Evening star., 1869-09-06
SECRETARY RAWLINS.
HIS CRITICAL CONDITION.
NO HOPES OF HIS RECOVERY.
HE Is BAPTIZED AND MAKES HIS
WILL.

WILL.
THE PRESIDENT COMING.
THE FEELING IN WARRINGTON.
SKETCH OF THE sECRETARY'S LIFE.
No event has cali. TO, b . many expires
sions OF regret and symp thy from the citizens
Of Washington, for yelrs, as the dangerous ILL.,
ness Of General John A. Rawlins, Secretary
OF War. His patriotism, courage, strict integ-
rity, earnest devotion to his duties, and uni-
form courtesy and gentleness nave won for
him the highest respect aud este I'm OF his as
sociates in military and civil life, and the love
of the pc ople in all stations.
A few days ago Secretary Rawiins was re-
moved from his rooms on + street, opposite the
Eboitt House, to the residence Of General Giles
A. Smith, one of his old compariors 10 arms
Second Assistant Pos,ma.tc Gen rr'. No. e.
Giant Place. Here he has had every attention
HIS physicians, Jr. ID. w. Bliss, Surgeon Gen.
eral Barnes. sad Professor Tyler, have been
constant in their attendance, while Drs. Norris
and Cady. IN addition, were present yesterday.
Among those with the Secretary yesterday ana
last night wel1 Senator Morton, Gen :aI j. T.
Smith. General o. o. Howard, Quartermaster
General MeIgs, Adjutant General Townsend
General Eaton, General Ekin, General Parker
of the Indian Bureau, General Dent, and Col.
onel J. w. F0rney.
Notwithstanding the feeble condition of the
ST cretary yes -eI day morning, he signified his
desire to Dske his las will, and dictate the
same TO Colonel Parker, CommIss;cn of
Indian Affairs, his confidential friend and com.
paniop. In the afternoon, at his request Rev
Mr.. Wilson, of Mckendree NJ. +. Chapel. was
sent for, who passed some time with him.
VI he. nt of Ran
Of The Lords supper was administered.
During yesterday General Rawl;us had
very interesting conversation wiih TIE Post
master q neral, in which, with great clear
ness, he set for'h bis view ws on reconstruction
and the condition of the Union men of the
South. and the struggling people of Cuba H.
81 oEe with great solemnity, and impressed all
who heard him with profound snceri,r.
During his Illness he has been visited regularly
by all the members OF the Cabinet in Washing.
TOE, namely: Secretaries Robson, Fish, Cox
and Cresweil.
In reply TO a dispatch from the Secretary of
the Navy, at o'clock yesterday afternoon, in.
ormlps President Grant Of the dangerous con-
di,ion Of General Rawlins, the President tele.
graphed as follows:
SARATOGA, Sept 5.-TelI Secretary Rawlins
leave here within an hour for Washington.
The next dispatch from Saratoga reads AS
follows:
SARATOGA, Sept. 5-The President left here
on the $50 train this afternoon, for Washing
ton. He was to have left tomorrow, with his
fs Rily, for Utica, to VISIT Hon. Roscoe Conk-
liLP, but the character of dispatches received
tO.uay from w Washington induced the President
70 write the following letter:
Hon. Roscoe COnkiiHg-M Dear Sir 1t is
with extreme regret that the contin ued and
dangerous illness of Secretary Rawnns, whose
relations have been so intimate with me since
;he breaking ont of the rebellion TO the present
DAY, cOmpeIs me 10 forego the contemplated
pleasure OF visit 10 your city Tomorrow /
know that you and my other friends will ap-
preclate the motive " h.ch calls me from q pleas
ure trIp to the bedside of a comrade who NJ
rendered such signal service to his country
and whose death Will cast gloom over the
nation. The most recent dispatches scarcely
leave hope that may see him alive. am
very sincerely, yours. y. :. GRANT"
The President LETT Saratoga yesterday af
ternoon with his fanny, ana arri ved in New
York on the evening tram, when he proce ,ded
10 the res 'dence of Mr.. ,rbin, where he le I
his family. He left New York for Washington
on the train this moInipg, aud Will reach her.
mis- evening AZ 5Ij.
Secretary Rawlins gradually failed duripg
the night and continued to grow weaker during
the morning. At ten o'clock to-day he was
perfectly conscious but seemed 10 bs growing
dull and his physicians were fearful that h's
brain would soon become affected. His paI.
ranged from ITO TO lis, and he appears to be
suffering more this morning than heretofore
The little nourishment which he is able to
take, consisting OF chicken broth, sc ems to have
no effect. He has given mp all hope OF life and
is perfectly r; signed. A coughing spell, at iu- =
tsrvals of about half an hour, arouses him for a
snort time, after wt,ch he sinks back and
lemnins perfectly q uiet. 1t is the opinion
BIS physicians that be may lingsr IN this con.
d lion until to- night, though sudden conee,
tion Of the lungs may take him on at any time
Dispatches are sent TO Mrs. Rawlings at ID IN.
tury Connsc cticut, every half hour, giving her
an account of his condition. Secretaries Robesop
Fud Cox, Postmaster General Cresswell, Gen.
sherman, Gen. Meigs, Gen. Swayne aud Gen.
Boarman were at the bedside OF Secre Iry Raw
Inns 10 day, with bis hy>Icians, Surgeon Gen
eral Barnes, Dr. Bliss and Dr. Csdy
Secretary Rawins was born AT Clifford
10 Davies county, Ill, on the E;th O February
1851, and was prominent member of the gai
profession In that State until he enterC 4 the
army III 1851, at which time he was very
healthy, but III &c be con racted severe cold
rom expos sure the field which brought On
cons umption, and since that time he has SUI
fered frequently from hemorrbages. A few
months since his physicians changed the man
ner OF trea .ment to the inha alation OF remedies
upon which be rapidly improved and In sew
months gained several pounds of nesh His
diet consisted principally Of raw beet and
milk nom which he derived much benefit.
En- ling better health for the past SIX months
than for several years before until his return
from bis recent visit to his family In Danburv.
Conn, when the excitement occasioned by
tr, Yelling produced another hsmOrrhage, since
which he has been rapidly sinking. His father
and mother are both living at aaIena, LII.
Mrs. Rawlne, his second wife, and the two
children by his first wife are at Danburv
Conn. Mrs. r., who was confined sevsra,
weeks ago, is too feeble TO move, and what adds
to her distress Is the death of nef infant a few
days ago.
Secretary Rawlins, IN politics, was formerly
q Democrat, and was active in the support OF
the principles Of that party, adhering to Mr..
douglas - their exponent, and was the caudi.
date for Presidential EIector from the First
Congressional District Of Illinois on the Doug.
las ticket in 1850, and canvassed his district in
Its support holding Joint discussions IN each
county with the Republican candidate for
Presidential Eiector, Judge Allen O. Fuller.
His party and personal friends awarded to him
much credit for ability in these discussions.
When the war came, which ne had tried to
avert, he promptly took his stand on the side of
the Union, believing 1t to be the DUTY OF every
American citzan 10 support his com untrv