The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-31
Indications that His Death Is No Longer a
Matter of Months or Weeks, but Of
Days or Hours Even.
He Constantly Grows Weaker, and the
Family Decline to See Any Callers.
The Disease Passes Beyond Control of the Doc
tors, and Fear Is Expressed that the
General Will Choke to Death.
THE DYING GENERAL.

The Old Hero Failing Rapidly-His Family
Gathered Round His Bedside.
New YORK, March 30.-There is good ground
for belief that the actual condition of General
Grant this morning is worse than indicated. A
bulletin just sent out states that at noon the
General, who had been sitting and reclining in
son and placed upon his bed, where he is now.
12:10P. MIR Clemens, who is interested in
book, called at the house in a coupe. He
alghted from the carriage, and was met at the
foot of the steps by Harrison, who told him of
the Generals condition. Clemens did not enter
the house. There is a rumor on the street that
DR.. Douglas stated that the General wouldn't
live twenty -four hours.
General Grant was astir early this morning.
At ii o'clock the following bulletin was procured
from DR.. Douglass
''The General was visited at IL p. NJ. by Drs.
Shrady and Douglas. The afternoon had been
a quiet one, with periods of slumber alternately
upon bed and an easy chair. AS the time for
the night visit.arrived the General became ap
prehensive that the symptoms of the preceding
evening might be renewed, and requested that
DIR. Douglas be sent for. His apprehensions
were allayed by the employment of the same
used the night before with success, but
the General preferred to remain in chair, so as
to avoid the possibility of their recurrence
from recumbent position. The throat was at
tended to again at 2 A. NJ, and the General had
a comparatively comfortable night. He is now
quiet and free from PAIN
Prompted by curiosity, many persons strolled
through Sixtysixth street during the afternoon,
stopping in front of General Grants house to
gaze at the building. The shades of the front
parlor windows were lowered all day. and the
inner blinds of the Generals sleeping room were
shut, with the Stats open. About o'clock the
Generals wife stood for some minutes at
some minutes at the watchers below, withdrew
from the shade and closed the shutters The
curtairs in the Generals library, or study were
rolled up all day, and the ladies Of the hot ehold
were several times seen in the room. Harrison,
the Generals personal attendant once came
out to mail papers and letters at Sixty-sixth
street and Madison avenue, and a watcher in
quired as to the Generals condition.
''He is no better, l fear" was the reply.
IF you break your leg and it pains you
very much you know its broken: but even
if the pain is less for time, the break is
there, all the same The General has felt
easier to-day, but I fear he is really no
better"
Liveried messengers rang the bell at short
intervals throughout the day. Personal mes
sages of sympathy and inquiry were con-
stantly coming from friends and interested
persons in the city and out of it. A gentle
man. who called at 4 o'clock, and who was
very anxious to see Col Fred Grant OR Col.
Badeau, was told the members of the family
must deny themselves to all.
''Those are our imperative instructions" said
the servant at the door.
At415 p. NJ, DR.. Douglas returned to the house
half an hour he re-entered his carriage to visit
another patient. The Doctor was asked if he
thought the end would come during the night.
In answer ne said: II think not; but the General
is now passing through stages incident to his
disease, and frankly l cannot tell if the end will
come tonight. The General is growing weaker
and weaker"
These words were spoken without reserve and
carried conviction to his hearers which none of
the bulletins had done. DR.. Douglas returned
from his calls after an absence of about an hour
He had come back to remain all night DR..
Shrady soon joined him for the same purpose
At 6:30P. NJ. Romero. the Mexican minister,
called at the House. His stay was short. When
stohSUJ Oh L lllA dNcuuc, aOOut INC pdticut anu
the outlook, he said:
"Of course, no one can foretell with certainty.
The disease until recently was within the power
of the doctors, but now it has gone quite beyond
them The General may live ten days, and he
may die in two hours. fear he is going to
choke TO death. II the disease reaches an artery,
the danger of choking is increased, and death by
that means becomes almost acertainty.
''Thc members of the family are now at the
Generals bedside. The doctors are there, too.
but they keep back as much as possible. l fear
the General will choke to death. IT too bad .
Thus spoke Scnor Romero In response 10