Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-19
Senator Summers Last Hours.
western Associated Press Dispatch


w ASHINUIONs DldICu II.
Senator Sumner passed quiet night
under the simultaneous injection Of
morphine. This morning at nine O'Clock
he was sleeping under the effects Of it,
without material change. Surgeon Gen.
Barnes and Drs. Johnson and Lincoln
were at that hour in consultation at the
residence of the Senator.
Yesterday, in the Senate, he had slight
attack affecting the nerves Of his heart,
but when he returned home he was suf-
ficiently well to entertain two friends at
dinner, at the close Of which he made an
allusiOn to the condition of his heart, and
between nine and ten O'Clock he was
taken so sick as to require the attend
ance Of physician, and an hour or more
thereafter he had a second attack of his
old disease, angina E8ctOrGS. Several of
his nearest personal friends were sent
for and remained with him during the
night.
Senator Schurz, on leaving Mr.. Sum-
ner's room, at half-past twelve o'clock to-
day, took Mr.. Sumner by the hand and
asked: do you know me?" Mr.. Sum-
ner replied, Yes, but cannot see you"
Once Senator Sumner fell into an easy
slumber, which encouraged some of his
friends to believe that he was somewhat
better, but a consultation of his physi-
clans, held about that hour, did not estab-
lish any reason for such impressions.
At two O'Clock this afternoon Mr. Sum
ner was still sleeping, though at intervals
he would awake, at which times he was
in great pam. He was perfectly conscious
when awake, and knew all his friends,
occasionally rallying to the effort of say
ing few words to them. At 2 As o'clock
this afternoon he passed away-calmly
and without a struggle.
During the last two hours of Senator
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 administered to him this
morning. His sufferings toward the last
seemed to be intense, and he several times
exclaimed: 81 want quiet; | am tired"
He recognized friends who came into the
room. One of the last to whom he spoke
was eX-AttoTney-Gen. HOar, of Massachu-
sets, to whom he said: "Take care OF
my Civil Rights bill"
Around the bed at the time of death
were ex-Attorney-Gen. Hoar, DR.. W. P.
johnson, of this city; Maj. Perley Poore,
George T. Downing and James Worme-
ley. Other friends who had been with the
dying Senator throughout the day had left
just previous, not anticipating that death
would be so soon.
Senator Schurz and the Hon. Montgom-
cry 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 telegraphed Immediately after his
death.
During the day the house was visited
by a great number of the members Of
both houses of Congress, other prominent
citizens, and hundreds of cOlored people,
prominent among whom was Fred.
Douglass.
The sidewalk in front of Senator Sum-
ner's residence was filed with anxious
and saddened friends at the time of his
death, and when the sorrOwful announce
ment was made the grief Of many, es-
pecially of the colored people, found vent
in heartfelt EXPLANATIONS OF grief and
weeping.
Senator Summers age at the time of his
dCothI was S1AGl-GIlTce years, Two LuOutHo
and five days. Senator Sumner has been
sollcltous for his health for several days
past the earnest part he has taken in
questions before the Senate having given
MN reason to pay especial regard to it,
ana 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 100 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 Mr.. Sargent,
VINO, ike himself, had taken prominent
part IN opposition to the Centennial bill,
whether he had received any anonymous
insulting letters on the subject, adding
that he lSumner) had received a number
OF such letters, and packages of more
offensive character, both through the mails
and by express. He seemed considerably
annoyed by these insults, and Mr.. Sargent,
therefore, turned the conversation to the
resolution OF the Massachusetts, Legisla-
ture resembling its censure of Mr.
Sumner, and he expressed himself greatly
pleased with this action. An hour or
more atterward Mr.. Summer called Sen
| ator Ferry Comm aside to a seat on
sofa IN the Senate chamber, and talked
with him, as he had frequently done be-
| fore, IN regard to their respective states
OF Ill health, both resulting from affec-
| tiOns of the SninsJ cord He told Mr.