The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-08
The Story Of Edgar Allen Poe's
Death.

DIR. J. j. Moran, Of Falls Church,
Va delivered a lecture on Wednesday
evening in the Congregational Church
Washington, d. c., on the life, char
.cter. dying declarations and death OF
Edgar Allan Poe. DR.. Moran said his
heme covered the earlier and ripper
years of the poet, but was especially
devoted to his dying hours, when he sat
BY his bedside and wiped the moisture
from his face and sought to soothe his
last moments. After giving a brief
-ketch ofPoe's parents, he passed rap
iily on to the boyhood and youth ofthe
poet. and traced his brilliant literary
-areer without any studied effort at
effect. drawing a most feeling sketch OF
the vicissitudes through which he pass
81. and the deep anguish and gloom
that ,ettled upon him after the death OF
bis wife at Fordham. By an oyerwhelm-
ing weight OF testimony the lecturer con-
troverted the Islander that Poe a com
posed the Craven while laDoring I'M
der a fit of delirium tremens, and quo
ted from his letter to DIR. Snodgrass,
recently published in the Baltimore
Amertcan, to show the true nature OF the
man who has suffered SO unjustly at the
hands of biographers. Coming down to
the closing days of Poe's life, DR.. Moran
gave he true version of his last visit to
Baltimore. He said Poe arrived IN that
city ard went to a hotel, where he com
pleted his arrangement for a trip to
| Philadelphia. Starting on his journey,
he reached the Susquehanna river, which
river which it was necessary to cross Dy
boat. The weather was tempestuous and
the water so rough that he decided not
to venture on the boat, and returned to
Baltino ore where he went to a hotel and
left his trunk. Later he started tor a
walk shout the city, and those who last
sa him, noticed that he was followed by
two O: three suspicious characters, who
closely logged his footsteps. As the
shades of evening descended upon the
CITY Pee rambled on until he had reach
ed a dangerous portion OF the town,
where it was unsafe for a man TO iOlte:
alone. Here the men whe had been fol
lowing came up with him, and he was
forced into "a low den, where he wa
drugged, robbed, stripped ofhis apparel,
and then clothed III the filthy rags ofone
of the brutes who had assaulted him.
From this place he was thrust into tn,
street, and, as he staggered along, his
brain tenumbed by the deadly drug.
he fell over an obstacle in his pathway
and Law insensibie for hours, exposed t.
the cutting October air. A gentleman
passing recognized the face OF Poe, as
he lay prone upon the street, and, call
ing a hack, he directed that he be con-
yeyed to the Washington Hospital,
sending his card to DR.. Moran, with the
single word Poe written in the corner.
Poe was cared for, and received ener-
getic medical treatment to couDeract
the effect of his depressed condition.
During this time DR.. Moran said to
him: How do you feel, Mr.. Poe?'
Miserable"
do you suffer any paln?"
Mo-
How long have you been sick?'
Il cannot say
Where have you been stopping?"
AT a hotel on Pratt street, opposite
tie depot
'sHave you a trunk or anything you
would ike sent for"
My trunk contains nothing but my
paners and manuscripts"
In tn course of this conversation DR..
Moran says he critically examined the
coalition of his patient and could dis
cover nothing whatever to Indicate that
it was the result Of liquor or any intoxi-
eating drink. The speaker said the
SANDER had been reiterated that Poe
died while under the influence of liquor,
and futhing could be further tron the
fact. Upon his arrival at the Hospital,
tie Doctor questioned the hickman
wko brought him there, and he declar-
ed hat Poe was not drunk, nor was
there the smell of liquor about him when
he lifted him into his vehicle. As Poe's
last hour approached, DIR. Moran said
that he bene over him and asked if he
had any word be wished communicated
to his friends. Poe raised his fading
eyes and answered, "Neyermore.' In
a few mcmerts he turned uneasily and
moaned: 20 God, is there no ransom
for the deathless spirit?" Continuing,
he said: he who rode the heavens and
upholds the universe, has His DEGREES
written on the f~rontlet of every human
being" Then followed murmuring,
growing fainter and fainter; hen a ire
NOR of the limbs, a faint sigh, and the
spirit Of Edgar Allan Poe had passed
the b ,undary line that divides time from
eteruity.-Bdft,m0re Americap.