Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-29
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
A Graphic Narrative OF the Poets
Last Hours-1hrtItfnx Story OF the
Attending Ply stefan.

| ifslotht Fnyslclan OF the W washington Uni
versity hospital, in Baltimore. now the Pro-
! testant Episcopal church home and infirma-
ry, has written what he designates Official
/ Memoranda Of the Death of Edgar A. Poe -
who died while In his charge at that institu-
Ton, on the 9Th Of October, 1919 twenty-siN
! years ago. DIR. Moran l. AZ present resilient
! OF r aiTfaX county, Va. The official memo
| randa' is prefaoed by some account 81 the
monument lately erect Ell TO the poets memo
! ~ over his grave in Westminster church
| yard. in Baltimore, and then goes on 20 give
a record OF the fourteen closing hours ofP ie's
Trajectory statement.
Or MOTan's official" record is interesting
but II ignores wholly the long believed story
that Poe was TO some extent the victim OF
political partiSans, who had 'coopet" him
piled him with liquor, and voted him while
drugged number of times during pending
election. IL seems that he was on his way
/ from Norfolk To Philadelphia to marry "I e
4 noTe,h his intended second wife, when, as is
supposed he sUccumbed TO an overdose OF
! opium, which he had ken 10 allay the eX-
/ clfemenl of his very sensitive nervous sys-
! TEN. Some days ago, when DIR. Moran was
{ in Baltimore in regard TO this publication. IL
was understood from him then that there
! was mo truth in this election story" There
/ Is such evidence corroborative OF its truth
I IN Baltimore, however, that many will still
entertain doubts on that point The record
! OF the Closing hours of the poet, as given by
follows:
| OFFICIAL MEMORANDA OF THE DEATH OF
FDGAR A. POE, BY j. J. MORAN. Nd.
Edgar A. Poe was brought in hack 10 the
Washington University Hospital. situated
on Broadway, north of Baltimore street Bal
tlmore city, on the tn of October, 1919. He
bad teen found lying upon a bench in front
OF large mercantile house on Light street
wharf. lie was in a stupor, whether from
liquor or opium was not at first known A
gentleman passing along the Pavement mo-
tced several persons collected about the spot
aid looking in through the crowd was sud
denly impressed with the face, and on close
inspection recognized the poet. He had been
there since early dawn.
A policeman sent for a hack and directed
the hackman 10 convey him to the above
named hospital. which was in my charge
teing the resident physician and living I'm
the dwelling attached thereto. 1t was about
Ten O'Clock In the forenoon when he entered
the house. He was Immediately placed in a
private room, carefully undressed and criti-
Sally examined. had not then any know
ledge of his previous condition or what were
his habits. There was no smell of liquor
upon his person or breath. There was no de-
iirium or tremor. His skin was palled, with
slight nausea at the stomach and a strong
disposition to sleep. His condition was more
of stupor. he was sponged with lukewarm
water, sinapisms applied TO the feet, thighs
and abdomen, and cold applied TO the head.
had the room darkened and he was other
wise made as comfortable as he could have
heen In his own room at home. i placed an
experienced nurse at the threshold of his
roc m door, with orders TO watch him closely
ard prevent the slightest noise from with
out, and give me notice of any sign of wake
fulness or consciousness. In half an hour
after left him he threw the cover from his
breast, opened bis eyes and said: Where
am -"
The nurse gave me the signal and was
Immediately at his bedside. j drew q chair
close 10 his bed, took his hand ia my own,
and with The other smoothed his forehead
pushing back the dark raven curls that COW
cred IL, and asked him how ne felt.
He said, Miserable"
DO you suffer any paine
..uo ,n., S,,l go.- m , .,,o
Yes"
Are you thirsty
Does your bead suner-have you pain
theIe?" putting my hand on his head.
docs it feel heavy or dull?"
Heavy; mind cloudy" he said.
How long have you been SICK"
Where have you been stopping"
In a hotel on Pratt street, opposite the
GeEot?r'
'Have You trunk or a valise or anything
there which you would like to have with
Yes, trunk with my papers and manu-
scripts"
''lf you order il l will send for it,
He thanked me and said, "Do so at once"
remarking, lyon are very klnd-where am
i, DOcfor?'
You are in the care of your friends" 10
which he replied, my best friend would he
the man who would blow my brains out
with a pistol"
TRY and be quiet. Mr. Poe; we will do all
we can TO make you comfortable and relieve
your distress"
''Oh, wretch that ! am. Sir, when / be-
hold my degradation and ruin, what 1 have
suffered and lost, and the sorrow and misery
L have brought upon others, / feel that /
could sink through this bed into the lower
most abyss below, fOrsaken by God and man,
an outcast from society. Oh, God, the terri
the deathless splrit"
"Mr. Poe, do try and compose yourself, and
take this draught; it will SC othe and revive
you"
He reached ont his hand 10 take the glass.
the nurse raising his head, while / admins
tered the cordial. He drank il and was laid
down, closing his eyes as though going TO
sleep.
This draught caused him 10 sleep about an
hour, when he again opened his eyes.
j said 10 him, both TO be OF service and To
ascertain whether he would be Inclined
to take liquor, for with Incorporate subjects
who have delirium tremens little OF the
hair OF the dog that bites them often pro-
duces cure "Will you take little toddy?"
He opened wide his large eyes and fixed
them so steadily upon me. and with such an
guish in them that looked from him 10 the
wall beyond the bed. He said: "Sir. if it's
potency would transport me to the Elysian
bowers Of The undiscovered spirit world I
Would not taste il would not taste it, OF
its b, rIoTs who can tell"
al mus, administer an opiate 10 give you
sleep and rest"
Then he rejoined: Twin devil aud spectre
oA anu uOOiucu Oh
perdition!'
Mr.. Poe, il is very necessary that You
should be quiet and free from excitement;
you are in a critical condition, and excite
ment will hasten your DEATH"
doctor, i am i'll. Is there no hope"
1.-The chances are against you"
"How long oh, how long, before see my
dear Virginia? Ny dear Lenore, would
like 10 see my love, my dear love-"
IL will send for any one you wish TO see"
l knew nothing Of his family, and asked:
a
mo, my wife is deal, my dear Virginia:
my mOther-in-law lives. Oh, how my heart
bleeds for her. Deaths dark angel has done
his work. i am so rudely dashed upon the
storm without compass or helm. Language
cannot tell the gushing wave that sWelis
sways and sweeps, tempest-like, over me,
signaling the 'larum OF death. Doctor write
TO my mother, Maria GLENN. Tell her her
Eddie Is here. No, too late! too late! must
lift the pail and open to you the secret that
sears the heart, and, dagger-like, pierces the
soul. / was To have been married IN ten
days" Here he stopped TO Weep.)
"Shall send for the lady?" asked, sup
posing she lived In the city.
'.Too late. too later rl
I said, "Oh no; will send my carriage
Immediately"
mo writo uyito In hofh Inform, them NJ