Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-11-08

wife and children were left to tie holy
thoughts of the hour. 1t would be
sacrilege to interrupt them, and this
sentiment governed the actions Of the
,ad eyed little knot Of mourners gath
cred about the other side OF the sick
bed and around the room. The talk
was carried on in the language OF the
=yes; and, save for an occasional whts
pered direction tn the nurses, or soft
ly breathed inquiry Of the physicians,
the silence was unbrOken.
DIR. Kitchen, who attended the dying
man, said that Senator Morton waz
suffering intense pain, and that though
the effect might. in degree, be neu
tralized by the chloroform, 1t was plain
that he was under dreadful agony.
Death heralded it's slow approach upon
the seat of vitality by inflIcting untold
tortures. The agony experienced wa:
the actual disintegration of the atom:
that help to make up animal life; 8
dissolution of particles which is but I
certain precursor Of decomposition and
death, separation of the soul and
body.
The situation remained unchanged
during the afternoon, save that thu
Senator grew visibly weaker, and hi
suffering5 ,were intense. Chlor0foru
Was administered freely, but withOu
producing unconsciousness, and onl,
partly removing the pain.
Shortly after 4 O'Clock 1t became ap
parent that the supreme hour had sr
rived. The Senator was 30 feeble tina
he was unable to remain in the bal
sitting posture he had retained th'
past two or three days, and gradual,
sank to the bed, and when he died b.
was lying prone on his back. Their
were gathered about him then his wifi
and two sons, Col. Holloway and wifi
and son, Mrs. Scott, and Gov. Burbank
There were also present the Misses AM
Rev. DR.. Day. .Asr.d ..8J
at about 4:45 the Governor was II
great pain in the chest and stomach ant
4 sinking rapidly. He said,as he moves
| his right hand over his stomach an,
chest, II am dying."' His sister.iu
law, Mrs. Morton's sister, was fannini
him at the moment, and said audibly
l"0iiver, are you not afraid to die?
He replied by shake of his head, iron
lside to side of his pillow, meaning "Nc
| am not" Soon afterward, his So
Walter, who was standing by his bed
side with his brother Oliver, and Mn
Morton, clasped his hand, and said
Father, father, do you know us?'
He reused, made an effort to speak
and nodded that be knew them, re
ceiving their kisses with evident sa
4 isfactioD. Other members Of the fam
II ily were in like manner recognized.
| A hsc,fs h0 hxlw 10
more -aridly. He WAS still movin
his hand over the stomach and ches
md occasionally changing the positio
If his head. DIR. Thompson bent owe
md in kindly tone said, "Be caiu
: Governor, be ealm." adding, as he faI
ned his face, ''Goy. Morton is not afrai
to die" The Governor clssped the Do
tors hand and said: ~ am dying;
E am worn out"
, These were bis last words, uttered
little before O'Clock. He soOG cease
to move, his breath gradually shorter
ed, and al twenty-eigbt minutes aft
) O'Clock D. M, November /. l81
without groan or struggle, Senate
: Morton peacefully died.
r The only indication of death was
{ slight dropping Of the under jaw, ar
4 DIR. ThOmpsan was compelled to mai
n examination of several minutes
determine the fact that the great state
man no longer existed. In the hou'
II were q number of friends, and tf
news of the Senator's decease WI
known in all quarters of the eli
d within very few minutes.
\ The announcement of Senatar Mo
4 'on's death falls with crushing weigl
} upon the citizens of indianapolis, a
though In a measure prepared for q
sad event by having known that hoE
: was abandoned forty-eight hours az
!. Political differences are wholly ignt
. red, and persons everywhere seem
vie with each other in speaking kim
J. ~ OF the Senator and the great wol
; If his life. g.lr
L.