The Rock Island Argus., 1885-07-24
Scene in the Death Chamber.

Scene in the Death Chamber.
Mt. MCGREGoR, n. Y, July 23.-Shortly
before s O'Clock this morning while the
family were preparing for breakfast and
the doctors were discussing the patients
chances on the piazza of the cottage, Henry,
the nurse, who was with the general,
stepped hurriedly out of the sick-room,
and going to where the doctors were stand
ing, informed them in whisper that he
thought
THE END WAS NEAR.
The doctors hastily went to the room, and
at glance took in the situation. They
quietly ordered the nurse to summon the
family to the sick-room at once Mrs.
Grant, Jesse Grant and wife, U. s Grant,
Jr., and wife, and Mrs. Col Grant instantly
answered the summons, and were soon at
the side of the sick bed,
Mrs. Sartoris noticing the doctors hur-
riedly going to the room, followed them,
and was the first member of the
family present Col. Fred was the only
member of the family absent, having
strolled of around the ground. Servants
were sent in search Of him, but he entered
the sick-room Of his own accord before any
one had succeeded in bringing him the
news of his fathers approaching dissolu-
tion Col Grant took seat at the right
side of the bed OF the dying man, placing
his left arm on the pillow above bis fathers
head.
Close by the bedside sat Mrs Grant,
intensely agitated, but bravely suppressing
her emotions and striving to be calm. She
leaned upon the bed with one elbow, and
gazed, with eyes blinded with tears, into the
generals facs. There was however,
No SIGN OF RECOGNITION IN HIS PALLID
FACE.
! He was breaking fast, and with slightly
gasping respirations, Mrs. Sartoris leaned
on the shoulder Of her mother and witnessed
with pent-up emotion the ebb of life, in
which she had constituted an element of
| pride. The scene was a quiet one. The
| general passed peacefully and painlessly
into another world
| At little distance behind Mrs. Grant and
Mrs. Sartoris stood the three physicians
Douglas Shready and Sands, silent spec
tators Of a scene, which, but for their sf-
forts would doubtless have occurred months
ago. jesse Grant and U. S Grant, Jr,
stood opposite their mother at the other side
of the bed. Near by the foot of the cot,
and close by Jesse, was Mr.. N E. Dawson,
the generals confidential secretary and
stenographer. At the foot Of the bed stood
Mrs. Q. S. Grant, Jr., and by her side
| Ave- Co1 ral
These three gazsd down into the face of the
general while their eyes became suffused
with tears. The sad expression of their
faces plainly reflected the anguish Of thsir
feelings.
Now and then they stole glance at Mira
Grant, who with bowed head was intently
watching the face Of her dying husband.
No word was spoken and the stiffness Of tn
room added to the impressiveness Of the sat
| scene
Mrs. Grant several times affectionatelI
stroksd the face. forehead and arms of he
dying husband, and seemed utterly
BESIDE HERSELF WITH DESPAIR
at the thought Of the approaching separation
by death from the man with whom she haC
passed so many years of welded happiness
Dr. Douglas several times felt the pulls
Of the patient, who was now quietl,
passing away, but this had dwindled to
point beyond detection The respiration
grew momentarily more quickened, but hi
face reflected no pain, and although ST frs
his breathing seemed labured, it gradual,
became weaker and with but little effort
Toward the end, as if by sudden impulse
| Fvcr bar buaeid 40 n
dsath-bed, and seizing both of the general
hands within her own, pressed them, aud
turning, kissed him fervently on the fore
head. At this few convulsive sobs wer
heard coming from the direction where Z
s. Grant, Jr,, stood, but these were speedil,
repressed, and solemn stiffness again cam
over the room.
Mrs, Sartoris' grief was plainly visible
Her lips quivered with deep sorrow, whic
was plainly depicted in her face. Sh
eagerly sought to be recognized by her dy
ing father Just a few seconds before hi
demise, the general opened his eyes an
and they met those Of his daughter. 1t wa
but for an instant. He closed them an
soon after expired Mrs. Sartoris was weeT
ing, as were also the other members Di
Newman arrived soon after, and appeare
greatly distressed because he was not preseu
to offer up prayers, Ee walkei from on
place to another and was deeply distressed
The one regularity of Gen Grants de
mise was the exhibition Of markable VI
tality which be ssemsl to present a. the OBJ
stacle to death. Faculty after faculty flick
cred away. He died with his consienc
about him. Toward the last his respiration
was painting, shallow and noi'eless4 Hi
breathing became very quick. His death re
suited from exhaustion. and he evi,entl
suffered no pain from the time he began {
sink. His last voluntary words were spoke
yesterday afternoon, when be said, n hop
nobody will be distressed on my account
So far as known the last words uttere
by Gen Grant were request for glass Q
water at O'Clock.
DR.. Douglas seemed relievek but looke
sad. DR. Shraly was ais yisfbly af4ctsd
He said the general fought well throughout
"he dreaded tbs suffering at the enI sal
DR.. Sbrady, "but we guaranteed that b
would have none and We kept our promise.
DR.. Sands was met shorciy after by To
United Press representati He iooke
sad, but expressed himself pleased q knov
the generals sufferings were over Henr
Harrison and the rest of the servants wea
gloomy look. TIE flag on the Balmora
hotel was at once put AZ half-mast. Ssvers
hU'ldred sympathetic messages of condol