Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31

minutes after 8 o'clock, and the eyes
of the general were closing; his breath
inc grew more hushed as the last fune-
.tions Of the heart anu lungs were has
tened to the closing Of the ex-presi-
dents life; a peaceful expression SEEM
ed 70 be deepening in the firm and
strong lined face, and it was renected
az a closing comfort in the sad hearts
that beat quickly under the stress Of
loving suspense. A minute more
nassed. and was closing as the general
drew q deeper breath; there was an
.exhaltation, like that of one relieved OF
long and anxious tension, the
members of the group were impelled
each a step nearer the bed, and each
waited to note the next respiration,
but il did not come then; it never
came: there was absolute stiffness in
the room a hush of expect
ant suspense that no sound
broke the silence save the singing of
birds in the pines outside the cottage,
aad the measured throbbing of the en-
CINE, that all night had waited by the
little mountain depot down the slope.
at is all over" quietly spoke DIR.
Douglas, and there came heavily to
each witness, the realization that Gen.
Grant was dead. Then the doctors
withdrew, the nurse closed the blinds
and composed the dead generals head,
after which, each of the family group
pressed to the bedside, one after the
other, and touched their lips upon the
quiet face.
Soon after Drs. Douglas and Shrady
left the death bed, they conversed feel
ingly of the latter hours OF Gen.
Grants life. The pulse first had indi-
Gated failure, and the intellect was the
last to succumb; its cIearness and con-
scious tenacity and that after mid
night last night, though circumstances
at 8 o'clock, indicated ~cognizance.
"Do you want anything father?"
questioned Col. Fred at that hour,
water" whispered the general, husk-
lily, but when offered water and milk,
they gurgled in his throat and were
elected; and that one word of response
was the last utterance of Gen. Grant.
DIR. Douglas remarked that the pc
culiarity of Gen. Grants death was
explained by the remarkable vitality
that seemed to present an obstacle to
the approach of death. 1t was a grad
ual passing away of the vital forces,
and reflect consciousness, the doctor
thought, was retained to the last. The
general died of sheer exhaustion, and a
perfectly painless sinking away.
eyes," INTERCEPTED DR.. Shrady, quietly,
the general dreaded pain; when
he felt he had begun sinking, he
asked that he should not be permitted
to suffer; the promise was made
and it has been kept, Since he com
menced to sink on Tuesday night he
was free from pain; toward the last nc
food was taken, but when a wet clott
was pressed to his lips he would sucl
from it the water to moisten hi
mouth"
During the generals last night, DR.
Shrady was constantly within call. DR.
Douglas was all night at the cottage
and DR.. Sands slept at the hotel afte
midnight. Within twenty minute
after the death of General Grant, Kar
Gerhardt, a Hartford sculptor, VIII
has been making a study here of thu
general, was summoned to the cotton
at the suggestion of DR.. Newman tt
make a plaster cast for the deat
mans face. He was highly successful
in making the cast.
A week ago, the general is said t.
have intimated that should he di
during the hot weather h
would prefer that his remain
should remain here until COO
er weather. The purpose being
to spare his family a sad and fatiguein
, Journey in sultry weather. 1t
doubtful, however, if this suggestio
is carried out. Though it is not III
likely that the remains may repose her
for some days. The physicians are d
/ sirous of having a post norton, bl
the family are said to be averse, an
s that is a matter yet to be determine
: The entire control of all arrangement
: relative to the generals remains is er
o tirely at the disposal of Col. Ere
It Grant. 1t is not unlikely that Il
proposition from the city Of New Vol
to accord a burial plat for the gener
d and his wife, when she too, shall ha'
e passed away, might be considered
g the colonel. The impression tn
9 Washington may be chosen as IL
/ burial spot, is believed to be foundt
r on the present inclination of CC
d Grant. The only condition made
Q the general, and that was as long az
e as June Oath, that his remains shou.
: be inferred where those of Mrs. Gral
e might in time lie beside his own. A
1t embalmer is now on his way from Ne
York in response to a telegram.
The following message was rel
n from Ex-President Hays. "Fremo
Ohio July 23d: Please assure Nj
= ~ gT- Al