The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-07-31
a Touching Recital OF the Pathetic
Incidents During the Closing
Moments.
President Cleveland Sends a Touching
Letter to the Widow Of the
Dead Statesman.
Inferred in One of New York
City's Parks.
Comments of the London Press-Mr
Gladstone and John Bright Deeply
Affected-How the News
Was Received.
THE CHIEFTAIN's END.

Ulysses S. Grant died Thursday morning at
sos o'clock. He had been growing weaker
all through the night and early hours of the
morning. He died calmly and without any
apparent pain, agony, exertion or suffering.
His pulse ever since nine o'clock Wednes-
day evening had been growing faster and
faster. AS DR.. Douglass said of it, sit
went so fast we could not count it." The
Generals respiration, of course, was very
vigorous, sixty times minute, even to
death.
About midnight he was asked by Colonel
Fred Grant if he was suffering, when he re-
piled in a whisper mo" Colonel Grant
asked him the same question several times
during the night. Along towards three
o'clock the Colonel asked him if he wanted
anything, when he feebly replied ''Water. :"
He never spoke another word.
Mrs. Grant gave him water and then
milk. He swallowed but little of the two.
All that he did was to try. A. faint gurgle
was heard. Thereafter Mrs. Grant kept a
handkerchief, which was soaked in water to
the Generals lips. He would close the lips
on it when put to his mouth. Mrs. Grant
kept asking DO you know me,'' and no re-
ply would be heard. Then she would say,
If you know me press my hand" He
some times would open his eyes, but would
close them soon again. This occurred at
intervals of every few minutes. The one
popularity of his demise was the exhibition
of remarkable vitality which he seemed to
&C a RI lfx
after faculty flickered away. He died with
his conscience about him.
Toward the last his respiration was pant
ing, shallow and noiseless. His breathing
became very quick. His death resulted from
exhaustion and he evidently suffered no pain
from the time he began to sink. His last
afternoon, when he said: 81 hope nobody
will be distressed on my account"
THE LAST MOMENTS.
Shortly before eight o'clock, while the
family were preparing for breakfast and the
doctors were discussing the patient chances
on the piazza of the cottage, Henry the
nurse, who was with the General stepped
out of the sick room and going to where the
doctors were standing, informed them in a
whisper that he thought the end was near.
The doctors hastily went to the room, and
at glance took in the situation.
They quietly ordered the nurse to summon
the family to the sick ROOM Mrs. Grant,
Jesse Grant and wife, u. S. Grant, Jr., and
wife and Mrs. Colonel Grant instantly an
sWered the summons and were soon at the
side of the sick bed. Mrs. Sartoris, noticing
the doctors hurriedly going TO the room, fol-
lowed them and was the first member of the
family present. Colonel Fred was now the
only one absent having strolled off
around the grounds. Servants were
sent in search of him, but he
entered the sick room of his own accord
before any one had succeeded in bringing
him the news Of his fathers approaching
death. Colonel Grant took a seat at the
fight side of the bed, placing his left arm on
the pillow above his fathers head. Close
by the bedside sat Mrs. Grant, intensely
agitated but bravely suppressing her emo
tions, and striving to be calm. She leaned
upon the bed with one elbow and gazing with
eyes blindedwith tears into the General face
There was, however, no sign of recognition
in his pallid face. He was breathing fast
and with slightly gasping respirations. Mrs.
Sartoris leaned on the shoulder of her
mother, and witnessed with pent-up emotion,
the ebb Of a life in which she had consti-
tuted an elemept of pride. The scene was
quiet one. The General passed peacefully
and painlessly into another world.
At little distance behind Mrs. Grant and
Mrs. Sartoris stood the three physicians,
Douglass, Shrady and Sands, silent specta-
tors of scene which, but for their efforts,
would doubtless have occurred months ago.
Jesse Grant and U. S. Grant, Jr., stood OPP
10 o4f~o. - IL
bed. Near by, at the foot of the
cot, and close by Jesse, was Mr.. N. E.
Dawson, the Generals confidential secretary
and stenographer. At the foot of the bed
stood Mrs. U. S. Grant, Jr., and by her side
Mrs. Col. Grant and Miss Jesse Grant.
These three gazed down into the face of the
General while their eyes became suffused
with tears.
The sad expression of their faces plainly
reflected the anguish of their feelings. Now
aud then they stole a glance at Mrs Grant,
who, with bowed head, was watching the
face of her dying husband, No word was
spoken, and the stiffness of the room added
to the impressiveneSs of the sad scene.
Mrs. Grant several times affectionately
stroked the face, forehead and arms of her
husband and seemed utterly beside herself
with despair at the thought of her approach
ing separation by death from the man with
whom she had passed SO many years OF
welded happiness.
DIR. Douglass several times felt the pulse
of the patient, who was now quietly passing
away, but this dwindled to point beyond
detection. The respiration grew momertar-
lily more quickened, his face reflected no
pain, and although at first his breathing
seemed labored it gradually became weak
er, and with but little effort.
Towards the end, as if by sudden inn
pulse, she arose, and Selling both of the
Generals hands within her own, pressed
them, and turning kissed him fervently on
the forehead. At this few convulsive sobs
were heard coming from the direction where
q. S. Grant, ,Jr., stood, but these were
speedily depressed. and solemn stiffness
again came over the room.
As the time wore on the breathing of the
patient became fainter, until only slight
heaving of the chest was noticeable. His
eye-balls began to take set expression,
while the lids gradually began to close. An
expression of supreme happiness stole over
his face, and then, with two or three deep
drawn gasps, the General passed quietly
away and sweetly as though he had fallen
to sleep.
The family. who had been quiet, now
drew close to the bed and listened for some
further sign of life, but none came.
Just few seconds before his demise, the
General opened his eyes and they met those
of his daughter. The effect was instant. He
closed them and soon after expired. Mrs.
Sartoris was weeping, as were also the
other members.
DR.. Douglass was the first to break the
stiffness. In a half broken voice he said
Alst loud enough to be heard: ''Well, his
,Sufferings have at last come to an end. 1t
lis all over now" at the same time heaving a
deep sigh.