The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-09
GEN. GRANT.


GEN. GRANT.
His Condition from Day to Day-A Brave Struggle
The following sketch gives the condition Of
Gen. Grant from day to day up to the hour OF
| going to press:
THURSDAY, APRIL 9.
| The General passed restless night. He was
annoyed at times by attacks of coughing and
| the accumulation of mucus in the throat. At
o'clock in the morning his pulse failed to such
degree that it was believed the end was ap-
preaching. Injections of stimulants were adj
ministered at short intervals and the patient
rallied considerably. When he was little
stronger he glanced at the members of the
family, the physicians, DR.. Newman and the
attendants, all grouped at the bedside, and
he uttered these words: 81 bless you all" He
then fell asleep and on awakening arose and
tried to go down stairs He was induced, how
ever, to return to his room, when he again fell
asleep. In the evening Gen. Grant appeared
| cheerful and free from pain, and requested the
attendance of his family, that he might enjoy
their conversation.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3.
Gen. Grant slept well last night under the in
| fiuence of an anodyne. He had no unfavorable
symptoms during the night, aud after his throat
had received medical attention he seemed so
bright that his family were encouraged and al
most hopeful. Rev. DR.. Newman, who left the
house at o'clock this morning, reported the ia
vorabe indications to the little group of inter
ested persons who had already gathered outside,
and said that Gen. Grant had spoken to him
aud that his voice was stronger than at any time
since the dangerous symptoms set in. His
condition generally was much improved, and
his doctors thought he might live several
days. The friends Of Gen. Grant have been in
formed that he has expressed a desire to be
buried at Washington, and they are consulting
as to what action shall be taken when he dies.
1t is said that Gen. Sheridan will have the mat
ter in charge, and that the funeral will take
place in that city with impressive national
ceremonies.
SATURDAY, APRIL A.
The dying Generals condition had under
gone little change since the previous day, but
he passed restful night. He was cheerful and
laxative. When DIR. Shrady left the sick
room In the morning he said:
"Good morning, General; you have had a
splendid night"
"Yes, feel quite refreshed answered the
General.
"And now, General, the way to make me
happy is to stay that way until l come back
this afternoon, and when | then ask you how
you are, want you to say you are better"
81 do not wish to go against my conscience"
returned the patient.
But am sure you Will De better, insisted
DIR. Shrady, cheerfully.
~ will agree to be, if you keep up the same
line of action and tell DIR. Douglas to do SO
when you are gone" responded the General.
Certainly, will ask him to do so" returned
the doctor. We intend to keep up this line
of action IF 1t takes all Summer"
At this quotation of the famous utterance of
the great soldier during the Wilderness cam
paign, the patients eyes frightened and he
looked up quickly and smiled
In the afternoon Gen. Grant complained of
feeling little chilly, and wood fire was
started in the CRATE. The invalid's chair was
then wheeled up to the fireplace, and DR..
Shrady and Mrs, Sartoris sat with him until
evening.
Shortly after o'clock at night there was
some alarm at the Generals condition, and DIR.
Douglas was summoned in hot haste, but the
unfavorable symptoms soon passed away, and
before 10 O'Clock he was sleeping soundly.
When Senator Chaffee called during the day
Gen. Grant said to him. in referring to his con-
dition: This is hard" And after pause of
some minutes added: / am going to die" Mr..
Chaffee asked him if he was not feeling better,
to which he replied: 81 don't know. You
know I'm going to die the doctors know Pm
going to die, and i want to die" Referring to
DR.. Newman's visits, the General said that he al
lowed him to pray, not that he thought his pray
ers would save him, but he did not want to say
anything W uUIb Hlo Otu ulu
not ask him to stop.
In the early part Of the day Gen. Grant wrote
a half-page letter to a friend, and the hand
writing strong and legible as at any
time during health.
The nourishment taken by Gen Grant con-
sists chiefly of beef tea, eggs beaten in milk,
and farinaceous substances This food is adj
ministered by Harrison the colored attendant,
and Henry, professional white nurse
SUNDAY, APRIL S.
Easter morning found the dying soldiers
condition little changed. At about o'clock in
the morning Cyrus w. Field called, bringing
the General bouquet of Spring flowers and
later in the day large box of the same arrived
from Washington. The invalid passed t0ler-
ably comfortable day, without any new symp-
toms revealing themselves.
MONDAY, APRIL 6.
Sunday night was passed quietly by Gen.
Grant and he awoke after a seven and a half
hours sleep refreshed and cheerful. In the
afternoon after an examination of the Gen
erals throat, he said to Dr. Shrady:
My chances of pulling through this are one In q
hundred, l have no doubt, but sometimes do feel
that shall get better. think If / have another
strangng spell shall go off very quickly, and if
you doctors tell how long a man can live under
water when he is drowning then i think l
form some idea of what time shall have to live
when that next strangiing comes on, if does come
some time for feel so much better the last two
days.
At a late hour Gen. Grant was as well as he
had been for some time past.
TUESDAY, APRIL z.
At 3:45 this morning Gen. Gratis condition
was such as to cause the greatest fears. A car
riage was sent for DR.. Sands. This is the first
time DIR. Sands has been sent for. The invalid
appeared to be choking, and it was for the pur-
pose OF performing tracheotomy, the operation
of making an opening in the windpipe, that the
doctor was sent for. 1t was not, however, found
necessary to resort to this pedient Alta o'clock
the patient awoke and took lis nourishment.
Immediately afterwards he was seized with
violent paroxysm of coughing, which caused
slight hemorrhage, which ceased in few min
utes. At o'clock Gen. Grant was sleeping
quietly under the influence of morphine.
Do you ever have acute pains in your
left breast extending to your arms? Do you ever