The New York herald., 1876-08-20
BE Passes Out of Life With Yester-
days Setting Sun.
SCENES AROUND THE DEATH BED.
His Calmness and Quiet Endur-
ance Of Suffering.
A SKETCH OF HIS OFFICIAL CAREER.

went down over this beautiful mountain valley. His
last bali hour was painless and peace
iul-a death he craved constantly during
tho past few weeks He was surrounded
BY wife and son, by his faithful secretaries Messr
White and scuddcr and Mr.. Cox and wife Mr. Mont
gomcry Blair had been him during his pro,rac,ed
illness, and all tho kindness possible to alleviate and
comfort has been bestowed by Mr Frazier, the pro-
prietor Of the hotel here, and other friends
Your correspondent sought Mr. Cox. 10 whom the
direction OF these sad affairs has giycn and Mr..
Cox sad he had been with Mr. Kerr for the last TWO
days. during which he had been gradually sinking. On
Friday no conversed IN whispers, consciously and
selligcnty giving direction to his secretary private
matters and words Of chccr friends and consolation
to his vito and son. Or. Popo constant In his
tcntion.
"On my arrival" said Mr Cox. "aftor giving him tho
kind messages OF his Congressional friends, asked
him II he ready 10. He expressed his entire
content with heroic gcntlencss which was
ono Of his characteristics. lie convcrscd freely
about tho future world, It's rewards hopes and
expectations. with calmness and equanimty; no had
suffered SO much that no desired be relieved, and
yet no would not have his pain allcviatcd,
as TO distract stupey his mind Ho
based his hopes OF better world upon the
Justice and bcncvolcncc which no had endcavorod
his son, who is just entering upon his manhood His
wife was near him constantly, and but for the
,ons Of friends would be inconsoabc and the music
and csvi,y Of this pleasant watering place has ceased
today as If In sympathy with the sadness around.
ARRANGEMENTS FUNERAL
All propc. direction has been made to ake the re-
mains TO New Albany, whcrc tho funeral will take place.
Mr. Kerr is member OF the Prcsby tcrian church and
the funeral services Will be hold in that church. As
this is out OF tho way SPOT, some
delay is caused, as tho escort from tho Cap.
itol. at Washington, cannot arrive until Sunday
night There members OF tho House OF Repre-
scntatvos hero except Mr.. Cox. General Gibson, OF
Louisiana tclcrraphed to-day know II hc could rom
dor any assistance. The body will bo taken from
Goshen. directly west OF tho Springs to Now Albany
on Monday morning.
THE PHYSICAL CONDITION
The HERALD has already published o report Of Mr.
Kcrr's disease and condition. but medical account
supply proper statement OF tho almost supcrnat.
ural endurance Of the sufferer Tho simple fact Is hts
franc was but a nero skcIcton. There was no
flesh lcn. Tho backbone apparent from tho
abdomen; the wonder Is the mas sur
vivcd so long; yet al no timo, even
the last did he fail to recognize those about him. Ho
talked Of tho country, Of his relatives and Of politics
with Mt Cox, and expressed with great serenity hts
hopes a patriot In the recent struggle DO was
proud OF the part he had taken public AFFAIRS and
without rcpnng he adhered hts peculiar ,enets Of
philosophy aud faith.
THE DEATH STRUGGLE.
About four O'Clock r. u. the death struggle seemed
approaching His respiration grew short and feeolc
Ho sank into collapse, and he seemed in great pan
and frequently tho word "sunocation escaped his lips
In faint whispcrs Yet amid that trying sccno hc
,tv n
aGcctionato recognition OF hts friends lie pressed
tho hands of Mr. Cox and Mr. Montgomery Blair to tho
former excaimipg. 'Goodby. dear friend; God bless
you." His pulse ceased at tho wrists and his limbs as
sumcd marble codness. Iittlo time passed on and
the approach OF the grim monster seemed 10
5c momontarily bacled by tho extraordinary vital
powers Of tho sick man; tho rcspirations grow
stronger and at six p. H. tho pulse returned to tho
wrists, the heart beating with It's usual force and
regularity As O'Clock drew near tho hour tho
setting sum- Dr. Popc by his bedside ccnvcrsng with
Mrs. Kerr. the friends having momentarily returned
tho Doctor asked Mr.. Kcrr:-"Do you suffer any
pans" The palicn. shook his head. ''Do yoa feel
at tho same moment fixing earnest gn7c
on the doctor, expressing at once thanks
for relief from suffering, then fixing steady
perfectly natural and regular The gradually de-
clncd behind tho mountains and ss its last rays
family glimmcred on The horizon II seemed II the
quemchcss spirit taking its last gaze through
bodily organs OF vision upon things OF earth Fainter
and iantcr grew his breathing and fixed grew the gaze
Tho family and friends hastily gathered around the
bedside; the last heartbrceking inrcwcIls wcro
brca,hed his breathings soft and faint like those
spirit took It's noisccss flight like thc summer even.
ings last sigh that shuts tho rose"
the LAST OFFICIAL
Tho long course OF Mr.. Kcrr's illness had IN II much
pathetic interest ew weeks labor Speaker Of the
Fortyfour,h Congress exhausted his strength that
from day TO day he too feeble to perform the du
ties imposed upon him by his onerous position but he
continued the work until temporary retirement be-
came imperative Then his health was so much impaired
that he forgot 10 fill the chair during his absence and
when reminded OF tho omission he too weak to re-
sumo MS post long enough to name speaker pro
por. After short soiourn IN this city no again
dcavorcd 10 Ill tho Spcakcrsbip. but another attack
soon compelled him TO rclinqrish IL For weeks ne
sufficiently recovered 10 Journey to tho Rock Alum
springs, where no died. His consciousness of tho
steady approach OF his end and thc patience with
which nc looked forward to his departure arc well
illustrated by the despatch he friend in the
House OF Representatives tho day Of tho adjourn.
ment:-
Rock ALUM srnrsGs. 7i7PM
Ny condition very worry feeble am Weakening hourly
70 crafty good wife aud have Tor D. Pope.
Urge him TO come NJ C. KERR
AZ last death came 10 rclease him from his suffer ncs
but IN dying he lcft behind precious memory 10 hsa
couniryInen lie was honest and capable public
servant man without ostentation, who lived hfc
without rcproach; and will be well for the Republic
II hts example finds Imitation In the House where
he was so long prominent member and a. las, the
acknowledged leader.
DECEASED.
Mr. Kerr was born at Titusville Pa. on tho 18th Of
March, 1921 At she time OF hts death he little
,nan forty inc old His boybood spent
country village. ana his early education vas Of
a kind that is usually called academic. because tho
highest village school has large name II was his
good fortune, however. TO attend the university at
Louisville where at the age Of twcnty-four. grad
uatcd as a Jaw student vita degree He chose New
Albany md, as tho scene OF his early struggle for
bread .hc age Of twenty-five Two years
alter he began TO practice he became the
attorney Of his city, and only year later he
elected the criminal attorney OF his county Both IN
1850 and in 1857 he chosen a Of the
Ioeis!aure and y appears that hts qualifications
lawyer had received such recognition that lie was
elected by the Supreme Court q reporter Of its
cases for the books Of Jaw. During -hc
,imc he reporter 0. The Supreme Court he edited
1--WE books OF decisions. lie naturally became mem
bcr OF tho Thirty ninth Congress- and great his
popularity that vas no hard task for his
constituents 10 nominate him for the election
winch no received the two succeeding
Co,r-c.so. For the ror,v.thtvd Congrcss ho $50.