The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-10-20
NUMBER 10.
Correspondence of the Boston journal.
HE Last Illness of fEx-ESresideu1
Pierce.


Correspondence of the Boston Journal I
HE A-slst HIIIessi of fEx-Hsresidew1
Pierce.
The last sickness of Ex-PresidenE
Elerce commenced in mild form
ABOUT hVe weeks since, while he vFaH
stopping at his cottsge at Little Boar'a
Head at Hampton Beach.
For several months before his
health had beeE unusually good, he
having risen from his severe sick
ness Of last Fall and earIv Wjnter
with apparently renewed health and
vIgOr. w hen his last attack came
on at the Beach 1t was not at frst
considered to be a dangerous Illness
but he grew worse rapidly, and in q
few days was taken home In Concord.
dls family physician, DIR. Charles p.
gage OF this city, was Immediately
summoned, and he found the Ex-
PRESIDENT suffering from abdominal
dropsy, attended with alarming
symptoms. Prompt treatment re-
lleved the patient temporariliy,- but
In few days he was 6gain attacked
In q similar manner About two
weeks since hiceups set in seriously
ana continued at intervals for about
ten days. The drOpsical difficulty
had been again relieved, bnt Whenft
/ set In the third time the system did
not seem to respond TO Ciiuretic med
icenes. Thisphy sicarcOndition, Join
ed with Inability TO take much nour-
I lShment. caused Mr.. Pierce to COM
mence sinking, and he continued TO
/ faH gradually until deaCh. He WAS
conscious to the last and had sufd.
clent strength to converse up to with
in two hours of his deceAse.
When his physician made his first
visit to him in his last sickness he
remarked: doctor, what do YOU
think of my case ?" The reply was:
II think your symptoms are very
grave ones" The General added:
II think so myself, and am convinc-
ed that L shall not recover" At
tinaes during his sickness he suffered
from the hiccups and neuralgia paina
In his shoulder aud hip. Finally
these pains concentrated about the
heart. AT other times he was very
calm and comfortable. He conVersed
frequently during his sickness upon
public and national matters, and ex.
pressed q deep interest In and ankle
ty for the welfare Of the ecountry.
He talked freely of the public men
with whom he had been associated
in political life, and spoke personally
of his former Cabinet members and
OF many other statesmen and repre-
sentative men in different parts of
the country. AS death approached
his waning strength did not permit
him toconverse. but to oalIappearances
his bodily pain had left him. He lay
quietly upon his bed, a calm, resign
ed and happy expression suffusing
his ceuntenance. About five O'Clock
he looked around the room for tho
last time, his eyes resting for mo.
ment upon those in attendance upon
him, and then, as calmly and sweet
ly as child would sink to rest, he
closed his eyes In his last sleep, and
passed away. He died at the resiS
dence of Mr. Willard Williams, on
Main street, where he had made his
home, while In Concord, for many
years past. -
The family with wlonlhe boarded
and host Of ssympathizing neigh
bors and friends did everything pos
1sible for his comfort and happiness
during bis siekBess. Among those
who We're frequentlYa at his bedside
were Hon, Josiah Minot, his former
law partner, and for many years past
his intimate friend and business adj
V1ser, and Mr.. John MeNen, OF Con-
lcOrd, one Of his nepheWs, In whom
he took apaFticular interest.
President PieEce formerly attended
the South Congregational Church in
Concord, but q few years since he
Joined st. Pauls Episcopal Church,
OF which he was communlcant. He
left 3 handsome property, which, Il Is
understood, Is devised By win.
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