Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-07-25
GENERAL GRANT DEAD I!
HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH
After Nine Months Wrestling witt
Death, the Old hero Lies Down
to Pleasant Dreams
WHILE THE STRICKEN AND wEEPING Ma
TON BOWS DER HIS REMAINS.

MOUNT McGREGoR, N. Y, July 3D.
Gen Grant sat in his chair listlessly, caring
! neither TO move or write anything lie was
in condition not fully awake nor yet doz-
ing, but Indifferent to his. surroundings.
Food was given him. He did not repel it,
but had great trouble in swall owing and
fully half OF it was thrown out, because of
failure of throat muscles to ACT He was
very restless and after being moved about
in the sick room he was taken to the parlor,
where the family gathered ali put him in an
anxious group.
FIRST BULLETIN. Gen Grant is worse.
He is unconscious and canrot be aroused to
take food
SECOND BULLETIN. Grant is very
low. The family are gathered around his
bedside. They fear that he may not sur
vive the night, though there has been a
slight rally since the alarming symptoms
noted in the previous bulletin.
THIRD BULLETIN. Gen. Grant cannot sit
down for five minutes without rising again.
Rev DR.. Newman and the family are gath
cred around him.
DIR. Douglas says that the general cannot
live longer than twenty-four hours u. S.
Grant, jr., has been telegraphed for. Dr.
Douglas is in constant attendance. The
general is conscious of everything and
speaks in a whisper
FOURTH BULLETIN. DIR. Douglas has tel
egraphed all the absent members of Gen.
Grants family that il they wish to see the
general alive they must come Immediately,
as he does not think life can be prolonged
later than evening. The doctor has also
summoned all the other physicians to come
at once to Mt. McGregor
At dusk Gen. Grant grew very restless.
He was not content to keep his chair as was
the case early in the day, but wanted to
move to his cot, and to other chairs. He
was not able to walk unaided nor scarcely to
rise, and seemed unable to compose himself
in any place five minutes at time.
1t was decided aboNt 8 o'clock to change
him TO the parlor All the family asse mbled
there with Dr. Newman. The general soon
began to catch for breath and there were
plain signs that he was sinking. Fans were
used vigorously upon him, but for half an
hour he showed no improvement. Then his
breathing became easier and he fell asleep.
That was the turning point of the early
evening After it he slept and awoke at
short intervals, the family going to his side
whenever he awoke, not knowing what it
might mean. He showed no signs of gain of
strength, although occasionally of repose
that promised to prolong his hours
1t was the opinion Of Col. Grant all the
evening, that his father could not live
through the night. DR.. Douglas says he
may last twenty-four hours. U. s. Grant,
jr., was summoned early in the evening.
At $780, on waking from short nap,
Gen. Grant sent word = the family, who
were on the porch, that there was no use in
their setting up any longer. The family
asked DIR. Douglas what he thought. He
would give them no assurance. All except
Col Grant concluded to retire.
Rev. DIR. Newman, who then left the cot
tage, said that from to o'clock all indi-
cations were that the general was dying
Prayers were held, the general clasping his
hands while the family knelt around him.
Dr. Newman said that neither Mrs. Grant
nor he could believe that the general was
dying even while he sank before their eyes.
He thinks the night will be passed safely.
Constant watch will be kept, and ali will be
summoned if there is a sign of failing.
MT. MCGREaoR, July 23d. AT about
$50 a. m. while DIR. Shrady and Mr..
Dawson, the stenographer, were walk
ing in front Of the house, Col. Grant
rushed out and snapped his fingers three
times. DR.. Shrady rushed in the house.
The General was much weaker.
4:30 A. Mo change. Gen'l. Grant
indicated that he wanted a drink of
water. His mind was clear DR.. Doug.
las says he is just alive and added that
his heart, brain and lungs are alive but
that is all
5:15A. M.-Rev. DR.. Newman Just
said that the death rattle could be heard
in General Grants throat. The mucus
discharge was gathering in his lungs
and gradually choking him as he has no
strength to throw it off. His death will
probably be almost painless, though
there is some pain now. No member of
the family retired durine the night.
$50 A. M.--The door of the COTTAGE
which had been open al the night isl
now closed and nothing can be learned
of the Generals condition.
THE END. Gent. Grant died at sos
a. m., surrounded by all his family, theI
doctors and servants. The end wasl
peaceful and without apparent pain.
NEW YORK, July 23.-The city isl
black with sable draperies. On everyi
hand are evidences OF deep aud prof.
found grief The events of April, 1861
are wildly called to mind. when Lin;
coins death startled the country, aud!
later, in September of 1881, when thei
great Garfield died. The fact that Gen!
eral Grants body is TO be brought to thisI
city and will lie here in state in the CityI
Hall has caused the citiIenS of this pitvI