Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-09
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
The Story Of His Daeth as Told by Dr.
Moran.


Ifs Memory Vindicated by One WLo Vas
WIh Him IN HIS Last Momcnn-As
Eloquent and Touching Tiibute.
There was fair audience AZ the Con.
gregational church last night, TO listen
to the lecture by DR.. j. j. Moran. Of
Falls Church, Va, on the life. character.
dying declarations and death of Edgar
Allan Poe. DIR. Moran was introduced
by Prof. Elmer X. Reynolds, and in
opening his lecture said that his theme
covered the earlier and ripper years OF
the poet. but would be more especially
devoted to his dying hours, when be sat
hy his bedside and wiped the moisture
from his face and sought to soolh his
last moments. After giving a brief
sketch OF Poe's parents he passed rap
| IDLY on to the boy hood and youth OF the
poet and traced his brilliant literary
| career without any studied effort at ef-
| iect, drawing most feeling sketch of
the vicissitudes through which he pass
ed. and the deep anguish ana gloom
that settled upon him after the death Of
his wife at Fordham. BY All over
whelming weight of testimony the lee
turer controverted the slander that Poe
| had composed the Raven" while labor
ing under a fit of dekiriHm fresncns. and
quoted from his letter TO Dr. Snodgrass,
recently published IN the Baltimore
American. TO show the true nature of the
man who had suffered 30 uniustly at
the hands Of his biographer. Coming
down To the closing days of Poc's life.
Moran gave the true version OF his last
| visit 10 Baltimore He said Poe arrived
| IN that city and went TO a hotel, wher..
he completed his arrangements for u
trip TO Philadelphia. Starting on his
journey he reached the SusQuehanns4
river, which Il was then necessary to
cross by boat. The weather was tenn
pestuous and the water 10 rough that he
decided not IN venture on the boat aud
returned to Baltimore, where he went
to "a hUteI and left his trunk. Later b.,
started for walk shout the city, and
those who last saw him noticed that he
was followed by'two or three suspicious
characters. who closely dogged bis foot.
steps. As the shades OF evening de
scended upon the city Poe hal rambled
on until he bad reached dangerous
portion of the town, where it was un-
safe for a man to ioitsr alone. Here
the men who had been following came.
up with him and he was forced into "a.
low den, where he was drugged, robbed.
stripped of his apparel, and then clothed
IA the filthy rags of one of the brutes
who had assaulted him. From this-
place he was thrust into the street, and
as he staggered alone. his brain be
numbed 10y the deadly drug, he fell
over an obstacle in his pathway and lay
insensiblc for hours exposed TO the cut
ting October air. 4 gentleman passing
recognized the face Of Poe as he l.,
prone upon the street. aud calling ~
hack he directed that he be conveyed
to tue Washington Hospital, sending
his card to DR.. Moran with the single
word Poe written in the corner. Poe.
vas cared for and received energetic
medical treatment To counteract the.
effect Of his depressed condition. Dur
ing this time br. Moran said to hun
"How do you feel, Mr. Poe -
Miserable"
"Do YOU suffer any pain -
"No."
How long have you been sick ~
81 cannot say"
Where have you been stopping" 7"
AT hotel on Pratt street. opposite
the depot"
Have you trunk or anything you
would like sent for %
"My trunk contains nothing but nv
papers and manuscripts"
In the courAe of this conversation.
Dr. Moran says he critically examined
the condition Of his patient, and could
discover nothing whatever o indicate
that 1t was the result Of liquor or any
intoxicating drink. The speaker said
the slander had been reiterated that
Poe died while under the influence of
liquor, and nothing cJuld be farther
from the fact. Upon his arrival at the
hospital, the doctor quea toned the hack
man who brought him there. and he de-
clared that Poe was not drunk, nor was
there the smell of liquor about him
when he lifted him into his vehic q. AZ
Poe's last hour approached. DIR. Moran
said that he bent over him and asked if
be bad any word he wished communi-
Gated TO his friends. Poe raised bic
fading eyes and answered, "Nevermorc."
In lev moments he turned uneasily
aud moaned, ''oh, God, is there no ran
som for the deathiess spirit - Con-
tinuing be said: ale who rode the
heavens and upholds The universe hss
lie DEGREES written on the frontlet OF
every human being" Then followed
murmurinF. growing fainter and fainter.
then a tremor Of the limbs, u faint Sigh.
and the spirit Of Edgar Allan Poe bad
passed the boundary line that divides
time from eternity.