The New York herald., 1875-11-30
CHARLES O'CONoR.
THE GREAT LAWYER DYING-HIs FATAL NAL
ADY-No HOPE or his RECOVERY.

this city but throughout the whole country, well
inc public generally, VIII be PANIED to learn that
Charies oconor tho eminent lawyer lies at the point
o. aeaih IN his house at Fort Washington At a
suital'on OF his physicians after viewing
ms case, y has been concluded that he cannot
survive the illness that has seized upon him
They have so informed him and he awaits
with ealmness and fortude his approaching dissolu-
uon. The last solemn sacrament OF the Roman
Catholic Church. which fold lie was horn hos been
administered TO him by Cardinal McCloskcy. ana all
becoming preparations have been made for a fatal ter
mnaton of the malady that prosratcs the great urs
He, who figured 50 prominently before earthly tr
bunals is ready to appear before the Great Judge of all
TRIAL WELL
His mind Is st uncouded; when he speaks which
Is seldom, he dozes most OF the time his voice is
clear and his eyes whose brightness was so striking
have not altogether lost their lustre yet though in all
human probability but few hours of earthly existence
remain to him His sister, Mrs Christian sloan her
husband and Mr.. Ernest McCracken, his stepson are
with him, and, together with the domesties OF his
household minister to his wants His illness is at.
tended with little pain, and he fingers toward
the end silently and without complaint The exact
ture Of his disease Mr. Sloan says has rot been clearly
defined. The stomach, however has been the seat Of
all his trouble, and for several days IL has rejected all
sorts OF nourshment however delicate its character
For some months past Mr. O'Conor has not enjoyed
good health Indeed said BY friends that he
never completely recovered from the attack Of small
pox which he caught IN PARIS some iow years ago, on
his return from Rome, and which left its marks
upon his features Previous to that attack he was lohd
OF pedestrian exercise, and quite constantly IN the
habit of walking from his house ut Fort Washington.
where Tor thirty 1--WE years lie has resided, 10 his
oiice IN Wall street HIS studlous habits have made
him
SOMEWHAT DYsPErrIc FOR MANY YEARS
This condition was not improved BY notion which
he entertained concerning the practice OF his pro-
fession. When engaged IN any important case he
thought iood an interruption, and frequently made
long fasts which, II Is now said, contributed bring
about the trouble AT present pronounced fatal
The recent condition OF his stomsch believed to
be parayzed has been Of intense irritation but he
had had intervals OF One Of these Welcome
tervals came to him last Wednesday Then he deter
mined to 20 out Tor drive the Kingsbridge road
intending TO return over Macomb's Dam lrldge At
the bridge repairs were in progress which prevented
the passage OF his carriage, and he obliged, in
sequence, 10 remain out longer than at hrs in
tended By some II Is thought that this prolonged ex
posure may have precipitaed his Illness. Al all
ne has oeen growing worse since then He has been ON
his back since Thursday, on which day
CARDINAL N'CLosKEY
The Cardinal also with him on Friday and ad.
minstered the last rites OF the Church before taking
his departure. For weeks Mr.. o'Conor has scarcely
taken enough nourshment 10 sustain lite and Tor three
days and a half PRIOR 10 sunday night nothing but
water passed his lips His stomach during the greater
part his Illness has either steadily rejected food or
when taken, has not digested it, This want nourish-
ment has, OF course tended greatly to weaken his
notably strong constitution and this accounts Tor his
tendency TO continual urowsiness.
On Sunday night, however, by his own request, some
toast was procured ana after eating little, he con-
trved to retain IL in has stomach As result he
a little easier yesterday morning About one O'Clock
yesterday he swallowed another morse and continued
IN his somewhat relieved condition up the DR..
keyes his regular visiting physician called Then the
doctor would say nothing more encouraging than that
the patient was little easier When his case became
apparently critical some days ago, ii deemed advis
able TO have consultation. Drs CLARKE Van Buren, and
Keyes, in view OF the circumstances then known TO
thcm pronounced his maady incurab He was told he
could not survive the attack he suffering from and
he At once made az his mind that ms Tune had come
IL will be remembered that at the time OF William B.
Astors death Mr.. O'Conor's first mentioned
OF the paibearcrs, so little then known Of
his critical condition, even by his friends Suhse-
qucnty IL asccrancd that he too feeble to at
tend the funeral and another gentleman named
act as pallbcarer in his stead But then bravey
was he battling with his physical intrmy, that he Is
said To have al first accepted the invitation TO act
palbearer and intended be present the funeral of
his old friend. HI grew very rapidly, however,
and rumors OF his death have been in circulation at
different times since Saturday. The sad topic Of his
approaching dissolution Is the subject of general
regret everywhere throughout the city, but
more particularly among his immediate acquaint-
and in the neighborhood of his home on
the Hudson Those familiar with his tall, upright
figure and piercing eye reluctant TO associate the
idea OF death with one who until the last few days,
was so erect of form and whose whole exterior be-
tokcncd so much vigor ana strength. II was known
that
HE cAaE or 4 LONG. LIVED FAMILY,
and his abstemious habits, IL thought would pro-
long instead OF shorten his own life. He too
abstcmous. HIS many acts OF charity unostenta-
contact with him, recalled with sad satisfaction by
those who speak OF his qualities but these recoectons
onlyadd to the sorrow attending his demise. He was
sull
IN THE POSSESSION MS GREAT INTELLECT
He sill had large wealth. and II II felt that his removal
at such time IS an enhancem ut OF tile loss sustained
in his death. There Is now standing near his house
little Catholic church lSt Ezlbcth's), TO which he
gave donation OF $4,000 To the Paulis Fathers he
also made splendid donation time ago. The
agents OF charitable institutions who called him.
port saws never went empty. handed away from hs
anil htg nI irn WHllu @uf thnf
call So strictly has he devoted himself to the arduous
intellectual labors of his profession that really very
little care has been bestowed upon the grounds
rounding his place. Much has been left undone that
would gtcaty improve his home. HIS ncghbors
say that he passed 10 and fro IN reserved way,
scarcely looking one side or the other and more Ike
stranger, stopping there Tor brief soourn, than the
owner OF the splendid property which he IS so soon to
leave forever When the reporter called, about six
O'Clock last evening, the patient was lingering in the
manner before described. Ii could not be SAID that he
was better he IL thought; lac was
merely easier; bur then IL supposed that there
any likelihood Of his dying during the night
However, that was an event In his case TO be looked
/ tor any moment
Mr oConor during The more severe stages Of his III.
has seen hut very few visitors although the do
SIRE to see him was very general among those who
| knew OF the danger threatening hm. MIR. james H.
Carter who has been assoc .aed with him n tie Jumcl
j case and other great SUITS, called on Thursday Al
through the day yesterday tcegrams OF Inquiry were
ed from anxious friends and messengers called
the house 10 ascertain his condition, and universal
expressed when II was announced in answer to
each Inquiry that his case was hopeless The number
inquiries increased by the circulation oi rumors
OF his death and the publication OF il ia BrooNy yn
paper Prayers were offered IN many Of the Roman
Catholic churches on sunday for Mr.. O'Conors speedy
recovery or happy death
WILLIAM NJ. EyARTS.
reporter Of the HERALD called on Mr.. Evarts yes
tcrday afternoon when the rumor Of Mr. O'ConUrs
death current and believed To hc accurate. Mr.
Evarts who had just returned TO the city. was deeply
moved when he heard Of tho great lawyers deccasc,
and could hardly say anything for few moments.
Speaking, when lac had recovered his. equa-
nmity, he 'I would willingly say all
that might be said Of Mr. O'ConOr 10 you sir;
but fcc that | must not because my views and
estimate of Charles OConor must be made before the
Bar Association Therefore, you Will readily that
II would he highly improper Tor me to put into print
any statement that must be repeated before usso
clation. The effect OF the announcement OF Charles
O'Conor's death on Mr.. Evarts marked aud singu
tar because, though the sud anticipated by
him. 1t showed how the feeling OF respect
entertained for him by hs associates
Mr.. o'CoNoR's CONDITION.
Mr. OCOnOr took some toast and light rcfreshmcnt
at seven O'Clock last evening and seemed stronger and
feeling somewhat comfortable. No doctors renamed