Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-12

THE LAST SAD SCENES.
HE Is BAPTIZED.
HIS TRANQUIL END.
FUNERAL PREPARATIONS.
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.

ktIS InAS&OIA Emu.
FUNERAL PKEPARAriONs. ti
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.
Precisely at twelve o'clock last night lust as
the FIRST note was struck from the Capitol Hill
public clock, Hon, Thaddeus Stevens, Of Penn.
>yivania, orrathed his last at his re,dence, 37s
south street. Although it was generally
known for some time past that he was failing,
yet, ip view Of bis preparations to 60 to his
home in Pennsylvania, his death was after all
unexp, cted There were present at his bed side
during the last sad scenes Mr.. Simon Sseyens,
Of New York, Thaddeus Stevens. jr.. a nephew
and his housekeeper, Mrs. Smith; also, Sis
t.r Loretta and Sister Genevi of Providence
Hospital, and Mr.. J. Scott Paterson, Of the
Interior Department, and the servants OF his
household He passed away calmly and
quietly, without a struggle, and as though
falling asleep.
Since the adjournment Of Congress, on the
22d Of July, Mr.. Stevens has been in nuct Iat-
ing heahh-one day quite cheerful and feeling
well, while the next he would be feeble and de-
pressed in spirits. A few days after the ad-
Journment he was attacked with diarrhP-;,
from which, although a slight check was et-
fected, yet he has never entirely recovered. AT
short intervals the past week he was able 10
Sunday week been aoie to leave his ap .rt-
ment. Last Sunday morning there were EVIL
dent signs Of a serious change for the worse.
He then became exceedingly feeble, and showed
marked indispostion TO engage in converse.
ton, from which time all visits Of strangers
and others not connected with the family have
been prohibited Monday and Tuesday he
scarcely spoke to any one. and most Of the time
lay with his hands crossed and eyes closed
II asleep the only signs he gave of being
awake at these times being feeble mut,erIngs
and slight raising and falling Of the hands.
On Monday he expressed anxiety In regard
to the state of the country, induced manly,
perhaps, BY the current reports of apprehe nd
ed troubles in Louisiana: trusted that Mr..
johnson might abstain from any mea lures OF
character calculated to disturb the public
tranq utility ,and hoped that NO necessity might
arise for the reassembling Of Congress In Sep
tember.
Yesterday his condition did not seem to be
much better, though il did not appear to be to
him such an effort to talk. On one occasion.
when Mrs. Smith, his housekeeper, came In,
after a brief absence, she found him mandD fest
ing some little impatience, and bcgged him not
to fret over his condition. To this remark he
Iepned, as if constituting her meaning to be thar
she thought he should meet his fare calmly.
..1es, 1t Is true; there can be ao use in worry
ing over it.'
In the afternoon Of yesterday he con yersed
with great cheerfulness and animation, talking
ON variety OF ordinary topics, and evincing
lively interest in that which Interested the,e
around hlm. In conversation with Mr.. Simon
Stevens, about the same time, he referred TO
Mr.. Evarts, Attorney General, in kindn-~s and
conhoence He continued to grow fsebler
during the afternoon, but az no time up 10 .
within few minutes OF his death, when he
asked MI. Simon Stevens for piece of ice did
he lose his consciousness or power of speech.
About five minutes tofore h,s death his heart
beat violently, so much 90 as to sh AXE the bed
on which he was lying, and seemed 10 pro-
duce great obstruction In breathing. This soon
passed of, however, and from this time till the
last breath left his body he lay motionless and
quiet. as if in gentle sleep.
During the night many persons called TO see
presence. About nine o'clock two colored
clergymep, whose names, we learn, were Read
and Hall, prayed with Mr.. Stevens, invoking
Divine blessings on him, and petitioning
through him for Divine grace and happiness
in behalf OF the colored race, One of these col
ored men was at the death bed of John q uIncy
Adams, and petitioned the Throne of Grace on
that occasion. Mr.. Stevens seemed somewhat
affected at the prayers of those ministers. and
at the close thanked them with feeble voice
and an ahectior ate pressure Of the hand.
Loretta administered the rites of baptism,
which was performed amid impressive silence,
stiffness which prevailed at that hour OF the
nigh. The sisters whose benevolent works
had been so heartily seconded by the departed
in furnishing aid and lending his legislative
efforts in behalf Of the institution TO which
they are attached, providence Hospitll) Wis.
tied him daily during his ILLNESS, and mani
fested devotion which showed how fully they
appreciated his efforts IN their behalf.
His ply ysician, Dr. Noble Young, called at
nine O'Clock, and At oEce discovered that his
life was rapidly drawing 10 close. He so
informed the immediate friends Of Mr.. Stevens,
who was then too weak to give expression TO
his feelings, though his emotionless counter.
ance, save gentle smile, gave evidence that
be was perfectly prepared to meet his end.
His last hours were calm and painless. Mr..
stevens was in his seNenty-sixth year, having
been horn in 1872.
been fully completed; nor will they be TILL
the arrival OF Hon. Mr. Mcpherson, Clerk
OF the House Of Representatives, who
rs expected to arrive here this alter
noon. HIS remains (Which VIII be en-
balmed) now lie in the parlor of his residence
on Capitol Hill, where visitors desirous Of a
final look at his features are constantly coming
and going, among whom are many ladies' The
body presents wonderfully life.like appear.
ance and lies enshrouded in a full suit of black
with black scarf around the neck.
He VIII be buried at Lancaster, Pa, and the
remains will probably be removed TO his resi-
dence at that place on Friday, although the
time he's not yet been definitely settled. The
funeral ceremonies at Lancaster will not be
until Sunday or Monday next.
BY notice elsewhere it will be seen that the
citizens Of Lancaster county, Pa, resident in
Washington. are called TO meet this evening In
the room OF the Committee on Posi- Offices and
Post Roads, the east end of the Capitol build.
ing. TO take appropriate action in references 10
the death Of their Representative, Mr.. Stevens.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. 'AH
Thaddeus Stevens was born on the fourth of
April, 1882, in the town Of Danville, Caledouka 4
county, Vermont. and was therefore at the
time ofhls death over seventy-fi We years Of age
With that strong attachment for the scenes of
his childhood characferlzing the natives of all
mountainous and picturesque regions, he
called his iron works In Franklin county
Pennsylvania, ssCaledonia," after the county
ofhis nativity. Educated at the University Of
Vermont, at Burlington, until the occupation
OF that town by the British troops during the
war OF lsl2, at which time the school broke nm
he was then sent TO Dartmouth College. where
he completed his education. His father was
Joshna Stevens, and his mothers maiden name
was Sarah Morrill, Their circumstauces
were moderate, like all owners Of barren Yer.
mont lands in those early days and they were
not able To pay the expenses of his education.
CON pelled, thPrefore. to support himself by the
proceeds OF his own industry before entering
colleSe and during vacations, and by his mis-
earnings after he graduated, he was constrain.
eo TO Cultivate those traits of self-derrndencs
which marked his subsequent experience. I'm.
mediately after leaving Dartm outh COLLEGE
he removed TO Pennsylvanm, fixing his resi-
dence in the borsUgh Of York, where he tauphr
school for livelihood, and read law carefuiIv
and steadily through the intervals OF DAT and
night He reached that border town in' 1sIS
when he was Just twenty two years of asp. and
two years afterwars Tin 1867 was admitted To
the bsr. - ts l1f tr 1-t .r