The New York herald., 1872-10-11
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
Review of His Political and
OfIlcial Career.
Unalnching Devotion to the Cause Of
Human freedom.
ORATOR, DIPLOMAT AND STATESMAN.
HIS ST RS.


ta AUBURN, N. Y, Oct. 10, 1872.
Americas great statesman Is no more. William
n. Seward, State Senator, twice Governor, twice
United States Senator and twice Secretary OF State
and the friend OF mankind and humanity, died this
afternoon, at quarter past three O'Clock, withont
pain, conscious OF his dissolution and surrounded
Dy his family and few faithful friends
HIS LAST ILLNESS,
which none at the time thought OF sucent serious
ness to warrant the summoning Of the absent
members Of his family set in ON the morning Of
Saturday last. On the evening Of that day he was
engaged with his family at his usual game Of whist,
. recreation always INDUCED In after his daily
labOrs were over. At about nine O'Clock he COM
planned OF not feeling well, and was seized with a
chill and paroxysm OF coughing, which so alarmed
Che family that Doctor Dimon, his physician, was
lmme ediatey sent for. After diagnosis OF the case
ne declared that Mr.. Seward was afflicted with an
attack Of
FEVER AND AGUE
20 frequent in this climate and the usual remedies
were administered. The chill was OF about three
hours duration, continuing until half-past one in
the morning. This was followed by a fever, which
was only aayed at five O'Clock. The fever was not
followed by perspiraton. which caused the physi-
clan serious alarm In the Spring OF this year Mr..
Seward had similar attack, and this was q recur-
renee OF the previous Illness. The night was bad
one, and the complaint was combined with a
catarrhal Affection which in Mr.. Sewards helpless
condition was serious On Sunday morning he
had sufficiently recovered to sit up in his study,
and, as was his CUSTOM to
READ THE NEWS
Of the day. He took his iood with good appetite,
and the physician expected him to pass comfort
able night; but he again had chill and paroXysm
OF coughing, and passed very restless night. On
Monday morning he rose as usual and ate hearty
breakfast Thereafter he continued the revision o.
his manuscript Of travels around the world The
day being rainy one he was prevented from
taking his usual two hours drive. He ate quite a
hearty dinner and conversed with his family in his
customary cheerful manner until ten O'Clock, when
he retired He was then
AGAIN SEIZED
with chill and an attack OF coughing and passed
very restless night. The doctor was summoned
at two IN the morning and Mr.. Seward experienced
relief He fell asleep at about five O'Clock in the
morning and only awakened at eleven. After per-
forming his toilet he partook OF very slight
breakfast, then resuming his daily work. which he
continued until six In the evening. Until his last
Illness Mr.. Seward had made it duty to labor five
hours day, and since his return from his voyage
hardly day has elapsed In which this task has
not been performed. Work was to him pleasure,
and his
HABITS OF INDUSTRY
had become SO confirmed that to fail to comply
with them would have been source of regret and
o feeling OF day lost This evening there was no
recurrence Of his illness. On Wednesday he rose
at ten and ate very light breakfast, consisting of
fruit and cofIce. He afterwards went to drive, re-
turning at noon He then resumed his work and
continued 1t until six In the evening, retiring at
ten. He passed very restless night, not enjoying
q moments sleep until four this morning. He
then fell into quiet slumber, which continued
until eleven O'Clock. AS usual he was
SHAVED
though remaining abed. At halfpast one O'Clock
this afternoon another 1T Of coughing ensued,
which SO distressed him that he requested to be
moved from the bed to a lounge in his study or
Office adjacent to his bedroom, which being done
seemed to give him relief. The physician was sent
for, but Mr. Seward was beyond human aid, his
lungs rapidly filling and his breathing being short
and difficult After vain effort to restore him
with stimulants his case was pronounced hopeless
and the family collected around the dying father
and statesman. His intellectual faculties remained
clear to the last moment and his
APPROACHING DISSOLUTION
was made manifest to him by the weeping faces ol
his children and relatives and the unpcnt grief OF
his servants to whom he had been so kind a friend
during SO many years. The sorrow OF his two
grandchildren was beyond description. How many
tears will be dropped elsewhere tribute to his
memory He requested to be raised, but his sight
had become dimmed by approaching death ana ne
could only recognize the loved by their voices.
lie took successive leave by kissing them and ex-
pIred, with the radiant smile he was wont to give
them In his life time; and after fulfilling his mission
TO family and country, thus passed his great heroic
soul away. There being several near members OF his
family absent the day of the funeral has not been
determined. In all probability the mournful cere-
mony will take place on next Sunday.
Sketch OF William II. Seward.
In the death OF william Ii. Seward yesterday
another great American has passed from among us
TO take his place in history. Few men OF the last
hall century have had more influence upon their
agc, and he will ever be remembered as a master
spirit OF the most solemn and event!ul crisis of
life as a nation.
HIS EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION.
william Henry Seward was born az the village OF
Florida. In Orange county, N. y, May ID, 1901.
His father was physician, but for seventeen years