The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-08
MR.. CHAsE,S LAST DAYS IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, May Z, 1873.
The news of the sudden and unexpected death
OF Chief Justice Chase, received here this noon,
fell like funeral pall over Washngton-his home
for the last twelve years. Up to the adjournment
OF the Supreme Court he retained his seat on the
bench, and though hio voice was still weak and
his body emacfsted, t1erc was apparently nothing
to indicate his sudden demise. When he left here
for New York Saturday last it was for the pur-.
pose OF remaining few days at the residence Of
his daughter, Mrs. Hoyt then proceeding to Bos-
ton, and returning about the latter part OF this
month to proceed westward, stopping at Cncin-
natl for week and continuing his journey to Col
orado, where he expected to derive great benent
from the mountain climate in that Territory.
JUDGE woRpEN ON LAST HOURS IN THE CAPT.
TAI.
From Judge r. z. Worden, an old and intimate
friend OF the Chief Justice and who was with him
constantly during his last days in this city, your
correspondent learned that on Friday, April Is,
the Chief Justice received from, DR.. Brown
Sequard letter, containing prescription. He
was warned IN the letter that the remedy pre-
scrjbed would or might increase any great loose
ness Of the bowels arising from other causes, ana
directed in the event 0fsuch disorder to 'stop the
usen OF the medicine prescribed, and to resume it
as soon as the bowels should become normal again.
About the 1st Of May he wrote to the DOCTOR say
ing that on Sunday his bowels had become atfected,
and that that disorder had continued the next
day. He added, 81 have nearly recovered from the
disorder, but am still very weak. Iexpect to be
at Mrs. Hoyt's, No. West Thirty-third street. on
Saturday evening after the arrival of the Wash
ington train, and shall be glad to see you"
THE CHIEF JUSTICE NERVOUS AND DEPRESSED.
II was during the disorder mentioned in that
answer that the first appearance of deep depres-
sion In the Chief Justice was noticed. He ex-
planned his condition, and was reminded by Mr..
Worden OF the indication in the letter as to the
possible loosening operation Of the medicine. Mr..
Chase betrayed some uneasiness on remembering
what his physician mad written and that there
might be doubt about 1t the letter was referred
to confirming all that had been said After that
his concern about the disorder OF his bowels-in a
word, about his whole corporal condition
seemed to lessen, and finally it seemed to have
wholly left him. But he was quite sick forever
afterwards, and on the evening when he dictated
q letter to his old friend, w. d. Gallagher, he
seemed to feel his weakness very much, apologize
ing for brevity and breaking or rather abruptly
and leaving me little while after having dictated
the words, pronounced with much emotion,
az AN NOT WELL"
But the letters and opinions he dictated were
like his daily talks with me, indicative OF I'M
diminished judging and discriminating power and
his memory seemed scarcely at all impaired, Ger
tainy as to long past events 1t was entirely unim
paired throughout. From the time when Mr.. Wor-
den became his daily companion and assistant his
mind was clear, but his corporal condition one OF
ntful strength succeeded by great weakness. He
became more tender In manner, more considerate,
more patient more indugent, less imperous; but
there was nothing in his conversation that would
have led one to suppose his end was so near or
his own condition he seemed to know as much land
as lttle) as any one who saw him often and talked
freely with him could discern.
PERCEPTIBLE PHYSICAL WEAKNESS.
He often said he knew not what was the matter
with him, that he knew that ne was weak, and that
he had lost the faculty OF long continued exertion
mentally as well as physically, but that he could not
IND out just what was the nature OF his physical
disorder. Wen acquainted with his mental habi-
tudes and his characteristic modes Of thinking
and expressing thought, his friend saw that many
persons ascribed some things to his altered health
which he had known in him in his best days. But
though they had many long, rapid walks It was no.
tceabc he had become less ertain OF step, espe-
ciay in starting and stopping, than he had for.
merly been, though he never was as sure
footed as most men, and no doubt his
myopy always more or less affected his whole
faculty Of locomotion His old force OF win was
unimpaired, and he often wo,i J severely up to
the very last evening VIC $ ,u .ctler. It has