Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-09
HENRY CLAY'S DEATH.

dENh1 CLA1 y uEd1u,
"It was Henry Clay's purpose" :" said John
H. Hanson to Detroit reporter, continu'
ing his story of his recolections of the ia.
nous orator and statesman, "to leave Wash.
ingtou Immediately after bis speech. The
early fall weather was really the Indian sum.
mer season, and most favorable to such q
Journey as he had in his mind His speech in
the Senate chamber on his farewell, quite
overcame him. Though he held to the end
under strong mental influence, the orator
never rallied again. Very much exhausted
Clay was taken 10 his rooms at the old Ma
! tioual Hotel at Washington and never after.
ward left them. The winter came and
went the session continued with it. Every
day, right after prayers in the Senate, the
chair announced the state of his health.
The announcement directly became rather
stereotyped. 1t was usually Mr.. Clay Is
gradually failing: after time it became
Mr.. Clay is failing rapidly next we heard
| Mr.. Clay is sinking, but his mind is very
| clear Finally it came to be understood
| that if he should die during the hours OF
the session the bells should toll in announce
ment of it.
1T was on morning in the early part of
| MAY, 1852, a season beyond all others the
| most delightfully."- beautiful in Washington.
| The trees and shrubs of the Capitol grounds
and the flower beds were fresh and pleasant
| to look upon. Hannegan, of Indiana, an
Irisbman, bright as silver, witty, eloquent,
and always interesting, bad the floor Of the
Senate, making set speech on our policy
with regard to foreign affairs. His seat
was well up toward the rear. Being of a
quick and nervous temperament, be took
the maiu aisle, aud while declaimipg would
work himself forward almost to the clerk 5
desk, discovering which, he would bound
way back, going through these antics con-
tinuously until he had finished Hannegan
was speaking in his quick, impulsive man.
ner, half way down the aisle, aud progress
ing with an enthusiastic sentence, when the
single toll of bell quivered through the
air. Hannegan ceased speaking in fash,
bounded back TO the rear, turned pale, and
in a tremulous voice said: Mr.. President,
the probabilities are that the greatest states
man in America is no more; | move that
the Senate adjourn
"Tbere was no chance to vote upon il.
Instantly every man took his hat and coat,
aud before the second toll Of the bell came
all were away. The same sort Of proceed
ings must have dispersed the House, for
remember as we passed through the rolunda
that it was full of members issuing there
| from.
The rapidity with which the city was
thrown into mourning has always caused
me to wonder. Walking direct fron the
Capitol, when we reached the edge of the
grounds where the Peace monument now
is, Pennsylvania avenue was seen to be
| filed With streamers of black, hanging from
windows, fastened to balconies, wound
round columns and awning-poles, and
stretched across the street. 1t was solemn
sight.
1.-THE event, though long expected, shock
ed people to the extent that all business was
suspended Many barrooms even, were
closed, and in others men lowered their
voices and conversed in quiet tones as If In
the presence Of the dead. was in Wash,
ipgton at the time Of the assassination OF
Lincoln, and again at that Of Garfield, but
neither event appeared to throw such gloom
over the city as the death of Henry Clay.
The feeling was one of pure sorrow, unmix-
ed with indignation or anger, such as is felt
at the deeds which led to the murder of the
Presidents. On these occasions men were
boisterous with threats and grief, but 81
lence and gloom overspread the city where
Law the dead body of the much loved orator
and. statesman. 1t was in time of peace,
and the capital was unused to such shocks,
and, therefore, men talked iu whispers when
all was over with Henry Clay.
HE was buried in the Congressional Cemetery
and monument was placed upon the spot. but
there is nothing under 1t. Strangely enough,
for all the many years Clay had passed in W sh-
ingtou. his wife never visited that CITY, Once
he had started to take his daughter to reside
there during the session, but she died on the way
| Mrs. CLAW ALWAYS remained at their Kentucky
plantation of Ashland and managed the esta g
while her husband devoted himself to national
| affairs.
His body was disnterred from the Congress
sional Cemetery and taken back 10 his old Ken.
| tucky home It was taken by the Baltimore ADD
Ohio to Cumberland. as far as the rairosd was
then completed, and from thence In hrarse by
the old national road to the Ohio river. C-re
monial obsequies We're held for Henry Clay in
| all the cities of the country"
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