Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-09-07

into fearful relapse. The original disease
was spontaneous cellulitis locally developed
in the hand and foot from slight injury,
followed by gangrene in the wounds caused
by incisions in the foot, carbuncles and
numerous assesses. The gangrene did not
set in in the cuts of the hand. 1t had
entirely healed before death. The slough
ing process would be arrested for few days,
when the process of granulation and sup
puration would seem fairly to commence
But soon he would be seized by terrible
congestive chills, in several of which he was
thought to be dying. Then dark spots
for fresh incisons, and causing the surgeons
often to despair The Governor has been
almost literally cut to pieces. Eight regular
surgical operations have been performed on
him, besides the opening of three carbuncles
and no less than twenty-five assesses,
which discharged, each one, from two table
| spoonfulls to pint of matter. But the
nouslulcersibaffled the skill of the sur
geons, although the entire portion of the
foot, from the outside of the ankle joint to
the center of the sole had been laid bare,
the knife freely used, and the whole literally
cauterized with nitric acid. The Cover
nor has been great sufferer, but has borne
these terrible operations with great herolsn.
For the most part he refused take chloro-
form, telling the surgeon: when you get
ready to cut tell me, and then cut" watch
ing the operation without groan.
The appetite of the Governor long since
failed in great part and he has been kept
upon stimuants. He was ofcourse greatly
reduced in flesh, his extremites being dread
fully attenuated, his hands looking like birds
claws. For some time he has been irrational
from the effects of the disease, but with
occasional lucid intervals, in which his
intellect shone out with all its accustomed
clearness, and in which he gave his attention
to the duties of his office. He held many
conversations with Surgeon Barr in reference
to the possible talissue ofthe disease, and
talked with great calmness and solemnity
about the realities of death and the future.
After several hours of deep, stupor, the
Governor awoke about nine o'clock Monday
evening, ,and was clothed in hisright mind for
several hours. Until midnight he conversed
with his family and physicians-a pleasant,
precious conversation to all concerned, q
report of which is given elsewhere. No one
can over estimate the value which the reve.
lations of those brief hours will have for all
time in the minds of the bereaved family
Soon the clouds gathered around that strong
intellect, and the lights were shut in by the
thick yapors of fast approaching death. =
8 He Continued in a'state' Of perfect insensi
bility until enc clock, when the great sou
II of the patriot and statesman John Brough
Ii was borne from the sufferings and sorrow
:. of the earthly life, to the rewards ant
- glorles of an immortal existence.
% THE CLOSING SCENE.
The closing scenes IN the life Of Governo
Brough, as described to us by an eye witnes
are full of interest and pathos. On Monda!
ir evening at about nine clock, the Governo
" awakened from the insensbility in which h.
, had lain for some days, and at the Request
n of his family, who gathered around his bed
}, side, Surgeon General Barr informed hin
that all which human skill could do for hin
had been attempted, and in vain, and tina
}" now he was in tho hands of Almighty God
" He could not live forty eight honrs. Th
y Governor was greatly shocked at thi
announcement, and, looking General Bar
is in the face, desired him to repeat what h
70 had said General Barr again stated tina
70 he had not forty eight hours to live. Th
ty Governor then requested that all except hi
;r family and General Barr should leave tn
room. After this had been done, he col
~ versed camy and nationally with his famil
ro for some time on private family affairs.
Turning to General Barr, and apparent
, addressing his remarks moro particularly
ic him, the Governor proceeded to speak
,ir his religious views and hopes. He sale
in substance, that he was no theologian, an
had never made any profession of religion
n, lie had, however, always endeavored to liz
rs honestly and uprightly in his relations wit
his fellow men, and hoped and believed tbs
ou he had so done. He confessed that he ha
lie sinned greatly, although he denounced.
E. false the slanderous rumors of his drunk ker
= ness and licentiOusness which had bee
NJ circulated. But, though he acknowledge
ur that he had been great sinner in the sigl
ofGod, he stated that every act Of his in di
charging his duty as Governor had bee
performed with the strictest conscentiou
IN ness, and with prayerful regard to h
~ responsibility, not only to the country, bl
to God. He also stated that he had new
gone to bed at night for twenty years wit
ny out first praying to God for forgiveness al
les and protection, and that he died penitentl
acknowledging his sins and trusting
ne nor raised his eyes, and, as though dea
en- lent supernal keenness to them exclaim,
,ot that he saw the Mediator standing on Il
ed right hand tho Father making ntercessit
lr. foi his sins. He concluded with the ei
IN, phatic declaration, several times ropeate
"Idie happily and glorously" The sce
on was deeply affecting, and at the close OF
'ty the Governor put his arms around the ne,
- Of Gen. Barr, and with deep emotit
tly thanked him for his care and attentio
10 expressing perfect satisfaction with
lp- medical treatment. He then took his far
he well of his family, About midnight
or relapsed into insensib bility, which continu
he, without intermission until his death.
his Such were the last hours in tho life
John Brough.