Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-06

him and he replied: "Ye-, IFS john DR..
ne vas attending TO some of his wants, and
moving him in his red, when ne said:
Doctor, you hurt me-"
Or. Raines GAYS that these were the lzst
words he ever uttered. This was purely an
accidental eIclsm alton. II this be true,
and we could hear of no words uttered after
these, they remind one Of the last words Of
Garfield, who said Just before he died:
"On, Swain, that psisp
Il is q strange fate, the last words wrested
from Mr.. Stephens psllid and drawn lips
was an appeal against the physical agony
with which his whole life had been racked.
For more than half a century the spirit 81
pain had clouded his existence, freighted
his every breath with suffering. And al
last, when the shadows Of death had gath
cred about his bedside, and the compass
sionate mercy OF Ged seemed TO have tenn
pered the pangs Of dissolution, his old enemy,
relentless and uuspsring invaded even that
presence, defed even that mercy, and de-
manded the last words his trembling lips
should utter upon this earth.
Mr.. STEPHENS FORMER ATTACKS.
Mr.. Stephens has been an invalid most Of
his life, and his death has frequently been
expected, and at least twice definitely an
nounced. In 1854 he had a desperate sick
Dess, which was preceded in 1857 by an
attack. In 1860 he was seized with vertigo
and fell out his back door, which came very
near killing him. During the war be suf-
fsred terribly. In 1869 he was crippled and
had long spell OF sickness. In 1875 it was
announced that he was dying, and a mid
night meeting in the Methodist church, in
Atlanta, prayed for his recovery. In 1877
it was announced that he was dead. In 1879
he was almost as i'll. His main trouble OF
late has been with his stomach, neuralgia of
the bowels, cholera morbus aud similar COM
plants, have caused him much suffering,
and his physicians have always feared that
it would be the cause of his death.
Mr.. STEPHENS RELIGIOUS BELIEF.
A few moments after death had taken
place, some one remarked on the calmness
and tranquility with which Mr.. Stephens
bad faced it from the first. Dr.Steiner said
'Such a man as Mr.. Stephens could have
faced any sort of death with perfect calm
ness."
Some one asked about his religious belief.
Dr. Steiner said. ST was with Mr.. Stephens
several years ago when he was very low-he
thought he was dying and l was very fearful.
| was going 10 Augusta for the night when
he stopped me. He said, Doctor, L want you
to see me die. Except Toombs and my
family l think more of you than of any man
on earth. / want you with me when l die
[ agreed 10 rtay with him. Shortly alter
wards DR.. Irvine come in. He said: "Mr.
Stephens, l will go out and see Harry and his
family; when come back, if you have no OBJ
fiction, L will read chspter in the Bible, and
quickly: Il do object and most decidedly.
| bav nbisrtiOr In for I h.liau.
in it, but l do object 10 deathbed repentance.
l have made it the rule Of my life 10 live
each day as if it were going to be my last
In The heat OF politics I may have some
times forgotten myself, but ! am no better
to-day on my deathbed than | have tried to
be everyday of my life, and / have no
special preparations to make and no special
pless to Offer That was Mr.. Stephenss
creed end belief. l heard him say on an
other occasion, Real prayer means 10 throw
yourself at the feet of jesus Christ and to
pray trustingly. Ny prayer is the Lords
prayer aud the publican's prayer Mr..
Siepheps's creed was simple, but it would
have suficed 10 have carried him without a
tremor through the most terrible death
struggle. II was the rule of his life to live
every day as il it were 10 be the last"
THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS BURIAL.
Thirty minutes after Mr. Stephens death
was announced the mansion was almost de-
serted, and the few friends who had rem aimed
until the last hour had gone to their homes.
The family had retired to their ROOM, and
the phyaiciaus, worn out with constant
watching, had Withdrawn 10 tske their
needed rest
Mr.. Seidell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brady, Mr..
Kontz and few others were busted In the
library arranging for dressing the bsdy. I'm.
der the stepg in the hall we're two negro SER
wants in lold and touching lamentations
over the death of their master. On the
hearth in trout of the warm ere lay his little
dog that had watched by his bedside through
his whole sickness. At about 4 O'Clock q
force OF updartakers, who came TO prepare
The body for burial, invaded the house.
Their brusque and hssly manner was in
strange contrast to the stiffness that had
pervaded the house since the death of it's
master was announced. Preparations were
made for the body TO lay in state in the
mansion during to-day, where we presume
his people can take last look at the
face OF one they have loved and
trusted for more than ffty wears The ar
engagements for the funeral are as yet, of
course, not determined on. 1t VIZ, almost
daybresk when Mr.. Stephens died, and every
member OF his family was utterly wornout
with watching. 1t is known, however, that
the body will be taken to Crawfordville for
interment. For many years 1t has been Mr.
Stephens expressed wish that he should be
buried 10 his own cemetery in his old hsme,
aud that bis body should be put to rest by
the side OF that of his mother. The arrange
ments for the funeral will be completed dur
ing the day, and the announcement will be
made tom orrow.