Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-30
DEATH OF HORACE GREELEY.
THE CLOSE OF n BUSY LIFE.
The Tribune's Account Of the. Last
Hours Of the Great Jour- .altst
Something About HIS Lie and Char.
actor.

About His Lie and Char.
actor.
The kilograms in LAST evenings STAR con-
.inirC An acceunt of the dangerous illness of
dr. Greeley were soon fclio we'd by the sad
idings of his death, which were received in
this city with expressions of regret and sympa-
Inv from every quarter. The President and his
family, as token of respect to the deceased,
did not attend a reception of the diplomatic
corps given by the Secretary OF State, and to
which they were invited, but sent note eI-
An Associated Press dispatch from New York
last evening made the following brief announ"~
ment OF the fatal termination OK NJ ,rss,sx,s
ilness; nj Horace Greeies led at fifty minutes
time, and n ".s passing away was peaceful. He
naa been in a state of apparent unconscious
ness since eight o'clock in the morning, his
strength having entirely failed. and his pulse at
the wrist being imperceptibIe. He appeared to
suffer but very little during to-day"
HIS ILLNESS AND DEATH
is thus described in the New York Tribune OF
TO. day:
$50 far as any Of his associates knew, Mr..
Greeley was in almost - good health as usual
the card announcing his resumption OF the edi-
torial charge Of the Tribune. dis sleeplessness
70
same difficulty, and, as Is now clear, . suthcient
allowance had not been made for the intense
strain upon him throughout the summer, and
especially during the last month Of his wife's
illness.
But it soon became evident that his strength
was unequal to the hard task to which he set
himself. He wrote only three or four careful
articles, none of them half . column in length.
The most notable, perhaps, was that entitled
CONCLUSIONS" wherein he summed mp his
views of the canvass. In ALL he wrote less than
three and half columns after his return. con-
tIibuting TO only four issues Of the paper. Two
or three times he handed his assistant short ar
ticles saying, "there Is an idea worth using, but
have not felt able TO work it out properly; you
had better put 1t in shape"
At last, on Tuesday, the 18th instant, he absn-
sent for the family physician Of A. j. johnson,
friend with whom he was q guest, and in
whose house his wife had died.
Every effort was made to induce sleep, but he
grew steadily worse until 1t became evident that
his case was worse. DR.. George s. ChOate and
Others were called in consultation, and finally it
was decided to take him to DR.. Choates resi-.
dence, two or three miles distant from Mr..
Creeley's own country home at Chappaqua.
Here he received unremitting attention.
Dr. Brown and others were called in consult
alton. Insomnia had developed into infsm-
nation of the brain. Under this the vsnerated
patient rapidly sank. At times he was deiriOus,
ct other times as clear headed as ever. He lost
strength with startling rapidity, and In a few
days the possibility of his speedy death forced
itself into unwilling recognition. 1t was not,
however, until Thursday last that his associates
and family brought themselves to admit it; and
even then they still chung to his faith in the
yigOr Of his constitution. On Wednesday night
he failed very rapidly; Thursday afternoon and
evening he seemed somewhat easier.
During the night be slept well, muttering oc-
casionally, and frequently raising his right
and between and O'Clock fell into an uncon-
scious condition, which continued, with some
intervals, through the day. He made occasional
EXPLANATIONS, but many Of them, In consequence
of his extreme weakness and apparent inability
to finish what he began, were unntelligible.
About noon, however, he said quite distinctly,
and with some force: 81 know that my Re-
During the day he recognized various people,
his daughter many times, and the members OF
his household at Chappaqua, Mr.. Jno. r. Stuart
On the whole, he suffered little, and seemed to
have no more than the ordinary restlessness
which accompanies tho last stage OF disease.
During the day his extremities were cold, and
there was no pulse at the wrist, and the action
OF the heart was very intermittent and con-
He had not asked for water or been willing to
drink it since his stay at DR. Choate' e, but dur
ing Friday he asked for it frequently. Up to
within half an hour OF the end he mantle sted In
various ways his consciousness Of what was
going ON around him, and even answered in
monosyliabes and intelligently Questions ad
About halt: past three he said very distinctly,
" 1t lie dOne," and, beyond the briefest answers
to questions, this was his last uttersnce.
His youngest daughter, Miss Gabrielle, was
L
out Friday the elder daughter, Miss Ida, was in
constant attendance, as she had been during
the whole Of his illness, and Of Mrs. Greeley's
paqua household were present, with Mr.. and
Mrs. John r. Stuart and . few other friends
Nothing that science or Affection could suggest
was wanting to ease his last hours.
A wintry night had fairly set in when the in
eyitable hour came. Without the sleighs were
running to and fro, bearing to Chappaqus, the
nearest telegraph station, the latest bulletins
which thousands Of anxious hearts in the city
and few Others stood near the dying a'1 nam,
tional and free from pain, though now too weak
In The adjoining room sat one or two more
watchers drew back in reverent stiffness from
the bedside. The great editor was gone In
peace, after % many struggles, in honor, After
80 much Obloquy."
THE TRI BUNR's TRIBUTE.
The Tribune says, edtorially =" The melen-
choiy announcement of the death Of the editor
and founder Of tho Tribune, though for few
days 1t has been expected by his family and
and intimate friends, falls upon us with all the
shock Of q sudden calamity. He had reached,
indeed: q ripe old age, but time had not laid its
whitening touch upon him. His splendid con.
stltutien easily bore the strain of enormous
labor. His mind was as fresh and strong snd
suggestive as in the prime Of life His generous
periences. Through the trying campaign
which has just closed, his physical vigor, his
TACT, his intenectual activity surprised even
those who knew him best, and seemed to
promise many years OF usefulness. 1t Is certain
that no history of the most critical period in eur
national Life can ever be written in which
Horace Greeley shall not be conspicuous figure.
But the noblest career in bis eyes was that
which Is given up to others wants. The sue
cessful lite was that which is worn out In con
hict with wrong and error. The only ambition
worth following was the ambition to alleviate
human misery and leave the world little bet
ter than he fouAd 1t. That he had done this
was the consolation which frightened his last
days and assured him no had not lived in vain
1t is not for US in the first hour Of our loss to
paint his character or catalogue his virtues. Al
though fer &c veral months We have missed the
inspiration OF his presence and the guidance of
his wise counsel, his spirit has never ceased to
animate those chosen to continue his work,
and the close band Of sympathy between the
chief and his assistants has never been broken
We leave his praises to the poor, whom he sue
cored, to the aowly, whon he has lifted up, to
the slave, whose back he saved from the lash,
to the Oppressed, whose wrongs he made his
own"
Mr.. o1A1LIY's LxyB INsuRRp.
The New York San says: " Many years ago the
Iribl q, Association. foreseeing the shock which
Mr.. Greeley's death would give tho Tribune,
insured his life to tho amount Of 600 900 for the
beneft or tho stockholders in common. This
lie insurance policy has been kept good, and
wiz accrue to tho Tribune whenever its Illus