The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-04
WENDELL PHILLIPS.
Death OF the Famous Abolition
ist.
HEART DISEASE THE CAUSE
sKETGM OE Mss LAST SICKNESS.

Boston, Feb. 2--Wendell Phillips died at
his home, 81 Common street this evening at
6.15 O'clock, his I'D year. His trouble was
heart disease-is the same which caused the
death Of his father and three brothers. Mr.
Philips during the past year has gradu.
ally withdrawn from public lie, declining all
engagements to lecture, and appearing at few
public meetings, and then very reluctantly
He has, however, enjoyed excellent health.
His last public address was given on the occa-
sion of the unveiling of Miss Whitney's statue
of Har riet Martneau in the Old South Meet
ing House December rs.
Some 10 days ago DIR. Thayer was sent for,
and he found Mr.. Phillips suffering acutely
from angina pectoris, ,r heart trouble, but af
ter treatment he was relieved of the pain, and
was thought to be cured. Early on the mora
ing Of Sunday last, however, the doctor was
again sent for and he found return of the dis
ease, the patient complaining of pain in the
left side, little below the heart and extend
ing to the neck, little behind the ear. The
pain was more intense when the patient lay
down, and it was impossible for him to repoSo
on the left side. The treatment adopted
brought relief, and few hours afterwards he
got to sleep, his repose lasting for two or three
hours, alter which he was somewhat better.
OH dtOuudJ bu6 pdtu was lOuuQ G3 nave SX-
tauded TO the left shoulder and forearm, but
the sufferer was better in every other respect.
ia tue Afternoon the pain bad almost left him.
Tuesday brought no unfavoIable change, but
on Wednesday the pain again appeared though
not in the same spot.I then began in the lower
end Of the sternum ,and the patient said the feel
ing was "as if some one had cutched him by
the throat" The pulse was then only 81, with
an occasional intermission of beat. On
Thursday the symptoms of the disease were
severe thst Mr.. Phillips cried out: "This pain
il agony" allading to the feeling III the lower
hall OF the siernum; II can't lie down." He
called for.morpbne or chloroform or something
which would remove the pain, and an anses-
thetc was administered. de said to the dOc-
tor: doctor, L have no fear of DEATH 1 am
willing to die today as well as at any time,
but for my poor wife-I had hoped I should
have outlived hsr.'"F the reason,'' said
the doctor. "shAJ no one could take the same
was better and had not taken the an@stheic
since O'Clock in the morning. He slept we'll
and was free from pain, tnough very weak.
During the day no took mutton broth and beef
tea, and seemed much improved; but ab0at
midnight. the doctor was sent for again, and
then he found the patient much worse, the
pulse being feeble and very irregular-so much
so thai it could not be counted at the wrist.
These symptoms continued and ether medical
aid was called IN by the physicians IN attend
ance, but only anasthetics gave him relief On
Friday moruing he lay very quiet and was ask
cd If he would like to have oJher medical ad.
vice and he decliued. Drs Thayer and Spears
however, stayed through the day, and, at noon
the satiynt expressed himself as feeling better;
but aiLerward he felt the pain again, this time
III the right shoulder and the sternum. FRI
day. light brought ease again for time, and
it Is declared TO have been his best night DUR
ing Ills illness. Between 8 aud o'clock Sat-
urday afternoon DIR. Thayer was again sent for
IN haste, and he then found the patient suffer.
ing severely. The doctor was told that Mr.
Phillips had tainted in attempting to get up.
Hs never rallied, but led ont repeatedly Tor
ether, and said: I'm dying; I'm dying" He
sank very slowly and breatned his last at 615
O'Clock, "As quietly" says the doctor 'tss If he
was just going to sleep" In his last moments
he was surrounded by his wife aud several inti-
mate friends, who had been hastily summoned
when it was evident thai the end was about to