The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-02
THE DEATH OF GREELEY.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF HIS LAST
HOURS.


HOURS.
| His Last Words, t'It is DOne''-Tribute
OF the Tribune-Skeich OF the Career
Of the Great Journalist.
NEW YORK, November 30.
The accounts published of Mr.. Greeley's last
moments represent him to have been con-
scious. During the day, as is usual in cases
| of Inflammation of the braln, hls physical SUI
ferlng was extremely slight, bnE increased,
and a morbid action of the mind was evident
from exterior Manifestations He was asked,
"Do you know that you are dying" Without
tremor or emotion he answered, "Yep."
Again, when asked II he recognized Mr.. Reds
he looked up with Immediate recognition,
lifting his hand, grasped Mr.. Reld's feebly,
and said distinctly, "Yes."
His last words we're, TIT is DONE" His face
hardly changed, only settling a little Into a
look of perfect peace.
At six o'clock Thursday e1-surgaon Gen.
eral Hammond arrived at the bedside OF Mr..
Greeley, and held a lengthy consultation with
the attendant physician, who has not left him
since the first alarming symptoms manifested
Themselves. The Herald report says:
The cause of his illness Is coicIsely slated
by thUse in charge. Mr.. Greeley, already
worn by the almost constant exertton and the
loss OF sleep Incidental to Ills tour through
the West, was during bis late wlfe's illness
always at her side. By the deepest entreaties
he was prevailed upon to take only four or
five hours sleep In twenty-folr, and from lack
of rest enaued nervous prostratlon. 1t was
with difficulty, too, that he could be Induced
to eat sufficient food 10 afford him proper
nourishment, SAYING It was distasteiul to him.
Still his vigorous constitution remained ap.
parently mistaken I'LL within the past Ten
days, when the keen eyes OF his friends noted
his falling health, though They were hardly
prepared for 30 sudden and complete loss OF
vital force.
In relation to Mr.. Greeley's conversation
and actions, Dr.. Hammond said:
He talks iDcoherenlly the whole time, and Ia
quite obstinate. If one wants him to show
The pupil of his eye he Immediately closes his
eyelfd tightly and refuses point blank to let
anybody look at 1t. II bis pulse has to be ielt,
be struggles and keeps his wrist hidden as
long as he can. He refuses to eat anything
from q spoon, 20 We had TO administer oeel
tea through a tube. He does not kEow bis
own daughter. He keeps talking the whole
time, but as what he saysis quite uuintelllgi-
BILE, of course no notice ts taken OF It, one
thIng he kept repeating over and over again
while / was there was, II dled when l was
born, and I was born when I died"
Concerning the diagnosis, DR.. Hammond
said that In his opinion Mr.. Greeley was snf-
teriDg from Inflammation OF the brain and its
membranes. "Whtle there Is life" OF course,
he added, There Is hope, but there are more
than nlnety-ave chances In a hundred against
his surviving forty-elght hours"
The sequel has sadly shown how true were
the Tears OF the physician.
The Tribune in announcing Mr.. Greeley's
dealh says:
The melancholy announcement OF the death
of the editor and founder of the Tribune.
though for q few days 1t has been expected by
his family aud Intimate friends, falls upon US
with all the shock OF q sudden calamity. He
had reached, ind. ed, a ripe old age, but time
had not laid its witheriog touch upon him.
HIS splendid constitution easily bore the strain
of enormous labor. His mind was as fresh
and strong and suggestive as In the prime OF
llle- His generous Impulses were unchilled
by dtsheartening experiences: rev tHe
tryIue campaign which has Just closed, his
physical vigur, his tact, his Intellectual aclivi
ty surprised even those who knew him best,
and seemed 70 promise many years OF useful
ness.
IL ia certain that 40 history of the most crlli.
cal period 10 orr national life can ever be writ
ten Ia which Horace Greeley shall not be q
conspicuous figure. But the MODEST career 10
his eyes was that which ls given up TO diners
wants. The successful life was that which is
worn out In conflict with wrong and error.
The only ambition worth following was The
ambition to alleviate human misery aud leave
the world q little better than he found 1t.
That he had done this was the consolation
which frightened his last days, and assured
him he had not lived In vain.
It. Ia not for us In the 6rst hour of our loss
to paint his character or catalogue his virtues
Although for several months we have missed
the inspiration oil his presence and the guild
ance Of bis wise counsel, his spirit has never
ceased to animate those chosen 10 continue
bIs works, and the close band OF sympathy be-
tween The cniet and bis assistants has never
been broken. We leave his praises 10 the
poor, whom he succored, to the lowly, whom
he has lifted up, TO the slave, whose back ne
saved from the lash, 10 the oppressed, whose
wrongs he made his own.
The Herald, in lts editorial upon Greeley,
says:
he has, 10 a mistaken aspiration for o high
ar field of usefulness, and power, and glory
than journalism, fallen a sacrifice to his polltl-
cal ambition. He had failed TO appreciate the
commanding position which he had secured
as a leading American journalist, and leaving
IL to pursue the 1gnis fatuus OF the Presidency
he dropped the substance for the shadow OF q
great distinction. Otherwise, the history and
Inc enduring rewards of Mr.. Greeley's Indus
IRONS and useful career ere full OF encourage
ment TO young men, who, Without capital,
personal Influence or powerful friends, nave
the battle of life before them.
TN President and Mr.. Greeley's Death.
WASHINGTON, November 20.
Freuuent Inquiries were made to-day by all
classes In regard to Horace Greeley's health,
and much sympathy was expressed IN ms be-
half. A report of bis death being In clrcnla-
tion this evening. and having reached the
President, he aud bis family, as q token OF
respect, did not attend a reception of the
diplomatic corps, given by the Secretary Of
State, and 10 which he was invited, but sent q
note explaining the cause of bis absence.
Mr.. Greeley's Career.
The events of the life of Mr.. Greeley have
been of late 30 often laid before the public
that 1t seems almost a work of supererogstlon
to rehearse them now. But a notice of his
death would be incomplete without at least o
glance at what he himself often spoke of as
"a busy life."
Horace Greeley, the son of Iaccheus. Gree
lev, was born In Amherst, N. b., FEBRUARY 80,
1911 At 8 very early age he became fond OF
| reading, aud 1t was related that before he was
| ten years old be had read. chiefly by the light
| of pine knots, every readable book That ne
| could borrow within seven miles OF his fathers
| house. Bis first labor was on the farm, and
l - L. ho u1apf m fhp nrlnfin0 nf1np and