The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-12-19
HORACE GREELEY.
| HIS LAST ULNEss-sUFFERING FROM ACUTE MANIA
HIS LAST WORDS.

HIS WORDS.
On November Goth, DR.. Brown, Supern.
tendent of the Bloomingdale Asylum, and DIR.
George G. Choate, proprietor Of private
asylum in Worcester county. were called to
meet DR.. krackOizer liz consultation. A care
full examination of the patient was made. and
they unanimously pronounced him suffering
from acute mana-entirely insane. The shock
was a severe blow to the few friends who were
entrusted with the secret, but, after due delib-
Grafton they became sufficiently reconciled to
the fact to consent to Mr.. Greeley's removal
to DR.. Choate's residence, near Pleasantville,
Worcester county. The house is pleasantly
situated. mile and half from the town, on
hill half u mile from road or tho nearest
house. 1t is comfortably furnished; has hand
some grounds surrounding it. and, though
known to the neighbors as a private lunatic
asylum. it has the appearance of the country
seat of some wealthy gentleman. There Mr..
Greeley was conveyed last Thursday week.
When he was brought down stairs in Mr..
Johnson's house in front Of which Mr.. r. Stuart
was waiting with a close carriage, Mr. John
sou handed him Lis traditional white hat and
coat. Don't send me away. A. j., he cried,
rs the tears flowed down his deathly pale
cheeks. Don't let me 60, don't, don't" The
scene was too affecting for those u no v itnessed
ii. and all shed tears. Mr. Johnson dropped
the hat and coat too much affected to say a
word. He never expected TO see his old friend
aga,n.
/, was deemed best that Mr.. Greeley should
renaia over night at the residence of Mr..
John Re Stuart. in Tarrytown. Mr.. Stuart
was an old friend, and it may be remembered
that il Was at his house that one of the first
receptions rendered MIR Greeley after his nom
ination was gwen. He was restless all nigbt,
and strict watch was kept upon his move
men;s He seemed 10 know tina, he was on
the way 10 an asylum. Al first he told Mr..
Stuart that he would not leave bis house Ii
MAS ouly after Mr.. and Mrs. Stuart promised
10 call and see him every day, that be promised
IN 90 Before leaving Mr. Stuart's residence
be walked through the grounds. Suddenly
stopping he eaxed inteuily Ut iw" small shrubs,
saying. we must pu, the cider IN the ground,
for il will freeze bard before Tuesday" Mr.
Stuart became alarmed and then cndeasored
la place him in n close carriage for removal to
DR. Choa,e's residence ai Mount Pleasant. Mr.
Greeley u; frs, cried bitterly. aud Tor 4 long
time refused 10 go He repeatedly said TO Mr.
Stuart. Don't ci them take me away. |
want to stay here with you" 1t was only
when urged hy Aunty Samson and Mrs Stuart
that he consented 10 go with Mr. Stuart in the
carriage
The day after bis arrlsal at DR.. Choatc's, the
disease developed itself in all its intensity. The
horrors of acute mania were hourly witnessed.
and he was violent IN his action. The most
shilifu treatment at the hands Of experienced
physicians proved of no avail aud the patient
gradually sank into state of unconsclousness.
The Inflammation of the brain made the stom-
ach sytnpaihizc with IT Ia such an cxtcnt that
Mr. Greeley refused and was really unable to
take food in any form. He gradually became
worse. and failed to recognize the tew intimate
friends and relatives who visited him. His
daughter ida was with him night and day So
violent did he become that it was found neces-
sary to remove most Of the furniture from the
r oom Al one time he tore the watch pre-.
scnicd to him by the employees of the Tribune
apart and again he threw a kerosene lamp on
the floor. setting the room on FIRE. and narrow
" escaping being burned to death As his
strength lett him he became more quiet, but
did not show any signs OF consciousness until
about an hour before his death.
Mr.. Greeley passed very restless night
Thursday He raved iucohercntly all night.
threw his arms wildly about. and rolled and
tossed from one side of the bed TO the other.
At $ A. NJ. to-day he remained unconscious.
HIS extremities gradually became cold. and he
was motionless in his bed. DIR. Choate, Miss
Ida Greeley. Mr.. and Mrs. John Il. Stuart. and
"Aunty" Samson were in constant attendance,
but Mr. Greeley did not recognize them
During the afternoon he appeared to be pray
know that my Redecmer liveth" An hour
later he repeated several times. Il died before
was born" and at precisely four O'Clock he
alarmed those abouth him by say ing, in his natural
tone of voice. at is done" These were his
last words He then rclapscd into n state Of
total unconsciousness; his respirations became
weaker. his extremites colder, and his face
bore the unmistakable imprint OF death. He
was pulseless ut the wrist, and thus remained
until +. NJ. The room IN which Mr.. Greeley
died was large one on the northwest corner
of the first floor of DR.. Choate's house. twas
a bright one; neatly carpeted. but devoid Of
chairs, pictures, ornaments, wnsh- h-basin, or any
small articles Of furniture. All these had been
removed when Mr.. Greeley first manifested
evidences Of violence. Before they were re-
moved, however, he on one occasion broke his
watch to pieces, and at another time threw
kerosene lamp on the floor; the burning oil ig-
nitcd the carpet, and had it not been that an
alarm was Immediately given, the house might
have been destroyed by fire.
The disease first developed itself violently two
weeks ngo tonight at n meeting Of the Trns.
tees Of the Tribune held at the residence Of Mr..
Samuel Sinclair. The next day Krackoizer was
called in by Mr.. Alvin J. johnson. Then come
the consultation. and the unanimous verdict OF
the doctors that acute mania had set in.
The seal placed upon DR.. Choate's lipsin rela.
tion to the actual condition and treatment Of his
patient, and the development Of tho disease, de-
prives history Of an important chapter in the
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