The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-11-25
Death aof vics President Wilson.


painful intelligence throughout the county
that Hon. Henry Wilson, Vice President OF
the United States, was dead. Coming so soon
after the announcenlnnt chat he was sTadu-
ally and surely recovering from his recent pros
tratiou, it was received with great surprise, and
wss the occasionsof the expression OF sorrow
rarely following the death Of even the great
men OF the nation. -
Mr.. Wilson had deep hold upon the hearts
Of his countrymen. His birth, his struggles
with adverse fortune, his trismphs and brilliant
career. distinguished Jas it was by an unset
fish devotion to. the cause of mans freedom,
and the elevation of the moral and intellectual
standard of the masses, commended him to
the affection and admiration of his country
men.s sThe universal respect paid to his meIa-
DRY, the evidences that were spontaneously
given of the high regard in which lie was held
by the popular mind and heart, attested the
appreciation which attended his eminent SER
vices and the homage paid the purity of his
motives, and the philanthropic and christian
principles that controlled his life.
He died in the Vice Presidents room of the
Senate Chamber, at the Capitol, at o'clock
on the morning of the 22d, very suddenly. At
midnight, previous to his death, he awoke, got
out of bed, and walked about the room. Be-
fore going to bed again, he went to a little
cabinet drawer and took Lherefrom a collection
! of religious hymns and songs and read several
verses. He then returned them, and looked
IF vyif
turned these and then retired. At 3 A. NJ. he
again awokc, and complained OF Il pain in his
stomach. A watchman present rubbed him
fbriskly awhile and lie went to sleep again, af-
ter stating that he felt much relieved. About
A. M. he again awoke, and said he felt much
better than at any time since he was last at
tackled. He spoke Of how kind his friends
had been to him here since he had been i'll, and
then took little bitter water. Soon after
this he lay down, and in two or three minutes
his attendant noticed that he was breathing
very heavily, and before ything could be
done to relieve him, the Vice President was
no more. At 80 A. M. the doctors assem-
bled in the Vice Presidents room to make the
post-mortem examination. The head was first
opened and the brain removed. At its base
there were unmistakable signs of inflammation,
and other parts of the brain were diseased.
The body was next opened, and the heart, kid
neys and liver appeared to be in fair condi-
ton. The kidneys weighed Fights ounces each.
! The bowels generally were in good condition
The spinal column was then exposed and ex-
amined; but, on a casual examination, moth
ing unusual appeared.
The following order, announcing the death
of Vice President Wilson, was Issued by the
President Monday evening:
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, No
vember p. 1S75.-It is with profound sorrow
4 that the President has to announce to the peo-
pie of the Unitet. States the death of the Vice
President, Henry Wilson, who died in the cap
itol of the nation this morning.
The eminent station of the deceased, his high
character. his long career in Che service of his
State, and of the Union, his devotion to the
cause of freedom, and the ability which he
brought to tine discharge of every duty, stand
conspicuous and are indelbly impressed on the
hearts and affections of the American people.
In testimony of respect for this distinguished
citizen and faithful public servant, the various
departments of the Government wild be closed
ON the day of the funeral, and the Executive
Mansion, and all the executive departments
in Washington will be drapcd with badges Of
mourning for thirty days. The Secretaries OF
War and of the Navy will issue orders that APP
proprate military and naval lionors be rem
dered to the memory of one whose virtues
. ard services will long be born in recollection
by grateful nation.
By the President, IT,. S. GRANT.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
Mr.. Wilson rested toerably we'll during Sun
day night. About midnight he got up and
walked around the room. Then going to his
table took up a little book of poems, entitled
1.-The Changed Cross, - with the motto, mot
as will, but as Thou wilt and read three
verses from it, one OF which is as follows:
"Hep us. Lord with patient love to bear
Each others faults, to suffer with true meekness;
Help US each other'sjoys and grefs to share,
But let US turn to Thee alone in weakness"
Other verses had been marked in the book
among them the following:
"What if poor sinners count thy grief
| The sign ofan unehastened will, .-'
He who can give thy soul relief
| Knows that thou art submissive STILL"
This volume belonged to his wife, and con-
tanned a photograph Of her and their son. both
deceased. He treasured it beyond value, and
always made it his companion, from which he
seemed to derive much comfort.
Vice President Henry w. Wilson was one Of
those examples OF men who have won prom
inent place in the politics of the country with
out any advantages of birth or culture in early
life. He was born at Pennington, N. H.. on
the 18th day OF February, 1912. His parent
age was of the humblest, for he was barely ten
years of age when he was apprenticed to a
farmer in the vicinity for eleven years. His
master was a kind and generous man, who sent
the young Woodworking boy to school in the
intervals OF agricultural labor, and here he
soon developed a great taste for reading. He
hungered after knowledge, and his evident
desire to learn induced a lawyer of Farming
ton to offer him the free use of his library,
which was fortunately very extensive one.
Here the statesman in embryo reveled, and, in
after life, he has declared to friends that he
believes he read during those eleven years
i hundred volumes year. When he became
twenty-one he had exhausted the library. His
in1entures were now completed. and, if he
! had chosen to become a farmer, opportunities
of adval. cement were not wanting, for every
body liked .he shy, awkward youth, with his
broad, high forehead. his honest eyes and his
immense but some what desultory stores OF in
formation. But he h;.11 resolved upon quitting
Pennington and seeing tt. 2 world.
Putting his few clothes an his books, bis
only treasures, into a bunei1r,, he sltsng it
across his shoulder and walked s-.aily OFT to
Natlck, in Massachusetts, where he hire nm.
self to shoemaker, with the resolution OF
working at this trade until he had accumulated.
a fund sufficient to maintain him in some good
academy. 1t took two years to do this, when
he returned to New Hampshire and studied