Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-01
POE'S CLOSING HOURS.

ne !ru.tCc1 ciOslnS nOurS or Edgar y. / uc :
Iir, about which history has been so confused,
sanderous and erroneous, are fully accounted
FIR 10 the utf :lal record of this short hut fate
fiji period oi the poet 5 hte, glvcu by DIR. >. }.
Moran, resident physician OF the hospital
where Poe did. The physician says:
Edgar \. p C was brought 10 hack to the
Broadway, north Of Baltimore stree, Baltimore
city, 90 the 7,h of October 1912 lie had
been fouuJ lying upon Il bench in front OF a
large mercantile house on Light street wharf.
He vas in a stupor whether from liquor or
opium was Gol al first kuowa. 4 gentleman
pa>>iug along the pavement noticed several
p4rsou> collected about the spot AMI locking
III through til" crowd WAS suddenly impressed
viii the face, ami on close Inspection, recOg-
% the poet. lie dad been there since early
dawn.
\ polio p"~ sc-.- Tor hack and directed
III" hackmau convey h!u t. the above -uancd
hospital, which Was IN my char-.e, bclug the
resident physician and llvlug 10 !hc uWciug
attached thereto. Ii was about t,u . clock IN
tie forenoon whpn he entered III" hen. lie
was Immediately placed in a ilivarc room,
carefully uuIrcssed aoi cri ic4y X.l:l;n L.
bad ut then al knowl. DE OF Ills previous
co.dtjcn or what were his habits there was
- smell Of l!quo: upon lis person or breath.
here wa- 40 ieiirium or tIemor. His akln
was palIld, with slight nausea at the stomach
and a strong disposition to sleep. His condi
ou was more OF stupor. He was spongcd
with ukeWarm water, slnapsms applied to the
feet, thighs and abdomen, and cold applied to
The head. When Consciousness was restored,
he asked
Nv here am [, doctor ?"
You are 10 the care Of your friends" to
which he replied, "My best friend would be
the man who would blow my brains out with
q pistol.
Try and be quiet, Mr.. Poe; we will do all
We can to make you comfortable and relieve
your distress"
ON, wretch that an Sir, when | be-
hold my degradation and ruin, what | have
suffered and lost and the sorrow and misery
| have brought upon others, | tcel that ! cyud
Sitk through this bed into the lowermos,
abyss below, fors;kcn by God and map, an out
Gas, from sycely. Oh, Goi, the terrible strait
| am IN Is there no raosnm for the death
less spirit
MIR. Poe, do try auA conpose yoursclf, and
take this uraughi i! will soo,he AID revive
you.
lie reached out his hand to taks the glass,
the Nurse raising his head, while | admins
tered the cordial He drark it and was laid
down, closing his eyes as though going to
sleep.
The physician, observing his nervous con.
ditloU, eDquired:
will you take little toddy p"
He opened wide his large eyes and fixed them
so steadily upon me, and with such anguish 10
them that looked from him to the vail be-
yood the bed. He said
Sir, if its potency would transport me to
the Eyslan bowers of the undiscovered spirit
world would not taste it. would not taste
1t. vi its horrors who can tell p
/ must admlulster an oplate to give you
sleep and rest.
Then he rcjoined:-
Twin devil and spectre of crazod and doom.
cd mortals Of earth and perditlou j.
Mr.. Poe, 1t is very necessary that you
should be quiet and free from excitement; you
are critical condition, and excitement will
has'cn your death. ("
Doctor, am ill, Is there 90 hope?"
The chances are against you.
"uow oyg oh, how long, before see my dear
''rglnla? My dear Leporel | would like to see
my love, my dear Lowell
Il will send ior any one you wish TO see"
Knew nothing of his family, and asked,
"Havc you family p
No, my wife is dead my dear Virginia my
mother-ln.Iaw lives. On, how my hear, bIccds
Tor her! Deaths dark angel has done his
work. | am so rudely dashed upon the storm
without compass or helm. language cannot
tell the gushing wave that s.ells, sways aud
sweeps, tcmpest-iike, oyer me, signalling the
larum OF death. Doctor, write to my mother
N Vail hn-
No. TOO late TOO late must lift the pail aud
aud, dagger-l!ke, plcrccs the soul. was to have
been married IN ten days" (Hele he stopped
TO weep.
Shall send for the lady?' | asked, sup
posing she lived in city.
Too late too late
said, "On 20; will send my carriage inn
mcdlateIy."
NO, write, write to BOTH Ioform them of
my illness aud death both at the same time."
Give me their address,.
Mis-. Shciton, Norfolk, Va, and Maria
CIemm, Lowell, Mass.
B@eftea was then administered, and he appar-
entity revived, and opening his eyes, fixing tbs
g"z upon the transom over his room door,
each room having transoms over the door tor
Ventilation and air, he kept them uumovcd for
more than minute He was lying directly
opposite this transom. He seemed trying TO
aT'lculate, but was inaudlble. At last he spoke
leehly.
Doctor, it's ali over. Write Eddie is no
more
Eddie was term used by Mrs. GLENN,
his mother law
Mr.. Poe, permit me to say that you are
near your end Have vou any wish mr. word
Tor irlends?'
he said, "Egermore y
continued: Look to your Saviour. There
Is ! mercy tor you aud Tor all maukiud. God is
love y
The arched heavens" he rei5ned, zen.
compass NE, aud Sod has His DEGREES leclbIy
Written upon the trontlets of every crea.ed
nu'nan being; and demons incaruate, their
pair" N'N 0e'
hope and trust Him."
s,ros oel'' murderer, there is gulf beyond the
fire. "m 10. w W here is the tuoy, lifeboat ship of