The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-28
Death OF Speaker Kerr.


expected for many days, occurred at
ROokbridge Alum Springs, on Satur.
day last. His wonderful endurance,
notwithstanding tho nature Of his dis.
ease. IL alluded to as follows in a dis.
patch from the Springs the day before
his death:
When Or. Pope arrived, late on
Wednesday evening, ho found Speaker
Kerr apparently rapidly sinking from
pain. profuse discharges and exhausted,
voice almost inaudibls, and skin be-
doSed With cold, clammy perspira.
tiou. For many days past Mr.. Kerr
has suffered ugonies Of pain. and the
physician in charge. Dr.. Davis, of toe
University Of Virginia, a distinguished
aud cultivated allOpathio physician, ha1
given up all hope. The question was
whether n radical change Of treatment
would DO Of any avail. Dr.. Pope
states that the disease is phthisis intes-
tinalis or consumption Of the bowels,
which has progressed too far in its raw.
ages to permit any hope as to recovery.
and all that can DO accomplished, per-
haps, is the alienation of the more
painful and distressing symptoms Of the
disease and smooth tho inevitable down.
ward pathway. The emaciation Of tho
patient is the most extreme compatible
with life DR. Pope ever witnessed.
The abdomen is flattened absolutely
down to the backbone BY the shrink
ago and wasting away Of The abdomi.
nal con..nts. A single hand eau clasp
the thigh, anu the bouy framew ork di.
vested Of almost every article Of adipose
and muscular tissue is merely covered
By the attenua'ed skin. Still the eye
is as clear aud bright as Of yore. and
all the intellectual processes bright ~
ever. and the voice reduced almost to q
whisper, occasionally ut.ers its original,
full, deep tone. It is bis wonderful
will power and vital force which has Gu.
abled him to survive even thus far.
His iortitude and patience under suffer.
ing arc amazing. Dr.. Pope has sue.
ceeded since II last night 10 alleyia.
ting. to a very great degree, Mr, Kerr's
intOIcrable suffering, and. up to the
present hour, eleven P. ~. be has ex.
pcricnCed a degree Of relief unknown
for many days, Early this morning
Mr.. Kerr had q short interview with
lion. Montgomery Blair, and this Of.
ternoou with Hon. S. s. Cox. How
long he may still liuger d.. Pope seys
it ia quite impossible to say. liz may.
III consequence Of hi, 'qucnchless spirit
and wonderful vitality. survive some
days, even a week longer, and yet no
is liable to succumb at any moment
While no still manifests q great interest
in tho political issues Of the day. and
convelses upon these topics with bis
friends, no yet awaits with the calm
ness Of a philosopher and the re,igua.
ton Of Christian bis approaching dis.
solution.
Mr. Kerr suffered the most intense
agony up to midnight last night. but
thereafter rested more comfortably. Hls
death is now only question Of time,
and that q short time. Lis mind is
still clear aud active his will is a, firm
aud resolute as ever. Mr.. Kerr is sur.
rounded by bis friends, who are mo.
mcDsarily expecting bis death. This
morning hc dictated q dispatch to bis
Law partner at Now Albany, 10 which.
after telling Of his intense pain. he
says: THE end Of it all is near at
hand. l wish it could be painless, but
| fear not. When the news comes to
you a. homo bear ii bravely and re.
S'guedly, for l will. Ny heart still
turns to you With warmest love-"