The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-07-29

Grant and Mrs. Sartoris. and Mt a little
distance removed, stood Drs. Douglass.
Shrady and Sands, spectators of the
closing life which their efforts and coun-
sci had so prolonged. On the opposite
side Of tie bed from their mother and
directly before her stood Jesse Grant
and U. S. Grant, Jr. At the foot Of the
bed and gazing directly down into the
Generals face we've Mrs, Col. Fred
Grant, Mrs. U. S. Grant, Jr, and Mrs.
Jesse Grant.
THE APPROACHING END.
DR.. Newman had repaired to the ho-
tel to breakfast and was not present, and
the Generals little grandchildren, U. s.
Grant, Jr., and Nellie. were sleeping in
the nursery room above stairs. Other
wise the entire family and household
were gathered Mt he bedside Of the dying
man. The members Of the group had
been summoned not moment sooner
than was provident. The doctors noted,
on entering the room and pressing to
the bedside, that already the purplish
tlnge, which is one Of natures signals
Of final dissolution, had settled beneath
the finger nails. The hand that DR..
Douglass lifted was fast growing colder
than.it had been through the night, the
pulse had futtered beyond the point
where the physician could distinguish
it from the pulse beats in his own An
ger tips, the respiration was very rapid
and was succession Of shallow pant
ing Inhalation, but happily the approach
ing end was becoming clear Of the rat
tling fullness of the throat and lungs,
and as the respirations grew rapid and
more rapid at the close they also became
less labored and almost noiseless. This
fact was comfort to the watchers bv
the bedside, to whom was spared the
sight Of an agonizins or other than
peaceful death. The wife almost con-
stnntly stroked the face, the forehead
and hands of the dying General, and at
times. MS passionate longing to prevent
the event SO near, would rise within
her. Mrs. Grant pressed both his hands
and, leaning forward, tenderly kissed
the face Of the sinking man. Col. Fred
Grant sat silently but with evident feel
ing, though his bearing was that of n
soldierly son at the death bed of q
hero father. U. S. Grant, Jr, was
deeply moved, Jesse bore the scene
steadily, and the ladies, while watching
with wet cheeks, were silent rs bene-
fitted the dignity of life such as was
closing before them. The morning had
passed fifty minutes beyond 7 O'Clock,
and there was not one Of the strained
and waiting watchers but could mark
tho ncarness Of the lifc-tide to its final
ebbing. DR.. Douglass noted the near
ness Of the supreme moment and quiet
ly approached the bedside and bent
over it, and while he did so the sorrow
Of the gray haired physician seemed
closely allied with that Of the family.
DR.. Shrady drew near. 1t was five
minutes Of eight o'clock and the eyes
of tho General were closing, his breath
grew more hushed and the last functions
of the heart and lungs were Fastening
to the ending Of the ex- Presidents life.
The peaceful expression seemed to be
deepening in the firm and strong lined
face, and it was reflected as a. closing
comfort in the sad hearts that beat
quickly under the stress Of loving sus-
pensc. A minute more passed and was
closing when the General drew a deep
breath. There was an exhalation like
that Of one relieved Of a long and anx-
ious tension. Members Of tho group
were impelled each to step nearer the
bed and each awaited another respira-
tion, but it never came. There was ab.
solute stiffness in tho room and hush
Of expectant suspense, and no sound
broke the silence save tho singing Of
the birds in the pines outside the cot
tagc and the measured throbbing Of the
engine that all night had waited by the
little mountain depot down the slope.
GIT IS ALL OVER"
quietly spoke DR.. Douglass, and there
came then heavily to each witness the
realization that Gen. Grant was dead
Then the doctors withdrew, the nurse
closed the cyelids and composed the
dead Generals head, after which each
OF the family group pressed to the bed.
side. one after another, and touched
their lips upon the quiet face 90 lately
stilled.
Especial Dispatch to the News and Courier
WASHINGTON, July 23.-President
Cleveland was going to his breakfast
this morning, when the following dis.