Wilmington journal., 1876-08-25
DEATH OF SPEAKER KERR.

E NASHINGTON. August 70.
A dispatch from ROckbridge, Alum
Springs, Va, aunOunc 3 the death of
Speaker X Arr at twenty minutes past
7 O'Clock Saturday evening. Although
not unexpected the news was received
hy all classes with geLuine sorrow.
Upon receiving Intelligence of his de-
mise Mr.. Adams. clerk of the House,
at oncn proceeded to arrange for the
transportation of toe remains of the
late Speaker TO his home in Indiana.
Men were sent TO Rpckbridge Alum
Springs last night to embalm the body
and prepare it for interment. A casket
similar to that in which the late Vice
President Wilson was inferred was
sent from here Tonight. Hon. Milton
Sayler aud Senator Ferry, accompa-
MED by Clerk Adams, started to night
for the springs, and will accompany
the remains TO New AIbacy, Indiana.
Mr.. Samuel S. Cox is already there.
and will also attend the last rites to
the deceased. A few members of Con
eress who are in Washington will
join The funeral train should the re.
mains be brought this way. II is pos
sible they may be taken to New Albany
via the Chesapeake and Ono railroad
and the Ohio river. A dispatch 70 Il e
Richmond (Va )Dispatch. dated Rock
bridge Alum Springs to-day. gives the
following particulars attending tue last
ours of the distinguished Speaker:
"Mr Kerr expired this evening at
seven O'Clock and twenty minutes,
at the going down of the sun over
this beautiful mountain valley. His
last half hour was painless and peace
full, He was surrounded by his wife
and son. by his faithful secretaries,
White and Scudder, and Mr.. Cox aud
wife, and MIR. NJ. Blair had been near
him during his protracted illness.
All the kindness possible to alleviate
and comfort hes been bestowed by Mr..
Frazier, the proprietor here, and other
friends. Your reporter sought Mr..
Cox, 70 whom the direction Of these
sad affairs has been given, and in
uuired concerning the report he should
make. Mr.. Cox said he had been
with him for two days, during which
he had been gradually sinking. On
Friday he conversed in whispers,
consciously and intelligently giving
directions to his secretaries in private
matters, and words of cheer about
him to his friends and consolation to
his wife and son. DIR. Pope was con
stant in his attentions, and so far as
was possible gave him relief from
pain. On my arrival, said MIR. Cox,
after giving him the kind messages
of his congressional friends, L asked
him if he were ready to go? e.
"He expressed his entire content
with heroic gentleness which WAS
one Of his characteristics. He CON
versed freely about the future world,
it's rewards, hopes and expectations
with calmness and equanimity. He
had suffered so much. that he desired
to be relieved, and yet he wcnld not
have his pain alleviated so as to dis
tract or stupefy his mind. He based
his hopes of a better world upon the
practice and benevolence which he had
endcavored to illustrate in his life. He
impressed his views upon his son, who
is just entering upon his manhood.
His wife was near him constantly, and
but for the consolation of friends
would be inconsolable.
"The music and festiVity Of the
place have ceased to day, as if in sym
phthy with the sadness around. All
proper disposition has been made to
take his body to New Albany, where
the funeral ceremony will be per-
formed.
"Mrs. Kerr is Presbyterian and
the services will be performed in her
church, as this is an out of theway
spot. Some delay is caused, as the
escort from the capitol at Washington
cannot arrive till sunday night. There
are no members here except Mr.. Cox,
of New York. Gen. Gibson, of Louis
lana, telegraphed to day to know if he
could render any assistance.
"The body will be taken from
Goshen directly west to New Albany,
Indiana, on Monday morning. No
medical account for his disease can
supply a proper statement of the al
most supernatural endurance of the
sufferer. The simple fact is his frame
was but mere skeleton. There was
no flesh left. The backbone was ap-
parent from the abdomen. The won
der is how the man has survived so
long. Yet at no time, even to the last,
did he fail to recognize those about
him. He talked of the country, of his
relatives, of politics with Mr.. Cox.
and expressed with great serenity his
hopes as patriot in the struggle. He
was proud of the part he had taken in
public affairs. and without repining he
adhered to his peculiar tenets of phi
losophy and faith.
"About p. m. the death struggle
seemed approaching. His respiration
grew short and feeble, he sank with a
collapse, and he seemed in great pain.
and frequently the word "suffocation"
escaped his lips in a faint whisper.
Yet amid that trying scene he still
manifested not only his usual forti
tude, but his affectionate recognition
of his friends. He pressed the hands
of s. 8. Cox. exclaiming, Goodbye,
dear friend: God bless you His
pulse ceased at the wrists and his
limbs assumed a marble GOODNESS.
Time passed on, nnd the approach of
the grim monster seemed to be mo-
mentarily baffied by the extraordinary
vital powers of the sick man. The
m. the pulse returned to the wrists.
the heart beating with it's usual force
and regularity.
sat by his bedside conversing with
Mrs. Kerr, the friends having momen
tarily retired. The doctor asked Mr..
Kerr, DO you suffer any pain p The
patient shook his head. DO you feel
easier now 2 He nodded his head
emphatically, at the same moment fix
ing an earnest gaze on the doctor, ex-
pressing at once thanks and elief from
suffering.
"Then fixing his steady gaze upon
the ceiling his breath became per
fectly natural and regular. The sun
gradually declined behind the noun
tains. and as his last rays family glim-
mered on the horizon, so it seemed as
if the quenchless spirit was taking it's
last gaze through it's bodily organs of
vision upon things of earth, fainter
and fainter grew his breathing, and
fixed grew the gaza. The family and
friends hastily gathered around the