Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-19
BRECKENRIDGE.
Last Hours of the Great Ken
tuckians
Proposed Demonstrations Of Pop
uIar SOrrOW-The Funer-
al To-Day.

this evening. About O'CLOCK JnlS aileL-
noon a change in his condition took place,
and he sank rapidly until his death. lie
retained consciousness up to the supreme
moment, but his power Of speech was lost
about a half hour before his death. Every
one was elated during the day with the re-
port that he was much better, and the blow
falls with more crushing power by reason
Of that fact. The entire city mourns, IN
common with the whole South, the death
of the greatest Of her sons.
Gen. Breckenridge died calmly as babe
sinking to rest on it's mothers knee. Ihere
was no struggle, no pain, but gently the
grand spirit passed away forever from our
sight. The grandeur Of his great NE was
only equalled by the majesty with which
he moved so calmly but so surely down 70
the banks Of the dark river which he
crossed this sad afternoon. He never for
got for a moment that he was a soldier, and
brayelv IS he rode down to battle, he never
| faced death so cody on the dread past as
he hasllaid patiently and unmurmuringly
| in the quiet Of his chamber and met it so
| recently. He knew that it came on apace.
| He knew that for him there were but
| few DAYS remaining, and yet he never
| blanched. He never forgot that he was
| Breckenridge and a soldier, and that
| prlncely spirit which made him the OBJ
| served Of all men chung still closely 70 him
10 the awful presence Of death.
This morning DR.. Sayre took leave OF
| him, after having reOpened the wound
| made BY the surgeons few days since, and
| succeeded in removing through the Orilee
/ quite a quantity Of the same matter, the
| expectoratiOn of which had caused the
| General so much pain. The operation
| performed was that which is technically
| known 10 the profession as paracentesis OF
| the abdomen, the object Of which was to
| relieve the liver Of the presence Of tumOr
| supposed to have formed there. Last week
| DIS. Gross and Sayre attempted to perform
the operation, but without encouraging
| success, as Gen. Breckenridge sank visibly
under it, and they were obliged TO desist.
II was given out then that the supposed
tumOr really existed, but so deeply seated
that it could not be relieved. From the
faintness resulting from tbs fearful opera
ton sprang the report Of the Generals
death, which was made last week.
He rallied from the effects OF the opera
tioD. and some Of his more sanguine
friends. hoping against hope, felt that he
migbt possibly recover. To-day, so much
had he rallied, that the operation was re-
sumed, as stated, and an instrument known
as the canula was inserted, and quite
quantity Of fluid removed by its aid. The
sensation Of pain or fUllness in the abdO-
men grew less, and strength seemed to re-
turn 10 the patient. He easily turned him
self in his bed, sat up in it, and during
the forenoon drank Two glasses Of cream,
and seemed much revived, so much so in
fact as to deceive DR.. Sayre, who reported
his condition as being very favorable, and
il was rapidly circulated all over the city
that DR.. Sayre had said there were strong
hopes for his ultimate recovery. Every
one heard the glad news and hurried to
: tell his neighbOr, and a sensation OF
pleasure pervaded the city such as 1t has
not known for weeks. But it was a
false hope, as the sad sequel OF this
afternoon has shown, and only increased
the pOignancy OF that grief which
is now speaking so elOquently in the face
Of every one here. Among all classes the
rresj dead statesman was known and
loved, aud The sad news Of his death few
over the city in a few moments, only 70
carry a keen pang TO the heart Of every
2 hearer. The glad tidIngs of the morning
F had lily prepared the city for the dread
event Of the afternoon, and Lexington to-
night mOurus as Il has not since the Gay
when that other statesman OF Kentucky
the great SAGE Of Ashiand-Went out from
among them forever. Men have hurried
through the streets, speaking in hushed
! accents the dread words which told OF the
fearful loss the whole State has experienced
in his death; and one could tell by gazing
into their faces, even though no word was
T sDoI,en. that some calamity had fallen upon
: this city.
/ When the moment Of death came to Gen.
Breckinridge, besides his wife, two dsugh-
, tiers and son, and other relatives, there were
1 none save DR.. and Mrs. Deshea. Col. VIM
C.. p. BIeckinbridge, who stood by as tbs
{ great spirit went out, says he died as he
l had lived-a brave, simple, quiet man
I No last words were spoken. He raised hi;
ewes TO the face Of each one in mute recOg
milton, gave a sign that they should stan'
aside that he might have air, gasped 70
breath and died.
OF his immediate family two son
were absent, Capt. Cabell Breckenridge, re
& siding near Pine Bluff, Ark, and Mr.. Owe
a Breckenridge, Of San Francisco, neither o
! whom could reach here III time for the fun
Il eral ceremonies, which occur on Wednes
n dav afternoon at O'Clock from the FITs
PRESBYTERIAN Church, DR.. Bartlett, pastor
In accordance with the wishes Of Gen
: Breckenridge, as expressed in his last vii
" the funeral will be a quiet, modest one
. with no attempt at display. IL is nc
Il known whether the Masonic order will o.
ID ficiate, as the family has yet had no nOtlt
cation Of a desire on their part to do so.
Gen. Breckenridge was one Of three {
the most exalted Masons in the Unite
States-Gen. Albert Pike and some Othe
- ,DN lrrn Z
me, holding equal rank. Should il be de
ne cided to bury him with the hOnOrs Of Oh
rs order, thousands of MasOns will dOubtle:
nd attend from all parts Of the country.
IN Gen. Breckenridge was fifty-fOur years {
a ace last January, and he retains in deaf
An the majestic appearance which Chsracte
IL lied him while living, showing OF cOur>
at | some Of the emaciating effects Of his Hines
be but not strongly the awful mark Of deatl
e. | Hundreds Of friends have crowded to u
door 10 offer a kindly word Of cOnsOlatiO
TO the so sadly beCeaved family, and
les / gaze upon the face Of the dead, the best b
IL loved Of all the sons Of Kentucky.
"a. HonOrs 20 the LRmented Dead.
nd To the Associated Press.
Tu LOUISVILLE, May 1S.-A large meetil
of citizens Of Louisville was held at 9
courthouse tonight, Gov. Leslie presi
ing, TO take action upon the death Of &c
John c. Breckinride. Another meeting
.rd arranged for the committees Of arrang
ew meuts and resolutions to report.
Mayor Jacob has issued his proclaim
re- ton asking that all business houses IN c
in city be closed and that the houses be sc
erallv dTaped in mourning from O'clO
Ire. until I tomorrow evening.
e. Gov. Leslie has also issued his proclaim
noe ton ordering that all the public offices
lay closed tomorrow and requesting that
State officers attend the funeral.
IAN Hundreds Of buildings in this city
OF draped in mourning, and many citizens "
60 to Lexington, including the city otieia
en- ! Gen. Brtckinridge's companions in an
re- prominent gentlemen in the various
fessions, etc, and various representatives
ed, the Masonic lodges.
ted
'NeI Outraged and Murdered by a Tran
~ PHeNIxvULE, Pa, May 1S.-An O