Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-11-13
HENRY CLAY's DEATH.
Scene in the Senate When the Sad
News Was Announced.
Hannegan's Motion to Adjourn-The
People ofthe Capitol City Shocked
Beyond Measure-The States
mans Burial.
Detroit Free Press. ]

ealQ JOln n. 1dmsOn, OOuIluuluS his
story of his recollections of the famous
orator and statesman Ito leave Wash
ington Immediately after his speech.
The early fall weather was really the
Indian summer season, and most fa-
vorable to such journey as he had in
mind. His speech in the senate cham
Der, on his farewell, quite overcame
him. Though he held to the end un-
der strong mental influence the orator
never rallied again. Very much ex'
hausted Clay was taken to his rooms at
the old National hotel at Washington
and never afterwards left them. Win
ter came and wen.; the session continu
ed with it. Every day, right after pray
ers in the senate, the chair annouced
the state of his health. The announce
ment directly became rather stereo-
typed 1t was usually Mr.. Clay IS
gradually failing, after time it be-
came Mr.. Clay is failing rapidly
next we heard 'Mr. Clay is sinking,
but his mind is very clear Finally it
came to be understood thai if he should
die during the hours of the session the
bells should toll in announcement of
it.
cit was on morning in the early
part of May, 1852, season beyond
all others the most delightfully."- beau
tlful in Washington. The trees and
shrubs of the capitol grounds and the
flower beds were fresh and pleasant to
look upon. Hannegan, of Indiana. an
Irshman, bright as silver. witty, elo-
ouent, and always interesting, had the
floor Of the senate, making a set speech
on our policy with regard to foreign
affairs. His seat was we'll up toward
the rear. Being of quick and nerv-
GUS temperament, he took the main
aisle, and while decleiming would
work himself forward air ost to the
clerks desk, discovering which he
would bound away back, going through
these motions continuously until he
had finished. Hannegan was speak
ing in his quick, impulsive manner,
half way down and progressing with
an enthusiastic sentence, when a single
toll of a bell quivered through the air.
Hannegan ceased speaking in flash,
bounded back to the rear, turned pale,
and in tremulous voice said: 'Mr.
President, the probabilities are that the
greatest statesman in America is
now no more l move that the senate
adjourn
"There was no chance to vote upon
it. Instantly every man took his hat
and coat, and before the second toll OF
the bell came all were away. The
same sort of proceedings must have
dispersed the house, for | remember
as we passed through the rotunda that
it was full of members issuing there
from.
"The rapid,ty with which the city
was thrown into mourning has always
caused me to wonder. Walking di'
rectly from the capitol. when we
reached the edge of the grounds where
the peace monument now is, Pennsyl
vania avenue was seen to be filled
with streamers of black, hanging from
windows fastened to balconies, wound
round columns awning poles, and
stretched across the street. 1t was q
solemn sight.
:.The National hotel was thick with
Grape, and so was Morrison's book
store, adjoining it. 1t is the same
store still, now kept by Morrison's son,
and formerly the resort and lounging
place Of both Clay and Webster
There was two little black rooms, one
always occupied by Clay, and the 9th.
er by Webster. Here, when they hao
leisure, both would always be found
reading and studying or discussing
literature. new and old, but very sci.
dom politics, with friends and admir-
ers who came to seek them out. Clay
passed more time at Morrison's than
Webster. The little rooms did not
communicate aud neither statesman
could be seen by the other.
"The event though long expected
shocked people to the extent that al
business was suspended. Many bar
rooms, even, were closed, and in 9TH
ers men lowered their voices and con.
versed in quiet tones, as if in the pres.
ence Of the dead was in Washing
ton at the time of the assassination o1
Lincoln, and again at that of Garfield
but neither event appeared to throw
such gloom over the city as the death
of Henry Clay. The feeling was one Of
pure sorrow, unmixed with indigna
tion or anger, such as it felt at the
deeds which led to the murder of the
presidents. On these occasions mer
were bo'sterous with threats and grief
but silence and gloom overspread the
city where lay the dead body Of the
much loved orator and statesman. II
was in time of peace, and the capita
was unused to such shocks, and there
fore men talked in whispers when all
was over with Henry Clay.
"He was bur ed IN the congressional
cemetery, and monument was placed
upon the spot, but there is nothing un
der it. Strangely enough for all the
many years Clay had passed in Wash
ington, his wife had never visited thai
c;fu Once he had started to take his