New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-15
Tho Death Of senator sumner.

our readers with the particulars of Ser ator
Summers death, which our own press agent
at Washington has neglected to furnish:
WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Sumner
tonight had two serious attacks of angina
pectoris, which have seriously alarmed his
friends. 1t ia recurrence of his former
disease and is thought to have been brought
ON by his recent effort in the Senate Cham
Der. The Senator is now sleeping quietly.
Several friends are at his bedside.
WASHINGTON, March ll-Mr. Sumner
passed quiet night, under subcutaneous
injection OF morphine. This morning at
ects, without material change. Surgeon
General Barnes and Doctors johnson and
Lincoln were at that hour in consultation
at the residence of the Senator. Yesterday
in the Senate he had slight attack affect
ing the nerves of the heart, but when he
returned home he was sufficiently well to
entertain two friends at dinner, at the close
of which he made allusion to the condition
Of his heart, and between nine and ten
O'Clock he was taken SO sick as to require
attendance of physician, and an hour or
more thereafter he had a second attack of
his old disease, angina pectOris. Several OF
his nearest personal friends were sent for,
and remained with him during the night
Senator Sumner does not seem to suffer
any pain, being under the influence of
strong Opiates, but his extremitles are quite
cold, and his physicians do not think their
natural warmth can be restored. An i'm
mense number OF anxious visitors. includ-
ing great many colored people. have
called at the residence. The condition of
the Senator was such about noon that his
physicians sent dispatch to George +.
HOar that he was dead, which was after
ward cOntradicted.
The chaplain of the Senate in his opening
prayer, said: 1.-The light of the morning
sun falls upon the busy scenes OF men; but
there are mysterious shadows in many
dwellings, We miss those of our members
who are withdrawn from their seats, and
are lying PROSTATE with sickness and dis
ease, and especially one who, but yester-
day, came into this chamber with all the
presence Of his manly form; but now, when
we meet again this morning, he lies close
to the brink of darkness. 0 God, we be-
seech Thee to be very near to the soul of
Thy servant at this time. If it were pos
sible, we would pray Thee to restore him;
but if Thou hast otherwise appointed, then
we beseech Thee to support him with the
hope of Thy people, and with the glorious
prospect of a c0mming resurrection, and q
blessed Immortality"
Immediately after the reading Of the jour
nal, Senator Sherman said: "One of our
number lies i'll, and perhaps dying, l, there
fore, move that the Senate adjourn. Agreed
to, and the Senate adjourned.
At forty-fve minutes past twelve Mr..
Sumner was fast failing. In addition to
the physicians, Senator Schurz and Repre-
sentatives George +. and E. K. Hoar are
with him. The parlors and halls of his
mansion are filled with anxious friends.
Senator Schurz in leaving Mr.. Summers
room at halfpast twelve, took MIR. Sumner
by the hand and asked, "Do you know
me9" Mr.. Sumner replied, eyes, but ] can
not see you" At once Mr.. Sumner fell
into an easy slumber, which encouraged
some of his friends to believe he was some
what better, but consultation of physi-
clans held about that hour did not establish
any reason for such impression. DIR. Brown
Sequard has been telegraphed for and is on
his way to this city. At two o'clock Sen
ator Sumner was still sleeping. though at
intervals he would awaken, at which time
he was in great pain. He is perfectly con-
scious when awake and knows all his
friends occasionally rallying to the effort of
saying a few words to them.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 3 2. M.-SenatOr
Sumner died at quarter to three o'clock.
He passed away calmly and without
struggle.
During the last two hours of Mr.. Summers
illness, his intellect seemed to be much
clearer, and he was perfectly conscious to
the last This condition was, doubtless,
the result of his recovery from the effects OF
the morphine which had been freely admin
istered to him this morning. His sutferings
toward the last seemed to be intense, and
he several times exclaimed: II want quiet;
| am tired" He recognized friends who
came into the room. One of the last to
whom be spoke was ex-Attorney General
Hoar, Of Massachusetts,, to whom he said:
Take care of my civil rights bill
About quarter before three o'clock he
was attacked by sligat spasm, in which
he died. Around the bed at the time were
son, of this city. Major Benjamin Perley
Poore, George I. Downing and James
Wormley. Other friends, who had been
with the dying Senator throughout the day,
had left just previous, not anticipating that
death would be 80 soon. Senator Schurz
and Hon. Montgomery Blair entered the
room ust as he breathed his last, and Sum-
ner was then too near dissolution to recOg-
nize them. The only relative that SEN
physician in San Francisco, and to her
the sad news was telegraphed immedi-
ately after his death. During the
day his house was visited by a great num-
Der of the members of both houses of Con-
gress and other prominent persons, among
whom was Fred. Douglas. The sidewalk in
front of Mr.. Summers residence was filled
with anxious and ssddened friends. At the
time of his death, and when the s0rrowful
announcement was made, the grief of many,
and especially of the colored people, found
vent in heartfelt EXPLANATIONS of grief and
weeping Sergeant at Arms French, of the
Senate, was sent for Immediately, and that
official, in connection with the committee,
will have charge of the funeral arrage-
ments, though of course no time has yet
been fixed upon therefor.
The funeral ceremonies will take place in
the Senate Chamber. Summers age, at the
time of his death, was sixtythree years,
two months and five days. Senator Sum-
ner had been SOLICITORS for his health for
several days past, the earnest part he was
taking in the questions before the Senate
having given him reason to pay especial re-
gard to it. and he remarked last night to
friend, some hours before he was attacked
with the serious spasm which, in few
hours, eliminated in his death, that he
wanted to talk to him about his health He
was afraid he was working too hard.
Senator Sumner, at about two o'clock
yesterday afternoon, moved from his seat
in the Senate Chamber to one beside Sen
ator Sargent, and inquired of Senator Sar-
gent, who, like himself, had taken promi
nent part in opposition to the centennial
bill, whether he bad received any anony-
mods insulting letters on the subject, ad-
ding that he tSumner) had received a num-
Der of such letters and packages of most
offensive character, both through the mails
and by express. He seemed considerably
annoyed by these insults, and Senator Sar-
gent therefore turned the conversation to
the resolution of the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture resembling the censure of Mr.. Sumner,
and he expressed himself greatly pleased
with this action. An hour or more after
ward Mr.. Sumner called Senator Ferry, of
Connecticut, aside to sofa in the Senate
Chamber, and talked with him, as he had