Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-07-19
General lanes Last Days I'm ~.
LOuis-fsiS Journey tn E.eaycn-
WOrtl,--EEis Illness, DcSeCfIGD,
ANXIETY. &c.--An Authentic
staten.
From the Missouri T, mcerat, iih inst.l

General James II. Lane last arrived in st Louis
on the 18th ulIimo, on his way 10 II shington.-
He had been suffering from serious symptoms for
some months, rendering attention to his official
duties in the United States Senate difficult tax.
While at Washington, few weeks ago, he recei-
we'd intelligence making it i'm pOrtant for him TO
pay visit of business to Kansas. and, against the
ad, ice Of his Washington physician, he set ont
upon the Journey. He went to Lawrence, and
had reached st. Louis again on his return, when
Frustrated by increased illness.
On the 22d, Dr. Il. G.. Comstock, OF our city,
was summoned to the General a, the Lndell llo-
tel The Doctor informs Us that he found him in
bed, comp claiming OF dizziness, extreme depression
of spiits, SINK ing sensations, numbness ot the
limbs after sleeping, intense nervousness aud loss
of slecp The dizziness and numbuess had been
suffered, though in much less degree, NJ times
for six months preceding The patient WAS also
timid, and expressed himself afraid TO be alone.
He would not pCrmt himself to he left alone for a
minute The Doctor prescribed for him. but was
REQUIRED to remain, and TO constantly III attend
ance as possible. The Generals private sccreta
ry, Capt. Williams, WAS constantly with him, III ght
and day.
The sufferer said he greatly feared death. and
dreaded that zone OF his sinking spells would leave
him without his mind" Such was lis dlsquietude
that i'm the doctors absence he would repeatedly
send for him in the night or day time. The symp
toms Welded TO treatment but the next evening
they were worse and the Generals nervousness
and apprehensions increased. DIR. Franklin was
called consulting physician. DIR. Comstock was
requested by Lane To telegraph TO Washington
tha; he was detained by illness. and 10 ask leave
of absence--which done. The Generals
wife at Lawrence was $50 tclegraphcd to- request
inc her to come to ST. Louis. She replied that
size could come. being i'll herself, and that he
must, If possible, return Immediately 10 Lawrence.
On receiving her answer, Wednesday last, the
General conclude ed 10 go 10 Lawrence, and insisted
that DIR. COmstock should accompany him. Tho
not regarding the journey as Judicious, the doctor
thought it better TO consent than TO oppose, and
Welded to the peremptOry demand that he should
90 with him. Lane still had considerable physi
cal 9Th He remained in deep detection, wo'd
not look at 4 newspaper or think OF anything but
his distressing condition, and would see no cOmpa-
ny He wished to see a clergyman, and DIR. Com
stock, on Wednesday, sought in succession for
Revs DR.. George. DR.. Cox, DR.. Nelson, Dr..
Nichols, and DR.. Schuy yer, but each had left town
General Lane was methodist, having years ago
Joined church of that denomination in Kansas.
Wednesday evening the party started in the cars
for Kansas. The Generals detection seemed to
increase, and among his expressions OF apprehen-
sion was the one that he should not be able TO
sleep. After some hours Of riding he asked if
they ad passed Jefferson City, and said lie fear
ed he would lose his mind; that he wanted to stop
and 90 20 some insane asylum. He asked if there
was one at Jefferson When told there was none,
he asked, .whcre is the nearest one!" He was
told "at Fulton but that all such notions were
needless, and that he must dismiss them lie did
so and COW crsed with more cheerfulness, refer
ring to his political action. Ho said in substance
tha he had felt compelled. in order TO preserve if
possible, the harmony of the Republican party. to
take course which had brought down upon him
bitter denunciations from former friends, and that
wrong motives had been unJUstly Imputed to him =
At eleven o'clock, contrary to his fears, be drop
ped asleep and slept with little interruption Tor sew
Ell hours. Thursday morning he was anxious to so
back to 81: Louis and take the return train at once
but he was persuaded to 60 on to Kansas CITY,
Arriving there he refused to take the boat to beav-
cnworth, and chose to remain at Kansas City all
day. He went to hotel and 10 bed, and then lett
much better, and conversed cheerfully and freely
with his physicians. Mrs. Lane arrived in the at
ternoon, and the Gen., his wife and the Doctor
rode out together, and visited the Generals
old camping ground in McGee's addition
Reaching his old headquarters, he got out of the
carriage to inspect the premises, and appeared un-
usually cheerful. They returned TO the hotel took
tea and then with some Others went 10 the theatre
Taking up one of the bills and noticing that the
play was to be the Maniac's Daughter, Gca. Lane
said be feared the effect such play might have
bin, but he remained through the first part =
Then he withdrew and accompanied by the
Doctor to the hotel. There the General quietly
rested awhile, and then kneeling by the bedside
audibly prayed in feryent and appropriate man
ner-after which he retired and slept peacefully
without an opiate.
On Friday morning the party took a steamer for
Leavenworth. On the way the General relapsed
into very melancholy mood, expressed fears that
Leavenworth would have bad effect upon him,
and regretted that the Doctor must there part from
him. Though many of the Generals old acquaint
ances met him, he was indisposed to converse with
them. TIE party reached Leavcnworth, and
found carriage in waiting take them TO the
farm of Gen. Lanes brother inlaw, two miles
from the city. At the patients request, Dr. Com
stock brought DIR. Few, of Leavenworth and ex-
planned to him the case and the treatment DR..
Few concurred in DR.. Comstock's diagnosis and
treatment Of the case, and in his view that the pa
tent was threatened with softening of the brain.
The General had requested Captain Williams to
have Rev Mr.. Mitchell, Methodist, of Leaven-
WORTH brought to the farm house, but this gentle
man was not found.
At 4p. IA. Friday, DR.. Comstock bade adieu
to his patient, who then exceedingly detected,
and expressed much regret that the DR.. must leave
him, as be now found himself not so well. The
next intelligence DIR. Comstock received in the
case was on the % inst, when q telegram from