Richland beacon., 1873-05-24
The Death OF Chief Justice Chase.

The New York Tribune of May s, con- i
tains the following account of the circum- t
stances attending the death of Hon. Sal
mon T.. Chase, Chief Justice of the SUI {
preme Court of the United States:
The first knowledge the people had that
Chief Justice Chase was in New York,
was conveyed in the brief announcement I
of his death. One week ago to-day the
last decisions were rendered i'm the SUI
preme Court. and the judges dispersed.
Mr.. Chase left Washington Saturday
morning, and reaching here that evening,
went directly to the house Of his youngest
daughter, Mrs. Janet X. C. Hoyt, No. |
West Thrty-third street. He spent Sum |
day quietly, riding in the afternoon to
Central Park. On Monday morning some
of his friends who had learned of his arri-
val in the city, came TO pay their respects,
and with one of the most intimate and
trusted of them, Mr.. Hiram Barney, he
walked down Fifth avenue, and discussed
in pleasant and familiar way, the topics
of the hour, and among them Charles
Francis Adams Grafton on Mr.. Seward.
On parting Mr.. Chase urged MIR. Barney
to come and see him often, and eXacted
promise that he should come on Wednes-
day morning. He did so, and came just
i'm time to see him die. On Monday even-
of the disaster so fast approaching. lie
seemed to be i'm his usual health. and in
very good spirits, although complaining
of a little fatigue, and entered into ami
mated conversation with those friends
who were present. To one of them he
detailed his plans for the coming summer.
This morning he was to have gone TO
Boston, remaining there with relations
two or three weeks. Returning. his in
tention was to stop in this city few days
on his way to Washington, and after COM
pleting matters of business and domestic
interest there, to make a journey to Col
Orado Springs by easy stages, visiting his
friends in Cincinnati, and at other points
along the route. These plans he gave.
with the repeated and emphasized condi-
ton, ''if | live"
About 10, his usual hour for retiring
he said "goOd night and left the room
These were the last words he spoke. eX-
cept perhaps that next morning his ser.
want understood him to say: {" Fire )"
going towards the fireplace. On Tues.
day morning, about $50, his servant en-.
tering his room found him sleeping qui.
city, with his hand under his face, as he
habitually lay.
On approaching the bed few moments
later the servant saw that the Chief JUS
tice was seized with spasm, the features
were cOnvulsed and light foam appear
ed on his lips. Drs. John q. Perry, Met
calf and Clarke were at once summoned
and it was pronounced an apOplectlc at
tack with paralysis of the left side. The
paralysis of the attack of June 20, 1870
was of the right side, and had virtually
disappeared, there being still very slight
traces of it on the lips and right hand
This attack was more unexpected from
the fact that Mr.. Chase was assured by
his physicians last summer that there was
no longer any danger of the recurrence
of paralytic attack. From the time OF
the attack Tuesday morning he remained
entirely unconscious. His head was mo-
tiOnless, while the right arm was restless
ly active. The convrilsive spasms APP
peared frequently during the day. and the
doctors finally placed their patient under
the influence of chlOrofOrm, which was
applied on a handkerchief to his face
whenever spasm was seen approaching.
Its effect was immediate. All the unre
hitting attention and care that the affair
could suggest found no response. At q
few minutes after O'Clock yesterday
morning it became evident that he was
sinking fast. His breathing became more
and more labOred, until finally, at II
O'Clock precisely. it ceased altogether. A
spasm and twitching began with the low
er portion of the body, which lasted for {
few seconds, and then all was still. Their,
were present in the room at the time Sen
atOr Sprague and Mrs. h. &. Sprague, tn,
Chief Justices eldest daughter. Mrs. w
s. HOyt and Mrs. Janet X. e. HOyt, Mr.
Edwin HOyt and Mr.. Hiram Barney.