The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-21

The death Of Speaker Kerr, an event
expected for many days, occurred at
Rockbridge Alum Springs, on Saturday.
His wonderful endurance, notwithstand-
ing the nature Of his disease is alluded TO
as follows in dispatch from the Springs
the day before his death:
When Dr.. Pope arrived, late on We'd
nesday evening, he found Speaker Kerr
apparently rapidly sinking from pain,
profuse discharges and exhausted, avoice
: almost inaudible, and skin. believed with
cold, clammy Precipitation. For many
days past Mr.. Kerr has suffered agonies
of pain, and the physician in charge,
DR.. Davis, Of the University Of Virginia,
a distinguished and cultivated allopathic
physician, had given up all hope. The
question was whether radical change oil
treatment would be Of any avail. DR..
Pope states that the disease is phthisis in
testinalis or consumption OF the bowels
which has progressed too far in its rava'
ges TO permit any hope RS TO recovery
and all that can be accomplished, per-
haps, is the alienation OF the more pain
full and distressing symptoms OF the dis.
ease and smooth the inevitable down.
ward pathway. The emaciation OF the pa
tient'i is the most extreme compatible with
life DR.. Pope ever witnessed. The abdomen
is fiattsned absolutely dove to the back
bone by the shrinkage and wasting away
of the abdominal contents. A single
hand can clasp the thigh and the bony
framework Invested OF almost every arti-
Gle Of adipose and muscular tissue is
merely covered by the attenuated skin.
Still the eye is rs clear and bright "a Of
yore, and all the intellectual processes
bright as ever, and the voice reduced al
most to a whisper, occasionally utters its
original, full, deep tone. 1t is his won
dertul will power and vital force which
has enabled him to survive even thus far.
His iortitude and patience under suffer-
ing are amazing. DR.. Pope has succeeded
since twelve last night in alleyiating, to a
very great degree, Mr.. Kerr's intolerable
suffering, and, up to the present hour,
eleven r. NJ, he has experienced degree
OF relief unknown for many days. Early
this morning Mr.. Kerr hada short inter.
view with Hon. Montgomery Blair, and
this afternoon with Hon. S. s. Cox. How
long he may still linger DIR. Pope says it
is quite impossible to say. He may in
consequence OF his quenchless spirit
and wonderful vitality, survive some
days, even a week longer, and yet he is
liable tOSuccumb at any moment While he
still maniiests a great interest In the po-
Iitical issues Of the day, and converses
upon these topics with shis friends, lhe
vet awaits with the calmness Of philos-
opher and the resignation Of Christian
his approaching dissolution.
WASHINGTON, August 18.--The follow
ing was received here at $50 p. Ms
Mr.. Kerr suffered the most intense
agony up to midnight Last nig ht, but
thereafter rested more comfortably. His
death 10 now only question Of time, and
that short time. His mind is still clear
and active; his will is as firm and resolute
as ever. Mr.. Kerr is surrounded by his
friends, who are momentarily expecting
his death. This morning he dictated a
dispatch to his law partner at New Al
bany, in which, after telling Of his intense
pain, he says: @.The end OF it all is near
at hand. 1 wish it could be painless, but
| fear not. When the news comes to you
at home bear It brayely and resigpedly,
for will. Ny heart still turns TO you
with WArmest love"
His death may lie looked for before
night; at least before morning.