Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-09-13

OF age, during residence of nine
months in Tunis. In connection
with his Arabic, the following anec-
dote is related: On approaching
some islands in the Mediterranean,
the captain Of the ship remarked on
deck that he did not know how they
were to converse with the people, as
they had no interpreter. At that
moment boat came alongside with
some of the natives, and an officer
replied, Captain, we have an officer
on board who seems to speak all Ian
guages intuitively, but he is doubt
less in league with the 'Old Boy
but suppose you send for him and
see if he cannot communicate with
these people" So Lieut.. Farragut
was called for, and told in a peculiar
manner that he must show if what
he was accused of was true. He
looked into the boat, and sect ng an
old woman, Immediately commenced
coEversing, and transacted for the
ship all the trading. Imagine the
surprise of all on board, as Farragut
did not tell them that 1t was Arabic
he was speaking; and so be kept up
the joke for some time, amused to
hear them often repeat "that he
was indebted to the devil for such
gift.
THE ILLNESS.
AS is well known, the Admiral has
been slowly but surely declining for
several months, but his spells of in
disposition had been so numerous
since his retirement from active SER
vice that his friends, until recently,
had strong faith that his powerful
constitution and indomitable will
would prove an effectual foundation
for future years of health and useful
ness. When the warm weather COM
menced, his characteristic strength
began to be superseded by a grow
ing weakness, the immediate cause
of which was chronic affection of the
heart. Thinking, perhaps, that the
invigorating influences Of mountain
and sea air combined would prove o
panacea for his ills, he went to Ports
mouth, n. H., on the 18th of July last,
the sixty-ninth and last anniversary
of his birth. He was brought in the
United States steamer IdILapooSa
and was accompanied by Surgeon
McMasters, who was with him du-
ring his cruise on board the old frig-
ate Franklin, and who was specially
detailed by the Navy Department
to attend him duriOg his indisposi-
ton. The Admiral was very low
upon his arrival, and was at once
conveyed TO the residence of Com
mandant Pennock, of the navy-yard,
where his last days have been rem
dered as comfortable as lay within
the power of human and medical
skill to make them. He continued
to grow feebler Immediately upon
his arrival, and his disease seemed
to be as surely as it was slowly de-
stroying his every vitality. He had
not been able to walk for upward of
five weeks, and only on one or two
occasions had he encountered the ia
tigue of a short carriage ride. 1t
was, however, not until Thursday
last that his malady threatened to
prove fatal. Early that day he was
stricken with paralysis, and he new
er spoke again, and the only muscles
which he seemed to have any con-
troll over were those of the face.
Several times it was thought he was
dying, and on Friday it was actually
believed that the spark of life had
fed kilograms announcing the sad
intelligence were written, but pend
ing the departure of the messenger
to the telegraph Office signs of life
returned and remained until noon
to-day, when the spirit of the gallant
old soldier was borne gently away.
There were present at the time of
his death Lieutenant Loyal Farra-
gnt, son of the deceased also, DIR.
Gauger, his father-in-law Surgeons
McMasters and Meatcalf, and Com
mandant Pennoek and several men,
bers Of family.