Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1885-07-25
THE LAST MOMENTS.
HOW THE OLD HERO SANK
TO REST.
The Scenes by the Generals Bed

The Scenes by the Generals Bed
| The entire family and household
we're gathered at the bedside of
the dying man. The members OF
the group had been summoned not
moment sooner than was prudent.
The doctors noted on entering the
room and proceeding to the bedside
that already the purplish tinge,
which is one of Natures signals of
final dissolution, had settled be-
meath the fnger-Dalls. The hand
that DR.. Douglas lifted was fast
growing colder than it had been
through the night. The pulse had
futtered beyond a point where the
physician could distinguish it from
the pulse beats in his own finger
tips. Respiration was very rapid,
and was succession Of shallow
painting limitations, but happily
the approaching end was coming.
Clear of the rattling fullness Of the
| throat and lungs, and az the respi-
| rations grew quicker and more
! rapid at the close they also became
less lobored and slmost noiseless.
This fact was, in its results. COM
fort to the watchers by the bedside,
to whom was spared the scene of
other than a peaceful death. Mrs.
Grant stroked the forehead and
hands Of the dying General at
times, and as passionate longing
to prevent the event SO near would
rise within her, she pressed both
his hands and lea..ine forward ten
derby kissed the face Of the dying
man.
DEATH OF THE GRIM OLD VETERAN.
Col. Fred Grant sat silently, but
with evident feeling, though his
bearing was that of soldierly son
at the death-bed of hero father.
U. 8. Grant Jr. was deeply moved,
but Jesse bore the scene steadily,
and the ladies, while watching with
wet cheeks, were silent The morn
ing had passed five minutes beyond
8 o'clock, and there was not one Of
the strained and waiting watchers
but who could mark the Dearness
of the life-tide to its final ebbing.
DR. Douglas, who noted the near
ness of the supreme moment, quiet
~ approached the bedside and bent
above it, and while he did so the
sorrow Of the gray-haired physician
seemed closely allied with that Of
the family. DR.. Shrady also drew
near. 1t was seven minutes past 8
O'Clock and the eyes of the General
we're closing. His breathing grew
more hushed as the last functions
of the heart and lungs were hasten
ed to the closing of life. A peace
fu: expression seemed to be deep
ening IN the firm and strong lined
face. A minute more passed, and
was closing as the General drew q
deeper breath there was an exha-
lation like that If one relieved Of
long and anxious tension. The mem
bers of the group were impelled
each step nearer the bed and each
wanted to note the next respira-
ton, but it did not come. 1t never
came.
1T Is ALL OVER.
There was absolute stiffness in
the room and flush of expectancy |
so that no sound broke the stiffness
save the singing of the birds in the
pines outside the cottase aud the !
measured throbbing Of the engine
that all night Lad waited by the
mountain depot. 1t is all over,
quietly spoke DR.. Douglas, and t
there came then heavily to each
witness a realization that General .
Grant was dead. Then the doctors
the nurse closed the eye
lids aud composed the dead Geuer-
ali head, after which each OF the
family group pressed t" the bed
side, one after the other, and touch
ed their liDs upon the quiet face SO
lately stilled. DR.. Shrady passed
out upoL the piazza and as he did
so he met DR.. Newman Fastening
u upstairs. He is dead" remarked
DR.. Shrady quietly. The fact Of
having been absent from the side
Of the dying man and his family at
the last moment was a cause OF sor-
- .o~~a< p, thn clorvvman |