The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-17
HENRY CLAY.
RecoIlections OF John III. Harmon-His Life
and Death.
Detroit Free Press

ReCOUectfOnS OF John IL HarmOn-h1S Lie
and Death.
detroit Free Press
at was Henry Clay's purpose" said John
H Harmon, continuing the story of his recol
lections of the famous orator and statesman.
ito leave Washington Immediately after his
speech. The early fall weather was really
the Indian summer season. and most favor
able to such a journey as he had in mind.
His speech in the Senate chamber on his
farewell quite overcome him. Though he
held up to the end under strong mental in
huences, the orator never rallied again. Very
much exhausted Clay.was taken to his rooms
in the old National Hotel, at Washington,
and / believe never afterwards left them.
The winter came and went; the session con-
tinued with it. Every day right after prayer
the Senate the Chair announced the state
of his health. The announcements directly
became rather sterotyped. 1t was usually
Mr.. Clay is gradually fail1ng;' after a time
it became Mr.. Clay is failing rapidly next
we hear Mr.. Clay is sinking, but his mind is
very clear Finally it came to be under
stood that if he should die during the hours
of the session the bells should toll in an
nouncement OF 1t.
HANNEGAN HAS THE FLOOR.
ut was upon morning in the early part
OF May, 1852, season beyond all others
most delightfully."- beautiful in Washington.
Inc trees anu III Tue OdDlOOl
and the hower-beds were fresh and pleasant
to look upon.
'Hsnnegan, of Indiana, an Irishman,
bright as silver. witty, eloquent and always
interesting, had the floor of the Senate, mak-
ing a set speech on our policy with regard to
foreign affairs. His seat was well up toward
the Iear. Being of a quick and nervous
temperament, he took the main aisle, aud
while declaiming would work himself for
ward almost to the Clerks desk, noticing
which be would bound way back, going
through these motions continuously until he
had finished. Senator FRYE, of Maine, has
very much the same method. A son of Sem
ator Hannegan, Incorporating, gray
headed man, is one of the messengers of the
Senate now. He frequently asks me about
his father. Hannegan was speaking in his
quick, impulsive manner, half way down the
aisle, and progressing with an enthusiastic
sentence, when single toll OF bell quivered
through the air. Hannegan ceased speaking
in flash, bounded back to the rear, turned
pale, and in tremulous word, said: Mr..
President, the probabilities are that the
GREATS st statesman in America is now no
more; move that the Senate adjourn
'"There:: was no chance to note 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 remem-
DER dS we DdSScQ luIOuSn tuc IOtuuuh tndb
1t was full of members issuing therefrom.
1.-THE rapidity with which the city was
thrown into mourning has always caused me
to wonder. Walking directly from the Cap
itol, when we reached the edge OF the grounds
where the peace monument now is, Pennsyl-
vania avenue was seen to be filled with
steamers of black. hanging from windows,
fastened to balconies wound round columns
and awning poles, and stretched across the
street. 1t was solemn sight.
1.-THE National Hotel was thick with Grape,
and so was Morrison's bookstore, 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
Here, when they had leisure, both would al
| ways be found reading and studying, or dis
| GUESSING literature, new and old, but very sell
| dom politics, with friends and admirers who
came to seek them out Clay passed more
| time at Morrison's than Webster. The little
| rooms did not communicate, and neither
statesman could be seen by the other.
THE CAPITAL SHOCKED.
"The event, though long expected, shockei
| people to the extent that all business wa:
| suspended. Many bar-rooms, even, were
| closed, ard in others men lowered thei
voices and conversed in quiet tones, as If in
| the presence of the dead. l was in Wash
| ington at the time of the assassination o
| Lincoln and again at that of Garfield, bu
neither event appeared to throw such gloon