New-York tribune., 1878-06-13
MIR. BRYANTs LAST HOURS.

|
sCENE-msToRY OF his IILNEss-sTATEMENT
or HIS PHYSICIAN.
Mr. Bryant's last moments were as peaceful andfull
Of repose the thoughts on death that formsO mem-
Orable part of his verse. Twentyfour hours before
his physicians saw signs Of approaching death. but
life ebbed so slowly and quietly that it was thought
he might live far into the forenoon. Dr. Henry ID.
Paine paid his last visit just before midnight leay-
ing Mr.. Bryant in a cOmatose state, without pain OF
fever. His pulse was regular but very weak, and
| after that hour no attempt was made TO give him
nOurishment, owing to the extreme difficulty with
which he swallowed anything There at his
bedside his daughter, Miss Julia Bryant-hs other
daughter, Mrs. Parke Goodwin, being absent with
her husband in Europe; his granddaughter. Miss
Goodwin his niece Miss Fairchild; John A. Graham,
an old and intimate friend, and Frederick N.
Goddard. Death was expected at any moment
during the last three hours. After o'clock he sank
| into a slumber that closely resembed death. and
remained in that state for more than an hour. The
final change was so peaceful that the silent watch
ers were rot sure that his life had passed away
until thirty-fiye minutes after o'clock. {
Word was sent to Dr.'John +. Gray Mr.. BryanHs
senior physician, and dispatches were sent to Mr..
| Bryant's brother, John Howard Bryant, of Prince.
ton, H., who however, was somewhat expected by
morning train. The circumstances of the death
! scene were Sent Dy caDlo 10 MI. ana MIS- EdTho
| Goodwin, who are now in Europe.
Mr. Bryants remains were placed in the library
adjoining the room in which he died. During the
day ex-governor Samuel j. Tilden, General James
G. Wilson and few intimate friends of the family
called at the house to express their sympathy.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF Mr.. BRYANT's ILLNESS.
Mr. Bryant had filed the place of honor several
public occasions during the past Winter and Spring.
i H. tIa and
works of the Italian patriot Mazzini, and accepted
readily the invitation to participate prominently in
the exercises of unyeilng the Mazzin bust in Cen
trail Park on May 20. On that day, after eating a
very light luncheon, he proceeded to the Park The
sun shone brightly, and the westher was
uncommonly sultry for the season. When
| he stepped forward on the exposed platform
! TO deliver his address, a friend insisted on
protecting his uncovered head from the suns rays
with an umbrella, which was held over him. Mr..
Bryant spoke with unusual earnestness and feeling,
and, on reaching his peroraOn, stepped from under
the umbrella and, facing the statue, threw all the
force at his command into his closing words He
sat dOwn-nervOus and perceptibly exhausted.
When the ceremonies were over. however, Mr..
Bryant said that he was not faigued, and accepted
an invitation to dine with General James G. VIII
son, whose residence was half mile to the east of
the place of the exercises. Mr.. Bryant was fond of
walking, and they went to the house on foot. He
set out in very cheerful mood, with
one hand on the arm of his host and
the other clasping the hand of General
Wilson's little daughter. He was talking with the
little girl about the birds flying about them, and
asked her If she had heard of lines TO the
Bob-o-link. She answered yes, and that she also
knew who the poet was who wrote them. Where
upon Mr.. Bryant, much amused said he thought he
would write out the lines for her, sometime.
Mr. Bryant went up the steps of General Wilson's
residence and stood leaning against the outer door
post while his host stepped inside the vestibule to
open the inner door. General Wilson had scarcely
turned his hand before he heard a sound and look"
ing back saw that Mr. Bryant was falling as if he
had taken step into the vestibule, lost his bal
ance and fallen directly backward. his head striking
the platform step.
gentleman, who was passing IN the street, and
the servants helped to carry Mr.. Bryant into the
paTor where he lay for several minutes insensible
When he had recovered sufficiently to sit up
a glass of ieed-sheTy, which he drank,
seemed to strengthen him. He put his hand to his
head, moaning, My head! my head / dome
feel we'll" Mr. Bryant declined every offer of assist
ance and seemed only to think of getting home, and
desired to go in horse-car rather than in carriage
General Wilson took him to Seventeenth-st. in
Madison-aye. car and from there in carriage TO
his house, No. "a West Sixteenth-st. On
his way down Mr.. Bryant talked brokenly and
sometimes wandered in thought. He did not re-
cognize his street home, but as if mechanically
drew out his latch key and opened the door HIM
SELF the servant answering the bell tardily. When
the dining-roOm was reached, he asked General
Wilson if he would like to see Miss FaIrchild. his
niece, and sent the servant to call her. General
Wilson explained the matter to Miss Fairchild in the
parlor aud she asked Mr. Bryant if DR.. Gray should
be summoned. He expressed doubt whether the
doctor who had almost given up his practice, would
answer the call He told Miss Fairchd that he
was a very sick man, and on being removed to the
library ND stairs gave order TO the servant, and
then fell into an unconscious state, which lasted
until noon of the following day.
STATEMENT or HIS PHYSICIAN.
DR.. John F. Gray, who is seventy-four years Of
age. being Mr.. Bryants junior by ten years, has
been the poets family physician for nearly forty
wears. In conversation yesterday he said that Mr..
Bryants fall caused conclusion of the brain, and
that he had at no time expected the re-
covery of his patient The injuries were such
that younger and a stronger man could scarcely
have survived them. As the spot where Mr..
Bryant's head struck was lower than his feet his
head must have fallen distance Of six feet, and
with great force his head being proportionally so
much larger and heavier than his body. The swoon
preceding the fall was caused by diminution
OF interruption of the action of the heart or of the
respiratory organs. This was probably accom-
panied with temporary loss Of sensation and other
faculties.
II sent for DIR. Carnochan, the surgeon" DR..
Grav continued " He could find no injury to tn,
slxrll and therefore thought there was a chance Of
recovery. Mr.. Bryant, during the first few days
u