Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-25

AIT His Death Bed in the SaifIin ore
! fkOspitai--PersOns. Description
! of ihe Poet, Etc.
! The following official letter concerning
( the death % Edgar Allen Poe from his at
/ tending physician was published for the
/ first time in the New York Herald Of the
| 2Oih ult. II will be read with vivid inter-
/ est:
| OFFICIAL MEMORANDA Or THE DEATH OF
! EDGAR A. POE, BY J. j. MORAN, NJ. d.
! Edgar A. Poe was brought in hack TO
the Washington University hospital, situa-
| ted ON Broad way north Of Baltimore street,
| Baltimore city, on The 7th OF October, 1S49.
He had been found lying upon bench III
| front OF a large merchantie house on Light
street wharf. He was in a stupor,
whether from liquor or opium was not at
| first known. A gentleman passing along
the pavement noticed several persons col
| lecung about the spot, and looking ia
through the crowd was suddenly impressed
with the face, aud on close inspection re-
cognized the poet. lie had been their since
eaIly dawn.
A policeman sent for hack and directed
the hackman to convey him to the above
named hospital. which was in my charge.
belug the resident ply ysician and living in
I the dwelling attached thereto. 1t was
about ~ O'Clock in the forenoon when be
entered the house. He was immediately
laced IN a private room, carefully undress-
CO and critically examined. had not
then any knowledge OF his previous cOndi-
tiou or what were his habits. There WAS
no smell OF liquor upon his person or breath.
There was no delirium or tremor. His
skin was paid, with slight nausea at the
stomach anu a strong disposition TO sleep.
His condition was more ot q stupOr. He
WAS sponsed with luke-warm water, sinap-
isms applied TO the feet. thighs and abdO-
men, and cold applied to The head.
| had the room darkened and lie was
otherwise made rs comfortable as he could
have been at home. placed an experienced
nurse at the threshold of his room door,
with orders to watch him closely and pre-
vent the slightest noise from without, and
give me notice Of any sign Of wakeiulness
or consciousness. In half an hour after
I left him he threw the cover from his breast
opened his eyes aud said:
Where am | =
The nurse gave me the signal aud | was
Immediately at his side. | drew chair
close 10 the bed, took his hand in my own,
and with the other smuothed his forehead,
pushing back the dark raven curls that
covered it, and asked him how he felt.
He said, Miserable
DO YOU suffer any pain 2
No.
DO you feel sick at the stomach ?
Yes
Are you thirsty 2
No.
Does your head suffeI-have you any
pain there p putting my hand on bis head.
Yes
Does il feel heavy or dull p
Heavy mind cloudy he said.
How long have you been sick 2
Can't say
w here have you been stopping 2
in Il hotel IN Pratt street, opposite the
/ depot
Have you trunk or valise or anything
there which YOU would like to have with
You?'
Yes, a trunk with my papers and manu-
scripts
If you order it will send tor it,
lie thanked me and said, Do 50 at once ,
remarking, You ale very kind-where am
( |, doctor =
, You ale in the care of your friends, 20
! which he replied
/ My best friend would be the man who
would blow my brains out with a pistol
Try and by quiet, Nj. Poe, We will do
| all we can To make you comfortable aud
/ relieve your distress.
| oh, wretch that | am Sir. when l
! behold my degradation and ruin, That /
| haye suffered and lost, aud the sorrow and
misery have brought upon Olhers, l feel
| that could sink through this bed into the
! lowcrmost abyss below, iorsaken by God
and man, an outcast from society. Oh,
God, the terrible strait am in Is there
/ 30 ransom for the deathes. spirit =
! Mr.. Poe, do try and compose yourself,
and take this draught it will soothe and
revive YOU
: lie reached out his hand to take the glass
the nurse raising his head while | admins
tered the cordial. He drank it and was
laid down, closing his eyes a, though 60
ing to sleep.
l remained by his side. watching closely
every breath, manner of breathing and try
ing to make out his case and my diagnosis
l had been impressed that he wa, suffering
| from the too free use of alcoholic drink only
from what could gather from those who