The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-07-30

quickly to the physicians. He told them that
he thought the General was very near TO death.
The medical men hastily entered the room
where the sick man was lying and approached
his side. Instantly upon scanning the patient
face DR.. Douglas ordered the family to be sum
moned to the bedside Haste was made and
Mrs. Grant, Jesse Grant and wife, u = Grant,
Jr, and wife aud Mrs Colonel Grant. were
quickly beside the doctors at the sick mans col,
Mrs. Sartoris and Mr.. Dawson had followed the
doctors in from the piazza, and the entire fam
lily was present except Cobnel Fred Grant A
hasty summons was sent for him. but he entered
the sick room while the messenger was search
ing for him.
AT HIS FATHERS HEAD
The Colonel seated himself at the head Of the
bed, with his left arm resting upon the pillow
above the head of the General, who was breath
ing rapidly and with slightly gasping resplra.
IONA Mrs Grant, whose emotion was bravey
suppressed, took a seat close by the bedside. She
leaned slightly upon the cot, resting upon her
right elbow and gazing with tear-blinded eyes
into the Generals face. She found there, how
ever, no token of recognition, for the sick man
was peacefully and painessly passing into anolh
er life
THE FAvoRITE DAUGHTER
Mrs. SartOris came behind her mother. and.
leaning over her shoulder, witnessed the close
OF the life in which she had constituted a strong
element of pride. Directly behind Mrs Grant
and Mrs SartoTis and little distance removed
stood Drs. Douglas, Shrady, and Sands, spects
tors of the closing lite their efforts and counsel
had so prolonged On the opposite side of the
bed from their mother. and directly before her,
stood Jesse Grant and L. S. Grant Jr. and near
the corner OF the cot, on the same side as Jesse
and near to each, was N. E. Dawson, the Gen
erals stcnOgrapher and confidential secretary
AT the foot Of the bed, and gazing directly down
10 fano E.,l
Mrs U. s. Grant, Jr., and Mrs Jesse Grant
while ewhat removed from The family circle
Henry, the nurse, and Harrison Tyrrell the
Generals body servant, were respectively watch
ing the closing life OF their patient and their
master. DIR. Newman had repaired to the hot el
10 3reaklasi anu was not present, and the Gen
erals little grandchildren, Z. s. Grant and Mel
lie, We're sleeping upstairs Otherwise the en-
tire family and household were gathered at the
bedside OF the dying man.
SIGNS OF DEATH
The members OF the group had been summon
ed not a moment sooner than was prudent The
doctors noted on entering the room and pressing
To inc bedside that already the purplish tinge,
which IS one of natures signals of final dissolu
t0n, had settled beneath the finger nails The
hand that Dr. Douglas lifted was fast growing
colder than II had been through the night The
pulse had tultered beyond the point where the
physician could distinguish it from the pulse
beats IN his own finger tips The respiration
was very rapid and was a succession of shallow
pants but happily The approaching end was com
ing clear OF the rattling fullness OF the throat
and lungs. and ss the respiratOns grew quicker
and more rapid at the close they also became
less labored and almost noiseless. This fact was
of comfort to the watchers by the bedside to
whom was spared the scene of an agoniZing or
other than peaceful death.
MRs. GRANTS NERVOUS SORROW
His wife almost constantly stroked the face.
forehead and hands OF the dying General aud at
times, Ms passionate longing to prevent the
event so near would arise within her Mrs Grant
pressed both his hands and leaning forward ten
derby kissed the face of the sinking man Colo
Onel Fred Grant sat silently, but with evident
feeling, though his bearing was that of a sol.
dei ly son at the dcathbed of his father T. s
Grant, .Jr, was deeply moved but Jesse bore the
scene steadily, and the ladies' while watching
with wet cheeks, were silent. The morning had
passed five minutes beyond eight O'Clock and
there was not one Of the strained aud waiting
watchers but who could mark the nearness OF
the lie tide to its final ebbng Dr. Douglas
noted the nearness of the supreme moment and
quietly approached the bedside and bent over il
and while he did so the sorrow of the ray-haired
physician seemed closely allied with that of the
family
THE DEATH GASP
Dr. Shrady also drew near. 1t was 500
o'clock and the eyes of the General were closing.
His breathing grew more hushed as the last
functions of the heart and lungs were Fastening
the closing of the ex Presidents life A peace
full expression seemed to be deepening inthe firm
and strong lined face, and il was reflected as a
closing comfort in the sad hearts that beat
quickly under the stress Of loving suspense.
A minute more passed and was closing as
Gen. Grant drew deeper breath There was
an exhalation like that Of one relieved of long
and anxious tension The members of the
group were impelled each step nearer the bed,
and each awaited another respiration, but it
never came. There was absolute stiffness in the
room and hush Of expeciant suspense, and no
sound broke the silence save the singing of the
birds in the pines outside the cottage and the
measured throbbing of the engine that all night
had waited by the little mountain depot down
the slope.
1T IS ALL OVER"
" 1t is AL over" quietly spoke DR.. Douglas,
and there came then heavily u each witness the
realization that Gen Grant was dead Then the
doctors withdrew the nurse closed the eyes and
composed the Generals hands, after which each
of the family group pressed to the bed one after
the other, and touched their lips upon the quiet
face so lately slled