Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1875-11-20
POE's LAST HOURS.

POE'S LAST HOURS.
Dr. J. j. Moran, who was for seven
years resident physician of the Washing
ingtOn University hospital, in Broadway,
now the Protestant Episcopal church
home and infirmary, has written what he
designates ''official memoranda of the
death of Edgar A. Poe, who died while
in his charge at that institution, on the
7th of October, 1919, twenty-six years
ago. DIR. Moran is now 4 resident of
Fairfax county, Virginia. The ''Otficial
memoranda" Is prefaced by some account
of the monument lately erected to the
poets memory over his grave in West
minister churchyard, Baltimore, and then
goes on to give a record of the fourteen
closing hours of POe's life, and about
which there has been much contradicto-
Ty statement.
DR.. Moran's "official" record is inter
esting, but it ignores wholly the long
believed and well-attested evidence that
Poe was to some extent the victim OF pO-
liticaI partisans, who had "cOOped' him,
piled him with liquor and voted him
while drugged number of times during
a pending election. Some days ago, when
DR.. Moran was in Baltimore in regard to
this publication. it was understood from
him then that ''there was no truth in
this election stofy." 1t would be well if
there was no foundation for it; but there
is such evidence corrOborative Of its
truth in Baltimore that many will enter
taiu doubts still on that point. The rec
ord Of the closing hours of the poet, as
given by DR.. Moran, is as follows:
Edgar A. Poe was brought in hack to
the Washington University hospital, sit
uated on Broadway, north Of Baltimore
street, Baltimore city, on the 1th OF Oc-
tOber, 1919. He had been found lying
upon bench in front of large mercan-
tile house on Iight-street wharf. lie
was in stupOr, VIII ether from liquor or
opium was not at first known. A gem
tleman passing along the pavement no
ticed several collected about the spot, and
looking III through the crowd was sud
denly Impressed with the face, and on
close inspection recognized the poet. lie
had been there since early dawn. A po-
liceman sent for a hack and directed the
hackman to convey him TO the above
named hospital, which was in my charge,
being the resident physician and living
in the dwelling attached thereto. 1t was
about 10 O'Clock in the forenoon when he
entered the house. He was Immediately
placed in private room, carefully I'M
dressed and critically examined. l had
not then any knowledge OF his previous
condition or what was H. habits. There
]
breath. There was no delirum or tremOr.
His skin was paliid, with slight nausea at
the stomach and a strong disposition to
sleep. His condition was more of stu
pOr. He was Spunged with lukewarm
water, sinapisms applied to the feet,
thighs and abdomen, and cold applied to
his head. l had the room darkened, and
he was otherwise made as comfortable rs
he could have been in his own room at
home. placed an experienced nurse at
the threshold of his room door, with or
derS to watch him closely and prevent
the least noise from without, and give
ME notice of any sign of wakefuiness or
consciousness. In half an hour after |
left he threw the cover from his breast,
opened his eyes and said
"Where am -
The nurse gave me the signal and was
Immediately at his side / drew a chair
close TO the bed, took his hand in my
own, and with the other smOothed his
forehead, pushing back the dark raven
curis that covered it, and asked him how
he felt?
He said, Miserable"
do you suffer any pain -
.'Do you feel sick at the stomach:"
''Yes.'' -
"AIe you thirsty:"
NO"
Does your head suffer-have YOU anv
pain there:' putting my hand on his
head.
''Yes"
'Does it feel heavy or dull?''
Heavy: mind clOuded,' - he said.
'IIOw long have you been sick?'
Cant say"
"WheFe have You been Stopping?"
'In a hotel on Pratt street, opposite
the depot
Have you a trunk or a valiSe, or any
thing there which you would like 10 have
with yOu:"
eyes, trunk with my papers and man
uscriptS."
III YOU order it l will send for it,
He thanked me and said, DO so AT
once" remarking, You are very kind
where am /, dOctOr:'
''NOU are in the care of your friends -
10 which lie replied. MY best friend
would be the man who would blow INV
brains out with pistol"
''Try TO be quiet, Mr.. Poe; we viii do
all we can to make You comfortable and
relieve your distress
''Oh, wretch that am, Sir. when
behold my dcgratiou and ruin, what l
have suffered and lost, and the sorrow
and misery l have brought upon others,
feel that l could sink through this bed
into the lowermoSt abyss below, foraker
by God and man, an Outcast from society.
Oh. God, the terrible straight I am in Is
there no ransom for the deathless spirit?"
Mr.. Poe, DO try and compose yourself
and take this draughJ, il will soOthe and
revive you.',
He reached out his hand TO take the
glass, the nurse raising his head, while I
administered the cOruial. lie drank it
and was laid down, closing his eyes as if
going to sleep. l remained by his side,
watching closely every breath, manner
of breathing and trying TO make out his
case and my diagnosis. / had been i'm
pressed that he IEa--suffering from the too
free use of : Jlic drink only from
what l could gather from those who saw
him on the wharf, and did not know how
long he had been in this state, but he did
not manifest symptoms TO justify their
suspicious. He had no tremOr, was not
fidgetty with his hands or impatient, but
ans svered all my questions calmly and
nationally. There was great pallor Of
face, no injection Of the coats Of the eve,
and pulse sharp and quick. l noticed
some twitching of the eyelids while clos
ed, also of the muscles OF the face, and
slight jerking OF the limbs. He remain
edin this state about one hour, when he
again walked up, suddenly opening his
eyes. / said 10 him, both 10 be OF service