Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-08-01
THE DEAD HERO.
Gen. Ulysses 8. Grant Surrenders at Las'
to the Conqueror Death Without
Murmur or Fear.
Surrounded by Friends and Family, He
Passed Peacefully Away at 8:08
g. M, Thursday, July 23rd-
His Last Hours.

| - >>~'s
His Last Hours.
On Tuesday the Goth inst, it was evi
dent to the physicians and family o
General u. s. Grant that he was nearing
the end. His condition gradually grew
| weaker. The excessively oppressiv
of the day made the cottage feel uncom
| Portable and warm to him. His death
occurred at Mt. McGregor, small town
| in the Adirondack mountains. His fam
ily was with him until the end, and with
fearful eye they beheld all that was
earthly of one of the grandest men of biz
day, cross the river and pass on to the
great beyond.
With what q tenacity has he chung to
life? Few men would have borne up
and have lived as long as has he under
the same circumstances. With all bis
grit and tenacity, however, he was unable
to overcome the grim destroyer. He
come and took from US our soldier hero,
and left nothing to the sorrowing widow
and her children.
The following dispatches describe the
closing scenes:
Mount McGregor, July 22.-The early
morning hours at the Grant cottage were
,ool and refreshing. On the verandah,
where the incandescent electric lamps were
burning all night, the thermometer marked
1t o. clock this morning, II degrees. There
vas an equal temperature maintained in
the sick room while Gen. Grant remained
in New York, and it was this morning add
ed to the sweet smell from the pine trees
that bend over the cottsge roof. A gentle
bree re, sweet and deliciou ,.swept miles and
miles down the valley from the mountain.
It stirred the curtain at the window near
which sat the sick man, aAd famed his
face more gratefully than could careful
hands that were waiting near.
Between and O'Clock q. m. the gray
tint of another day crept up the horizon
beyond the Green mountains, perhaps the
last earthly day of the sick man sitting in
the cottage parlor. About and around the
cottage all was still and quiet, except for
the occasional twitter of some belated bird
in the birches or pines. Occasionally the
nurse walked out upon the piazza for fresh
air and glimpse of night. Once, at near.
ly O'Clock, Mrs. Grant, attired in loose
gown of white, came out on the verandah
serted willow chairs scattered in groups
about the piazza; ten minutes she sat
and looked away to the east,
where the gray tint of another day had
grown to full promise. Her face rested
against one hand and she was evidently
wrapped in thought. Suddenly there came
, sound of rafting, laboring cough from
within. It was the general clearing the af-
fected parts of his throat of murcus. Mrs.
Grant left the piazza quickly and seated
herself by the generals side, slowly fan.
ming his face. The coughing was not &C.
we're, but only incessant. Col. Fred Grant
entered the room while the nurse was aid |
ing the general and took place at his side |
and behind his father. The morning had |
passed o'clock and the time had come to |
administer food. The nurse touched the |
shoulder of DR.. Douglas as he lay asleep on
food, and afterwards oleansed |
the generals throat. As the doctor laid
aside his appliances, Gen. Grant leaned
forward in his chair and signifed desire
hat lamps should be brough hit. The nurse
brought the lamp and held it ct the sick |
mans shoulder, and at this moment the |
general turned his face toward the light |
md upward to bid the nurse bring his pad |
md pencil. His wish was not on the in |
Jtant understood; turning q trifle further |
he general repeated his wish. The scene |
hat moment was picture in shadows, as |
he fl ckering candle rays fell across the |
ace of the general it became grim rem
srandt, with the strong, rugged lines brok-
m down by suffering and pain.
On his head was skull cap that at all |
lines lends startling effect to the sick
man, temperance, and from beneath itstrug.
lied the hair that chung in sweet-moisten-
ID locks about his neck. A crimson scarf
lad been thrown over the back of the gen.
rails chair, but as he leaned forward it |
,athered under his arm. A dark dressing
own covered the patients form, and q
encircled his neck. Thegra
lose cut beard, seemed white, and the
ines on his forehead were deep indeed, and
vhen the face was turned upward to speak,
he eyes seemed grayer, too, and abnormal
y large. They were clear, showing that
he generals mind was clearly at his com.
nand, but there was that wistful and yearn.
ng expression in them that makes women
weep and men sympathetic. The generals
ace, az he rpoke appeared strained and
rawn, but lis color and fullness was not
uch as would be expected after such suf-
airing and care. The lips moved heavily,
nd the whisper was husky and low, but
be nurse understood, and the pad and
0AC L W0o OAOO4uV Au0A tu0 1l&ub "a tuS
andle fell on his downcast face. He wrote,
ut only briefly. The slip was handed to
,r. Douglas, who at once turned it over to
ol. Grant, who had risen and stood be side
is mother at the generals side. It was q
rivate, family Communication, and when
nished, the eick man resumed his half re-
lining position. with his head gently in
lined forward and his elbows on the sides
the chair, while the fingers of either
and were interlce ked each with the other,
eneath his chin.
It was o'clock and the peaks of the
fountains eastward were darby outlined
yainst the redenning dawn; . faint glow
rept between the pines and the birch {
trough the cottage window and tinged the
OK mans cheek, with the dawn, Of what
believed by the doctors to be his last day.
At o'clock DR.. Douglas was aroused to
md simmons for DR.. Sands. The gen.
nj moved restless, and his eyes, for few
gased intently away through the ,
ees; then he settled down in his chair and
o1ed. The message to DR.. Sands was sent
My that the responsibility Of the case at
IL close of the night should b shared BY
embers of the medical staff and not with
10 thought that any aid could be rendered
= any person. The general was given
imulants. but he grew weaker hour by
Dur.
The morning was clear and the mercury
!; IL o'clock registered 800. All visitors ,
ere to-day kept from the cottage and Q .
lbbath day quiet prevails about the spot. .