The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-03-26
Death of Hon. Charles Sumaer.

| If.
Hon. Charlss Sumner, U. s. Senator from
the State Of Massachusetts, died suddenly in
Washington, on the 18th inst. FOR two or
three days Mr.. Sumner had been conscious
Of the approach of the attack with which he
was seized the night previous to his death.
Pains in the region Of the heart, momentary
spasms OF nervous postration, from which he
had twice or thrice rallied in the last two
| days, warned him Of the seyerer stroke i'm
pending. Tuesday morning he told one or
two friends of his weakness, and, while allu-
ding to it as trifing matter it was evident
that his mind was not free from PRESENT..
ments and foreboaings. Tuesday, after the
presentation iu the Senate of the resolutions
of the Legislature Of Massachusetts, expung-
ing from its records the resolutions of cen.
sure on the action of Senator Sumner in pro-
posing to drop from the army register the
names of the battles Of the civil war, the
Senator was feeling much better, and enter
tanned at dinner OF his house Major Ben.
Pesley Poore the widely-known correspon-
deut of the Boston Journal and his devoted
friend, and Mr.. Henry l.. Pierce, of the
House of Representatives, from Boston,
At dinner he was in excellent spirits and
seemed very happy notwithstanding he had
told a gentleman from Boston during the
day, one of the merchants who are here at
tending the investigation before the Ways
aud Means Committee, that he felt he was
going to have another attack, and intimated
that the result might be fatal. His guests
at dinner do not seem to have had the slight
est presentiment of the coming blow. or to
have doubted that be was 10 his usual health.
n On retiring to his room, about 10 O'Clock,
he was seized again with the dreadful pain
about the heart which accompanies the con-
traction Of the muscles Of that organ in the
paroxysms of the disease. He rang for his
servants, who went Immediately to sammon
his physician and one or two friends. Ihe
first to reach his bedside Was MIR. Wormly,
who has been with the Senator during some
of his previous attacks. He at once recog-
nized this attack to be more serious than
any that had preceded it, and Immediately
called other friends and telegraphed for DIR.
Brown-Sequard. DR., J. Taber johnson, i'm
.nediately on his arrival, had an eminent
council Of Physicians summoned -Sur,, con
General Barnes, who Was with President
Lincoln from the time of the assassination
till his death. and Drs. Lincoln and VIM. =
johnson. During the night Mr.. Summers
suferings we're intense, aud the anodynes
which we're administered gave him no re-
lief He did not sleep till 4 o'clock Wednes-
day morning, at which time an injection of
morphine was made beneath the skin. This
remedy had beer resorted to on other occa-
sioos to produce sleep, aud about year ago
this hypodermc war for time administered
almost nightly From four o'clock Wedues-
day morning he sank gradually, overcome by
d feeling of weakness aud exhaustion lie
would sleep Jew minutes and then wake aud
turn over, and be raised into new position,
the movement beng accompanied by the ex-
camatlons SON." and How tired,'' "How
weak" These expressions he repeated
again and again during the whole morning
He was entirely conscious during his wa
king moments till ten minutes before bis
death, and recognized and spoke to the
friends who we're admitted to his ROOM
Maj Poore. Mr.. Pierce, Mr.. Hooper, aud
DR.. johnson were with the Senator through
the night, aud to day they and others have
devoted themselves to attention upon all his
wants. Judge u r. Hoar was with him
from early in the morang till death. Many
prominent Senators, Representatives, aud
public officers called at tie house of the
Senator during the day to inquire about his
condition.
Mr.. Sumner was e3 years old. He en-
tered the United States S nate in 1850,
when Daniel Webster retired, to accept
the position Of Secretary OF State under
President Fillmore, and during the long pc
riod and through the many exciting scenes
of his Senatorial services he maintalned the
character Of pure and upright man, and
oae Of the polished statesmen this country
has produced.
The last public care that weighed upon
Senator Summers mind was the Civil Rights
bill. He said repeatedly to the persons who
were with him Wednesday morning, "You
must take care Of the Civil Rights blll."-
That subject seemed to be constantly In his
thoughts, and it was 20 doubt, a matter OF
regret to him that he should pass away be-
fore this favorite project should have been
accomplished.