The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-23

cred under his arm. A dark dressing gown
covered the patients attenuated form, and a
handkerchief encircled his neck. The gray of the
close cut beard seemed white and the lines on
cheek and forehead were deep indeed, and when
the face was turned upward to speak, the eyes
seemed grayer, too, and abnormally large They
were clear and steady, showing that the Gen
erals reason was clearly at his command but
there was that wistful and yearning expression
in them that makes women weep and men grow
sympathetic. The Generals face, as he spoke,
appeared strained and drawn, but its color
and fullness were not such as would be expected
after such suffering and scare. The lips moved
heavily, and the whisper was husky and low, but
the nurse understood, and the pad and pencil
were brought. Then, while the red light of the
candle fell on his downcast face. he wrote, but
only briefly. The slip was handed to DR.. Doug
lass who at once turned it over to Colonel Grant,
who had arisen and stood beside his mother at
the Generals side It was private family COM
nunication, and when finished, the sick man re-
sumed his half reclining position, with his head
slightly inclined forward, and his elbows the
sides Of the chair, while the fingers of either
hand were interlockod, each with the other. be-
meath his chin. It was 4:30 and the peaks of
the mountains eastward were darkly outlined
against the reddening dawn. The faint glow
crept between the pines and birches through
the cottage window ard tinted the sick mans
cheek with the dawn of what is believed by the
Doctor to be his last day.
At o'clock Doctor Douglas was aroused to
send summons for Doctor Sands The General
moved restlessly, and his eyes, for few mo-
ments, gazed intently away through the trees.
Then he settled down in his chair and dozed.
The message to Doctor Sands was sent only that
the responsibility of the at the close of the
night should be shared by the members of the
medical staff. and not with the thought that
any aid could be rendered by any person at that
time, or through the opening day The General
given stimuants, but he grows weaker hour
by hour.
The morning is clear, and the mercury, at II
o'clock, registered 80o. All visitors are, today,
kept from the cottage, and Sabbath day quiet
prevails about the spot. Doctor Douglas and
Doctor Newman are with the family, and the
day is one of quiet waiting. TIE General sits
as he did last night, his eyes closed much of the
time, but coherent and clear whenever he
noon. The family circle will then be complete.
1925 P. M.--The conditions are reported
changed since o'clock, except the gradual in
creasing of weakness.
P. M.-Dr. Douglas has Just left the cottage.
He says the General sits with his head inclined
forward and eyes closed the greater part of the
time The pulse is very weak and futtering.
The patient once during the morning attempted
to write out succeeded only in writing the date,
the effort being greater than warranted by the
little remaining strength. He had spoken at in
tervals but his voice was very feeble. During
the forenoon food was taken and retained. With
the declining day the physician believes the
General will also rapidly decline.
2P. M.--Dr Douglas has just reported that
his patient has taken and retained cup of
milk, and the Doctor thinks that if there has
not been slight rally in the past hour, the
General has at least held his own.
2:15 P. M-At 2:15 P. NJ. the members of the
family and DR.. Newman were grouped in the
darkened room, near General Grant. Obscrv-
ing their evidence of feeling, the General said:
II don'twant ary body to be distressed on my
account"
P. M.-Dr. Sands and DR.. Shrady have Just
arrived by special train, which also brought
u S. Grant, jr., and his wife. The newcomers
repaired at once to the cottage and it is likely
conference of the medical men will soon be held.
No special change has occurred since last dis
patch.
p. M-The physicians met at once, with
DR.. Douglas in consultation. Having left the
cottage, it was stated Drs Shrady and Sands
had found General Grant in the critically low
condition already stated by DR.. Douglas, and
already announced in these dispatches No one
of the staff is willing to make any prediction
beyond twenty four hours which period it is
deemed possible the General may survive,
though the probabilities, indicated, are
that less space of time marks the limit Of the
Generals life. A change for the worse is antc-
ipated as the day closes. The pulse is now over
100
A singular occurrence at the cottage has Just
been related by Dr.. Newman, as having occurred
in the cottage at l o'clock. At five minutes of l
o'clock General Grant asked the hour
Of the day. "One O'clock" spoke one
of those near the General. Soon after
ward the cottage clock chimed twelve strokes
and the General counted them Then he wrote
on his pad that he observed the clock was
wrong, and indicated desire to have it struck
to the right hour which was done, and the Incl
dent passed as one more of the remarkable cpl
sodes of the Generals later sickness. There has
been no recurrence of hiccough to day.
SUNSET TO MIDNIGHT.
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