River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-08
GERRIT SMITH.
tFrom the N. Y. Herald, Dec. 90

wife had been there oil and on for the
past two months. Being in a delicate
state of health she was DESTROYS Of re-
naming as near the physicians under
whose care she had placed herself as
possible, and she made General Coch-
rane's house her home. MIR. Smith,
hearing very good accounts Of Mrs.
Smiths health, desired to pass Christ.
mas and the holidays with her aud the
other members Of the family. For that
purpose he came to the city from Pc
terboro on Thursday evening last and
spent the time, up to the moment he
was attacked, within the family circle.
lie was in his usual excellent spirits on
Christmas Day and seemed to take
almost new interest in the
SOCIETY or HIS FRIENDS.
! At four o'clock in the afternoon the en-
tire family sat down to dinner, and
when the cloth was removed they con.
tinued around the table recalling and
discussing pleasant memories of ami
versaries Of the days long rolled up in
the past. Mr.. Smith retired early to
bed, after making arrangements with
Gen. Cochroue for several visits TO old
friends during the following day. One
Of these was to be to Thurlow Weed,
who is about the same age as Mr..
Smith, and another was to Mr.. Charles
! O'Connor. When he reached his room,
Mr.. Smith retired at once and slept
scundly until shortly after six O'Clock
Oh Saturday morning. Mr.. Smith rose
at half'past six o'clock. Previous to
that fire had been lighted in the
room, ana it was burning brightly
when he got out of bed. Mrs. Smith
was awake, but continued lying in bed,
and they chatted pleasantly for nearly
an hour. During that time MIR. Smith
shaved at the glass in the dressing bu.
reau and partially dressed himself. lie
had pulled a chair
BEFORE THE FIRB,
and appeared to be in the act Of draw.
ing on his undergarments, when Mrs.
Smith noticed that his hands were work
ing without producing any effect. Fear.
ing some momentary distress had come
upon him, she quickly left her bed and
went to his assistance. lie complained
to her Of being very weak. ana with
her help returned to his bed. From
that moment he never spoke or appear.
ed TO return to consciousness.
Mrs. Smith called for assistance as
soon as she had placed her husband in
the bed, and several members Of the
family went promptly TO answer her
summons. General Cochrane had gone
oCt a short time before. lie was en-.
gagged to visit Mr.. Charles 0'Conor
with Mr.. Smith soon after breakfast,
and he went to order carriage to con.
vey them to Nr. 0'Conor's house.
When he went back to the house he
found Mr.. Smith in the comatose con-
dItlon from which he never woke to the
moment of his death. The attack
struck him at about half past seven
o'clock. DR.. Bayard, Of No. West
/ Fortieth street, the family physician,
was at once sent for, and within an
/ hour he was at tho house. Dr.. Bayard
/ found his patient as Mrs. Smith had
settled him and his entire right side
/ paralyzcd. Il was apparent, in his
1 opinion, that there had been an etfusion
on the right lobe Of the brain, the con-
slant pressure upon which produced the
paralysis in that side 0: thu body. All
that could possibly be done for the in.
valid was done by his friends, but
lie NEVER RALLIED.
lie was almost precisely in the same
condition until within about an hour
before he died, when he showed symp-
toms Of sinking, and at twenty minutes
/ past one o'clock yesterday afternoon he
passed away.
There were present at the moment of
dissolution, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Miller,
Mr.. Smiths daughter; Mrs. Ellen
Walters, his niece Mrs. Kemeys, an.
other niece F; General Cochrane, his
nephew, and j. w. Cochrane, the Gen.
erals brother. Owing to the precari-
GUS state of Mrs. Smiths health Gem
eral Cochrane used all his sndeavors to
keep the knowledge of Mr.. Smiths
illness strictly within the family circle
lie was successful in doing this up to
Sunday night when the hopelessness of
Mr.. Smith S recovery becoming cstab-
lished it was resolved to avoid any
/ further concealment. All the
immediate friends Of the
family at present in town called
at General Cochrane's residence during
the afternoon, when the news Of Mr..
/ Smiths death was announced. Those
who we're not able TO be there in person
/ telegraphcd their coincidence TO the
widow, and General Coehrane was en-.
gagged up to a late hour last night re.
ceiving those messages. Mrs. Smith
was a. first, as will naturally be sup
/ posed, very much shocked az the sudden
striking down of her husband, but she
had grown much calner last oyeping.
The bed in which Mr.. Smith died was
removed by the undertakers. In its
stead the remains, placed in an icebox
on trestles, filled up the space yestcr.
day. A white winding sheet hid the
entire box, leaving but the face visible.
The countenance was very white and
transparent, unmarried by
A MARK OR STAIN
Of the fierce blow that struck the
strong man down. Nothing could be
more calm or peaceful than the rest
the dead appeared 70 be taking, the
closed eyes and smiling mouth giving
an idea more of reposing life than i'm.
4 Ia III, a