New-York tribune., 1877-09-18
SENATOR MORTON'S BEDSIDE.

HIS RECOVERY STILL IN DOUBT.
FRIENDS LESS CONFIDENT THAN HE-wHERE DANGER
is FEARED-READING TIE NEWSPAPERS TO HIN
his OwN OBITUARY READ-CoMMENTs OF HIS
ENFMIEs-HIs FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SICK ROOM.
IFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
RICHMOND. Ind, Sept. 15.-I have just seen Sena-
tor Morton. His condition gives his friends reason
for strong hopes of his ultimate recovery; but they
cannot blind themselves to the fact that i'll spite OF
all that doctors and nurses do change for the
worse which will loosen his hold upon life, may
come any day. He has about an even chance TO get
up again. and that is the best that can be said Dr.
Bliss, who went back to Washington 4 few days
ago. was confident of the Senator's speedy restora-
ton TO his usual health, but Dr. Bliss is always san
guine and is one of those cheerful physicians who
help their patients to get well by making them think
they are not in danger. DR.. Thompson. the family
physician, returned to indianapolis yesterday, ex-
pressing for the first time, the belief that the most
critical point had been passed. He is prudent
man, who rarely gives opinion without good
grounds and the Senator's family build new hopes
Oh what he said
Senator Morton remains at the house of his broth
er-in-law, Gen. Burbank, CHEEKY brick cottage on
a quiet shady street. His sck-Toom Is on the ground
floor opening out of the sittingroom. and the WIN
dows look on the fruit trees and grass of the
its usual height. and is occasionally lifted to
lounge near by. HIS whole left side, from the neck
down. is paralyzed and be is entirely helpless, not
being able TO move himself in bed or raise his head.
Singuary enough he has lost very little flesh dur
ing his long Illness although his digestion has been
seriously impaired and he has subssted chiefly on
Cruel and beef tea. His face has undergone marked
change, however, the eyes being sunkcn and the
cheeks much less full than formerly His expression
is one of intense WEAKNESS. Like all men of active
mind and great vitality, he suffers much from en-
forced inacton and he sometimes falls into spells OF
fevesh nervousness, when 1t seems to him as II he
could not possibly longer endure the hardship of
living like a log with his body refusing to obey his
will The mercy of mental Incidence and seni-stu-
Dor which usually comes to sick people is not grant
ed him, his brain being as active AS ever.
Every day he has the newspapers read to him
first The indianapolis journal, which comes early
in the morning then the Cincinnati papers, and later
the New-York papers. The other day. he heard the
whole of Mr. St0ughton's article in The North amer
lean Eerer on the Electoral Count, and he has list
ened with interest to several of the speeches made in
the Ohio canvass The other day he heard his own
obituary read. 1t had been prepared for The Phfa-
delphia Press when his death was supposed to be
imminent, and when his probable recovery was an
nounced. Col. Forney sent him the article, with
kind letter. rejoicing that there was no occasion to
publish it. Most of the friendly and harsh criticisms
on his public career which have been printed since
he was stricken down, have been read to him at his
own request.
He has never been delirious and reports to the
contrary have originated from his talking in his
sleep occasionally Often he dreams he is in the
Senate and makes with his right hand the peculiar
gesture which he always employed when addressing
,Io oboir md ing tn qpt he
startled his watchers by exclaiming, if in the
midst of a speech MIR. President, PREJUDICE no
caser In hls waking hours his mind Is perfectly
clear and vigorous lie is not allowed to talk much,
however lest the effort to speak should bring
on n relapse Of the pain in his side which the
worst recent feature of his case, but lie
likes to have the family in the room, and
to hear them talk of the news of the day and the
affairs of the household just if he not ill.
TO keep him from speaking too much, visitors are
only allowed few moments interview. He cannot
resist the temptation to chat with the friends who
come to see him. and of the family usually has
to warn him. and hurry them out of the room. No
one could have more affectonate care than the sick
Senator. His wife and two of his sons, Walter and
Oliver. are constantly with him. and so are his Sis
ters, Mrs Holloway and Mrs. Burbank, and their
husbands Col. Holloway makes quick trip to In
dianapos once or twice a week. to look after his
affairs. but Mr.. Morton leans on him so
much that he is inpatient Of every hours alb
sence. The third son, john is in Alaska,
and the last news of serious attack of
illness which made him unable to sail for San Fran
cisco. The only communication with Sitka is by
the Alaska Commercial Company's vessels, and the
family do not expect to hear from him again before
the first of November. The of his illness has
has been carefully kepJ from the fathers knowledge
few days ago brute tried to force himself into
the sickroom, for the purpose of telling the Senator
that his con was dead but fortunately stopped
at the door. The family think the fellow of
Mortons many malignant political opponents, and
that his object was give the sick shock that
would end his life. 1t is hard to believe that such
depravity exists, and yet all who familiar with
the bitter partisan politics of Indiana, know that
there are thousands of Democrats in the State who
hate the old War Governor with personal hatred
and would rejoice at his DEATH They belong to the
virulent Copperhead class whose reasonable organi-
cations Morton exposed and suppressed.
A hopeful sign in Senator Mortons is his own
faith in his recovery which has never been strong
until day before yesterday. He decided yesterday
not TO delay longer the departure of his youngest
son for Yale College, and the young starts to-
night. His father is devotedly attached to him,
manifesting the clinging affection of woman want
ing oily" he calls him, always near, and liking
TO hold his hand and stroke his hair He said yes
terday that he now felt of getting WELL and
that if Oily staid with him any longer he would
have hard work TO catch up with his class. The
Senator's friends cannot wholly share his confidence,
for they know that there is still danger that the
paralysis may reach the brain the vital organs Of
the body, but they are more hopeful than they have
been before since he was Frustrated. L. ". 5.
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THE LONG ISLAND BANKS RECEIVER
ALBANY, Sept. 1.-THE Attorney General