Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-02
GREELEY'S ILLNESS And
DEATH
DIR G..

The Tribune furnishes the following &C.
count of the illness and death of Mr. Greeley
So far as any of his associates knew Mr.
Greeley was in almost as good health as usua
when on the day after the election he wrote
the card announcing his resumption of the
editorial charge of the Tribune. His sleep
| lessness was known to have become greatly
worse but for years he had suffered more or
less from the same difficulty, and, as is now
clear, sufficient allowance had not been made
for the intense strain on him throughout the
summer, 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 had set himself. He wrote only
three or four articles, no one Of them being
half column in length. The most notable,
perhaps, was that entitled Conclusions, "
wherein he summed up his views of the can
vass. In all he wrote less than three and u
half columns after his return, contributing to
only four issues of the paper. Two or three
times he handed his assistant short articles
saying, "There is an idea worth using, but
haven't been able to work it out properly !;
you had better put it in shape" At last, on
Tuesday, the 18th inst, he abandoned the eff
fort to visit the office regularly and sent for
the family physician of Mr.. A. j. johnson,
the friend with whom he was guest, and in
NuOoc HOusS HIS "iic ilau ulcu. Every GIOTt
was made to induce sleep but he grew stead
lily worse until it became evident that his case
was critical. DR.. George c. Choate and
others were called in consultation, and il was
finally decided to take him to DR.. Choate's
residence, two or three miles distant from
Mr., Greeley's country residence at Chappa-
qua.-Here he received the unremitting at
tention of DIR. Choate, and here Drs. Brown,
Sequard and others were called in c0nsulta-
ton. The insomania had developed inhamma-
ton of the brain, and under this the venera-
bic patient sunk rapidly At times he was
delirious, and at other times he was as clear
headed as ever.
He lost flesh and strength with surprising
rapidity, and in 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 chung to their faith in the vigor of
his constitution On Wednesday night he
failed very rapidly.
On Thursday afternoon and evening he
seemed somewhat easier. During the night
he slept very uneasily, muttering occasional
ly and frequently raising his right hand.
Towards morning he was more quiet, and
between and fell into nearly an uncon-
scous condition, which continued with some
intervals through the day. He made occa-
sional EXPLANATIONS, but many of them, in
consequence of his extreme weakness and ap.
parent inability to finish what he began, were
unintelligible.
About noon, however, he said quite distinct
ly and with some force, II know that my Re-
deemer liveth." During the day he recog-
nized various people; his daughter many
times, the members of his household at Chap
paqua, Mr.. John Il. Stuart and Mr.. Reid.
On the whole he suffered little; seemed to
have no more than the ordinary restlessness
which accompanies the last stage of disease.
During the day his extremities were cold and
there was no pulse at the wrist. The action
Of the heart was very intermittent and was con-
stantly diminishing in force. Up to within
half an hour of the end he manifested in vari-
Gus ways his consciousness of what was going
on around him, and even answered in mono
syllables and intelligently, questions addressed
to him. After half-past six he said very dis
tinctly: at is DONE" and beyond the briefest
answers to questions this was his last utter
ance. His youngest daughter, Miss Gabrielle,
was with him throughout Thursday evening
and Friday; the Oldest daughter, Miss Ida,
was in constant attendance.
The wintry night had fairly set in when the
inyitable hour came. Without sleighs were
running to and fro bearing to Chappaqua the
nearest telegraph station, the latest bulletins