Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18
Death Of senator Sumner.
ms rxriRiSe MOMENTS.

blRnt. Ou hOuuhl tNtuiuki w Ns''i
Of some symptoms Of his attack OF last
winter, but neither he nor bis friends paid
much attention to H. On Friday, he went
to tho Senate, as usual and appeared to be
in good health and spirits. Several per.
sons who had not seen him for some time
remarked that he looked unusually well.
About two O'Clock, Tuesday afternoon, the
Hon. Samuel Hooper visited Mr.. Sumner
at his seat 10 the Senate The Senator then
complained Of acute pain in the region Of
the heart, and said something about going
home early. Mr.. Hooper volunteered to
drive him home in his carriage, at half
past three, and Mr.. Sumner accepted the
invitation 10 the meantime, Mr.. Sumner
attended to his business in the Senate, writ
ing letters, and occasionally listening to
the financial debate which was in progress.
About halfpast three, Mr.. Hooper appeared
in the Senate. Mr.. Sumner remarked that
the pain was only temporary, and he did
not feel it then. lie and Mr. Hooper left
together, the latter's carriage taking the
Senator to bis residence, corner of II. street
and Vermont avenue. At six O'Clock be
dined, having as his guests congressman II.
l.. Pierce, Of Boston, and Major Ben Per.
ley Poore. At dinner, be appeared to be
in his usual health and enjoyed the meal
with his customary heartiness and zest.
Mr.. Pierce and Major Poore took their de-
parture about halfpast eight o'clock.
Between nine aud ten o'clock in the even
ing, the paroxysm Of pain returned, and
steadily increased until the Senator called
upon his secretary, Mr.. johnson, for aid.
His physician, DR.. Tabor johnson, hap
pened to be present, and, at Mr.. Summers
request administered a sub-cutaneous in
lection Of morphine. This afforded tenn
porary relief, aud, at the request Of DR..
johnson, Mr.. Sumner retired to bed. As
soon as the soothing effect Of the morphine
passed away, the pain returned, with more
intensity. 1t was now near midnight, and
Mr.. johnson, becoming alarmed at the
threatening symptoms, thought it prudent
to call in more medical aid aud the assist
ance of such Of the Senator's friends as
were in the vicinity. lie awoke Mr.. james
Wormley, the well known colored caterer,
and MIR. Sumua's lifelong devoted friend.
Mr., Wormley informed the Hon. Samuel
Hooper, and also the Hon. Henry L. Pierce.
In the meantime, n messenger was dis
patched for DR.. Lincoln. The entire party
was soon at the bedside of Mr.. Sumner,
who, by this time, was suffering great pain.
After another injection of morphine, and a
dose of brandy aud ammonia, he seemed
easier, and at two O'Clock he had so much
improved that his friends, with the excep-
ton Of his secretary, thought it safe to re-
tire to their homes. The Senator appeared
to be unusually sensitive, and apologized for
giving so much trouble. lie told his secre-
tary, Mr.. johnson, and his physicians to 90
TO bed, assuring them that he was much
better. DR.. johnson remained all night,
watching with keen anxiety the develop
ment of the symptoms.
Towards morning, the Senator grew
worse, his symptoms became more alarm
ing, aud be began to lose strength rapidly.
About six o'clock, Mr. Wormley, Mr..
Hooper, Mr.. Pierce and other friends ar.
rived and it was at once decided to have a
consultation of physicians. Surgeon Gen.
eral Barnes, DR.. Lincoln and DR.. W. p.
johnson were summoned and were soon in
attendance. The result Of the consultation
was the opinion that Mr.. Sumner could
not long survive. At the Senator's request,
Mr.. Wormlcy telegraphcd to New York
for DR.. Brown-Sequard, to Philadelphia for
Col. j. w. Forney and other intimate per-
sonal friends. Those around his bedside
are Of the opinion that, at this time, Mr.
Sumner fully realized the dangerous char.
acter of his condition. Everything was done
by the physicians and those in attendance
to procure relief, but all to no purpose.
The frequent injection Of morphine
seemed to relieve, in some degree, the pain
while the administering of stimulants ar.
rested, for time, the failing strength. II
was now manifest to all that the death Of
the great Senator was only question o.
time. His secretary telcgraphod at once
to Mr.. Summers only surviving relative
Mrs. DR.. Hastings, his sister, of San Fran
cisco, informing her Of her brothers con
ditiou. The news Of Mr. Summers lines
spread rapidly through the city, and hun
dreds Of people, white and black, wende,
their way to his residence. The attend
ance Of the negroes and the interest anon
them was particularly noticeable. A ser
want was kept constantly busy at the doc
answering inquiries as to the Senator's cor
dition. Members of Congress and Nj
Summers particular friends were admitte
within the house, but it would have bee
impossible as well as impoitic to admit a
who called.
Soon Mr.. Sumner grew worse he becam
unconscious, and at times delirious. o.
casionally, however, he would recognil
those around him. Among those almo
constantly in attendance in the Senator
bed chamber were Senator Schurz, JUDI
Il. lockwood Hoar, Mr.. Pierce and NJ
Hooper.
To those around him he frequently e.
pressed regrets about the unfinished cond
ton of his works. He said 81 shou
not regret this if my book was finished
abiding to his speeches and writings, nc
in course Of publication. He was awa
in the habit of calling this his Book
This appeared to be constantly on his min,
and, when suffering intense agony and 70
ing about in the bed, he would exclail
My book, my book" in tone Of utt
hopelessness. AT one time he said, al
this was the last allusion he made to Il
subject, :" My book will not be finished, b
the great account is closed" 1t is Il
opinion OF his secretary that his allusion
the great account meant his account wi
American slavery and the conflict enge
dered. When Judge Iioar entered I
Senator's room at ten o'clock, Wednesd
morning, he Immediately recognized hil
Mr.. Johnson had lifted him up, and h,
his arm under him. He said, +" Don't
the bill be lost" to which Mr.. johnson 7
piled, " Certainly not Senator" Mr.. Sur
ner answered, You mistake, mean Il
civil rights BILL" and then turning to Jud
Hoar, who was holding his hand, he sal
Judge, the civil rights bill; don't let
be lost"
Towards the close Of the eventful seer
Judge Hoar came into the room, when Il
Senator again called attention to the bi
whereupon Judge Hoar promised him tn
II should not be lost, at the same time XII.
ing the Senator's hand. About ten minut
before his death, he called Judge Hoar Al
said
"Tell Emerson | love and revere him. ~
The Judge answered, 81 will tell Eme