Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-24
Touching Scenes at the Mt
McGregor Cottage.
Tokens of Mourning Seen on
Every Hand.

Mr. McGREGoR, July %
Gen Grant died at OS, this morning, sur
POUNDED by all his family. He passed ou
a lof life peacefully and without evident pain.
y At nine last night one of Gen. Grant
4physicians conceded. with some caution
T that the patient might survive until today
His meaning was that the sick man might b.
living when midnight should mark a neo
fiay. The PHYSICIANS indication, 1t was no
prognostication. was bourne out, and more
3the General passed into the first hour of th'
4day. He saw its light at sunrise and through
q he early morning hours he still survived
At two o'clock of July 23d. however, ther'
was change in Gen. Grants condition
(which was significant. The chill at the eX
Atremites was increasing and the use of no
\ 1applcation, TO keep warmth in the extremi
4 Ties was resorted to.
They were of some avail, but the artficia
heat was without power to reach the case oil
stay the results of dissolution, which begar
&Tuesday eVening and had been progressins
steadily, though hypodermics Of brandy wer,
, frequently given to stimulate the f1aggine
physical powers. But later this failed tc
physical forces were so far spent as to fur
n,sh no footing for rebound. Indeed the
efforts of the medical men were being made
. b. cause none could stand by inactive am
aw withou, trial OF an expedient that might pro
e. long his life an hour or a minute.
The physician believed the patient mis- gh
reach the extreme ebb Of his strength at one,
this morning, and the approach of the houl
was anticipated with intense anxiety at The
: at the cottage. 1t passed, however, and the
General, lying on his back and propped ny
by two pillows, lay upon a cot bed in tn,
parlor He was yet living, but growing
weaker. The inevitable close of the Gen
erals sickness seemed more and more imml
nent The feeble pulse beats had worr
themselves by their rapldity to futterne
OBJ that could not be gauged beneath the
finger of the physician. The body was be
ling worn out by its own life current, so rapid
was its coursing through the veins Repeat
edly brandy was entered beneath the skin Of
the Generals arm, but despite its warming
influence
The Respirations had Quickened
from "A to the minute during the evening to
a point of labored breathing that was painful
Friends who had grouped around bent near
= the sick man.
Two o'clock had passed and the evidences
|of death were multiplying. The increased
spirations were not alone more rapid but
|more shallow. The lungs and heart were
|xivIng away. SO weak had General Gran,
grown at three O'Clock that, though he fire.
|quently attempted to do so, he was ansble
|any longer to clear the gathering mucus from
ibis throat.
1t accumulated and remained, and as four
o'clock drew on and daylight came, a poin,
had been reached when expectoration was
Impossible, There was not left enough
strength. and from four on there was in the
Throat the significant rattle of mucus tha,
vas filling the lungs and clogging the throat.
At three the General asked for water and after
that it is not remembered that he uttered a
word. At four the breathing was Quickened
and reached 80 to the minute. An hour later
| the respirations had reached 90, and between
five and six the finger nails hsd become blue
land the hands further evidenced the progress
Iof numhness at the extrem''ies. and at every
breath the mucus clogging in the throat was
growing noticeable.
AT six o'clock this morning all was quiet
about the hotel and cottage, but on the YER
|anda of the latter were seated the ladies of
|the family with Drs. Douglass and Shrady
|Dr. Newman paced up and down the path
before and about the cottage, his manner of
|restlessness betokening the anxiety he felt
rhe sun had already risen warm and the day
seemed one of peace, with a few light bsr.
|of clouds lying level and warm tinted aloft.
Down at the mountain depot an engine
made noise on the still air with the sieam
|tha, had been wasting all night, while the en-
sneer sat in the cab waiting to go to Sara
Itoga for Undertaken Holmes, who should
Icare for the immediate details in connection
with the Generals remains. The watchers
|of the press, who have been among the trees
near the cottage during two nights past
withdrew to a respectful distance as the broad
|day light revealed their presence and sug.
Igested to the family on the cottage veraDds
[the significant errand that prompted their
vigilance.
The servants at the cottage at six brought
coffee to those on the piazza, while all the
[time through the open doors and windows the
(quick respirations of the General were dis
Itinctly audible. but no other sound broke the
stiffness of the morning save the songs OF
birds on the pines and bushes. and the meas
ured throb OF the waiting engine at the depot
lit was a dawn too beautiful TO mark the las
hours Of any one who clung to life, but il
was none too beautiful to signalize the free
dom of the brave spirit that having battlet
grandly as last longed to be released. DR.