. death of his faith
iu Spouse $50 = ~. Z IS "A ~