Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-12
SENATOR SUMNER DEAD.
His Last Day in the Senate.
Washington, D. c. II.

AT cieVen CLOCK To-Day, MT. sumner was
reported by his physicians and friends to be
very low. Hardly any pulse was felt at the
wrist. The gravest fears are felt for his re-
covery.
At one o'clock Senator Sumner fell into an
easy slumber, which encouraged some of his
friends to believe that he was somewhat easier
but consultation of his physicians held about
that hour did not establish any reason for
SUCH impressions. DR.. Brown Sequard has
been telegraphed for, and is nov o. his ~qv
to Washington. There was nu,nber vi .n>.n-
bers of Congress and other friends in Mr..
Summers room, among them was Senator
Schurx, who, on leaving the room at II 80
o'clock, took Mr.. Summers hand and asked,
"Do you know mes" Mr.. Sumner replied,
eyes, but caenot see you.
SUMNER IN THE SENATE, TUESDAY.
Senatar Sumner, about two o'clock yester-
day Z. NJ, moved from his seat in the Senate
Chamber to one beside Senator Sargent and
inquired of Sargent, who, like himself, had
taken prominent part in the opposition to
the Centennial bill whether he had received
any anonymous insulting letter on the SUBJECT,
adding that he (Sumner) had received num-
Der Of such letters and packages of a most Of
fensive character both through the mail and
by express.
He seemed considerably annoyed by these
insults, and Mr.. Sargent therefore turned the
conversation to the resolution Of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature resembling its Ger Ire of
Mr.. Sumner, and he expressed himself great
ly pleased with this action.
An hour or more after, Mr.. Sumner called
Senator Ferry of Connecticut. aside to a seat
on a sofa, and talked with him, as he had fire.
quently done, in regard to their respective
states of health, both resulting from atfecta-
tons of the spinal cord.
He told MIR. Ferry he had suffered so much
from his heart the night previous, that he had
sent for his physician to obtain some relief by
an injection of morphine under the skin. He
asked Mr. Ferry's opinion of such hyperder-
mic injestions and from time to time COM
planned Of a sense Of pain while they were
talking.
Finally, little before 4 clock, Mr.. Sum-
ner took his hat and overcoat and went home;
his last words in the Senate Chamber having
been uttered in this conversation with Mr..
Ferry.
The apparent vigor manifested by Mr..
Sumner in his speeches on the centennial bill
excited considerable surprise in view of his
long continued fesbeness of health last year,
and many of his friends expressed apprehen-
sions that he was OVERRIDING his strength in
these efforts.
1t is regarded as a remarkable and fortu-
nate coincidence that the resolution of the
Massachusetts legislature resembling its vote
of censure upon Mr.. Sumner, should have
been presented and read in the Senate before
he LETT it on the last day of his presence in
the chamber as member of that body.
AS the information of Mr.. Summers death
was received at the Capitol, there was wide
spread feeling, feeling of silence as well as
orally expressed regret and sorrow.
Mr.. SUMMERS LAST Hours.
App. NJ, Senator Sumner was sleeping,
though at intervals he would awaken, at which
times he was in great pain. He is perfectly
friends, occasionally rallying to the effort of
saying few words to them.
The intelligence passed from man to man
with low utterance. The contradiction of the
report that Sumner;w was dead gained but little
if any belief from the,numerous kilograms re-
ceived that he was in dying condition.
As soon as representative Dawes and other
members at the Massachusetts, delegation
heard of the critical condition Of the Senator,
they Immediately repaired to his residence.
Hundred of persons are calling there to in
quire into his condition, and the entire COM
munity is deeply affected by his rapidly ap-
preaching end.
Later.
DEATH OF THE GREAT STATESMAN.
Washington, 3 10 p. NJ.
Senator Sumner died little before three
o'clock. He passed away calmly and without
a struggle.
During the last two hours of Mr.. Summers
illness, his intellect seemed to be much clear
er and he was perfectly conscious to the last;
hai nt
his recovery from the effects of mophine
which had been freely administered to him
this morning to relieve him from the intense
pain which he suffered.
His suffering towards the last seemed to be
intense, and several times exclaimed, Il want
quiet, am tired" He recognized friends
who came into the room, and one of the last
to whom he spoke, was Ex-Attorney General
Hoar of Massachusetts, to whom he said,
Take care of my civil rights bill.
About quarter before o'clock he was
attacked by slight spasm, in which he died.
Around the bed at the time of his death,
were Ex-Attorney General Hoar, DIR. w. +.
johnson of this city, Major Ben rerey Poor,
George T. Downing and James Wormly.
Other friends who had been with the dying
Senator throughout the day had left just prev.
ious, not anticipating that death would be so
N.
senator Schurtz and Hon. Montgomery
Blair entered the room just as he breathed
his last, but Mr.. Sumner was then too near
dissolution to recognize them.
The only relative that Senator Sumner has
is sister, the wife of physician in San
Francisco, and to her the sad news was tele-
graphed Immediately after his death.
During the day the house has been visited
by great number of members of both houses
Of Congress and other prominent citizens, in
GLIDING hundreds Of colored people; promi-
nent among whom were Fred Douglass and
the colored members of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes.
The sidewalk in front of Mr.. Summers res
idence was filled with anxious and saddened
friends.
AT the time of his death and when the sor-
rowtul announcement was made, the grief of
many, especially the colored people, found
vent in heartfelt EXPLANATIONS of grief and
weeping.
The Sergeant at Arms, French Of the SEN
ate, was sent for immediately, and that official
in connection with committee, will have
charge of the funeral arrangements, though
of course no time has yet been fixed therefor.
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