Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-12-05
Nlournt1l Death Of the Great Ed
itUP. Horace Greeley,

Slournfal Death Of the Great Ed
ttOr, Horace Greeley.
| NEW York, Nov. 30.-Mr. Greeley
il dead. The mourniu! news creates
profound sorrow throughout the city
mingled with almost \ pail At its sud
dcnncss. There has been 50 much n,ys-
terry and conce"lment regarding the FIRST
appearance and progress Of his illuess
that the following complete review Of
his last days illness will be read with
1.-THE deepest interest:
| When the Hon. Horace Greeley frst
learned the preoarious condition Of his
wiie's health he was preparing to start
on his terrible speech making tour
through the New England States. Du-
ring this absencc Mr.. Greeley never
slept over four hours at \ time
Through the day he would often doze
in the car and catch enatchcs Of sleep,
but when awakened, either by the stop
Of the train or to make speech, his
haggard AID carc-worn expression Of
countcnancs vas always more express
ion Of fatigue than any remarks be was
ever heard t. make.
Meanwhile Mrs. Greelcy's health had
been rapidly declining and she had re
moved trom Chappaqua to this city
Mr.. johnson, Of No. 1928 West Fifty
seventh street, had placed a suite Of
rooms At her disposal, and those the in
valid occupied with her eldest daughter,
Miss Ida, while Mr.. Greeley had rooms
in the came house. 1t was there, while
passing slespless nights 1t the bedside
Of bis dying wife, that Horace Greeley
first began to show signs Of great men,
tai depression.
On one occasion when the opposition
press was criticisiug his great Pitts
burgh speech, he said, "If they make
the issue that l am the rebel candidate
am bound to be defeated"
This consideration seemed to weigh
on his mind, and often he would clasp
his hands to his head aud cry out,
"Ohw "Oh!' ~ though suffering
from intense pain. He was advised to
continue his wood choppinE matinees,
and though severely chafed by the ac-
counts of them published in the New
York Times, he still pursued his open
air exercise. On one occasion at Chap
paqua, he was accompanied by Mr..
johnson and his son. Mr.. Johnson, Jr.,
chopped down the lower limb Of hem
lock tree, which narrowly missed the
fathers head. "What do you mean,"
cried out Mr.. johnson, ST., "Do you
want to kill me, Willie
IL wish somebody would kill me-"
responded Mr.. Greeley in voice ofex-
treme sadness.
At length on the morning Of Octo-
Der 3oth, Mrs. Greeley died. When
be was informed of his wife's death, he
wrung his hands and cried like a
child aud said: ooh! why did you
not let me sit up with her. Why did
you send me off to bed! My poor wife
NY poor wife :"
Two days afterward Mrs. Greeley
was buried. The reuiaius were followed
to the grave by 4 large concourse Of
people, all of whom noticed Mr.. Gree
ley's grief: lie returned after the fu-
neral to the residence of Mr.. johnson,
and instead Of interesting himself about
his daughters and the future gave way
wholly to detection. 1t was then he
show ed the first positive evidence Of
mental arrangement.
It was noticed about this time that
he would tell his private business to
every one With whom he came in con-
tact. and to each one he told different
story Of his troubles and the in6delity
Of his supposed friends. He would at
times denounce the Democratic party.
whom he would accuse of coming out
for the Administration. Then he would
violently criticise the course pursued by
the opposition newspapers, aud espe-
cially by the mismanagement of the
Tribune, and his fatal mistake in allow
ing his name to be used as a candidate
fur the Presidency.
Mr.. Alvin J. johnson was his most
intimate friend. One evening while
holding his hand Mr.. Greeley said to
him:
"Alvin johnson do you know 1
made terrible mistake about Mr.. Da-
na? He was right about 'On to Rich
mond! Yes; l am satisfied now that
he was right about it.
Often after that, when he was unable
to sleep, and while his disease Was yet
in its incipiency, MIR. Greeley would
take Mr.. johnson to his room and with
hands clasped he would impart to him
the most intimate secrets Of his past.
One morning he said to Mr.. johnson,
IS the latter was leaving the house,
"Meet me at the Tribune Office At 2
o'clock this afternoon, have private
communication to make to you"
Mr.. johnson was there at the ap-
pointed hour, but Mr.. Greeley declined
saying anything, but said:
"Meet me ut Sam Sinclair's At six
to night, l want to see you"
Mr.. johnson was there at the time
and found Mr.. Greeley asleep. Mr..
Sinclair and George Ripley were in an
other room. Mr.. Greeley slept for some
time but when lie ut length avoke his
mind seemed gone. Mr.. Sinclair beg
ged him to stay there and go to bed.
He quietly assented. and then, turning
to Mr.. johnson, said
calvin Johnson, take me home with
you, wont you!"
Mr. Ripley also begged Mr.. john
son to do SO, but although it was early in
the evening, it was midnight before
they reached 57th street
Some days before that DR.. Edward
Bayard, the late Mrs. Greeley's medi-
cal attendant, noticed that Mr.. Greeley
had u restless, feverish appearance. He
is homeopathic, but kindly prescribed
for his old friend, as he correctly ina
gincd he needed an anodyne. On re-
turning home the night above mention
ed, Mr.. johnson mixed one Of the pow
ders and gave it to Mr.. Greeley. The
latter, in taking It, split half Of it over
= his shirt front, and xhen reminded that
: he had done so, he said, "Oh, never
mind tits just as good outside as
: in" The following morning MIR. Gree
: ley was more restless and haggard in
: annearance than ever. Mr.. johnson