New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-03
Var. seward Daring His Illness.

! Mr.. George Woke, who attended Mr.. Seward,
gives the following account which is translated from
the Illinois Stats ZeiiuHg:
On the morning after the assassination no said TO
his his sensations Immediately after the assault
had by no means been of an unpleasant nature He
had experienced no extraordinary palms. but while the
blood had been gushing from his arteries he had
posed that his last end nigh and thought at the
same time what pleasant thing 1t was TO die thus.
without pain.
Toward his nurses and toward all who came near
him during his sickness. Mr.. Seward was uniformly
friendly. afiectiOnate; and never. when awake.
did his philosophical irmDcss desert him. ONLY when
asleep he would, az times. during the first two weeks
after the attack suddenly start up and beat around
with his hands when dreams brought the assassin To
lis imagination, but In two or three minutes hc was
always quoted.
During the first three weeks Mrs. Seward was con.
stiny day and night at the bedside either OF her hns
band or that Of Fl derrick. ana these eNcrons have
since FASTENED the death of lady equally distinguished
for the excellent qualities OF her head and OF her heart
No less noble the conduct OF Mr. Stewards daughter
Miss Fanny Indeed n Is perhaps 20 her courage that
her father and the nation owe the salvation OF his e
Like her mother Miss Fanny was an unfing attendant
upon her suffering relatives
The creates, trouble 20 the physlcans was Stewards
mcitnl activity which did no, abate during bis
greatest physical weakness and scvcrest pains. In
order 20 prevent all excitement during this critical
period aud account Of the shattered Jaw bone the
physicians enjoincd on HIM not to speak. bat 1t was
difficult 10 get him 10 comply.
Ii not mere idle lOQuacty that rendered silence
% irksOme 20 the statesman hut chiefly his patriotic
anxiety about tue Republic lie desired 10 express his
mind about the condition OF the country. 10 fulfil hs
official duties rs Secretary of State fhc attending
ply sicians had prohibited speaking before the At.
tempted assassination but 10 express his thoughts by
writing also mpracicahlr NJ his right arm was
broken But the condition of his fractured
bones would allow the medical gentlemen had 10 ban
face ana fisten the upper third Of the arm (where the
fracture cNisted,) 10 enable him 10 use the
lower part and the hand for writing. In this manner
he conyerscd with the President during the last days Of
that lamenfed funci0narys life. The Presiden. would
III AZ his bedside and express himself on The exciting
questions of the day when Seward would write his
views slac. In the same manner lac conducted bis
interviews before and after the assassination with Nc
Hunter, the Assistant Secretary Of State and thus
actually conducted TIC affairs Of the department Of
state the papers dispatches. documents. &C. Of which
had 10 be carried 20 his bedside during the critical
periods Of lis Illness.
Ii was the same patriotic restessness and activity OF
Mr. Seward which prevailed the physicians TO send
for skiliul physician Of New York WHO arranged an
rrthcia wire apparatus IN his mouth. which enabled
him TO speak without risk, even before his jawbDne was
lened This apparatus caused the usri0ns patriot NJ
hisf eNcfucatlug pains and ~ time became dis.
placed 80 that tie New York physician had 20 be tee
Riaphed IN order 20 replace But all these great and
le annoy ances dId not Tor a moment disturb Stewards
pAlOsOpbic intellect nor sacken his patriotic act yty
rev men IN history have eyinced such sublimiiv OF
character and strength OF mind A. William Henry
SeNald on his bed of sickness surrounded by the
| teirois 81 assassination and conspiracy He main
tanned these qualities even when. after his partial
recovery. he received The additional blow of the intel
gence Of the death vi his faithful spouse