The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-15

members Of the family and the friends who came
from the house refused to talk 50 fire ely as they
had done, and referred oil inquiries to the bulle-
tins. The inference was at once taken that the
infcrmers, as we'll as General Grant, were
under the physicians supervision.
There were some men who visited the Grant
household whom the reporters especially sought
One was the Rev. DIR. Newman. He usually
care down the steps with a smile on his face,
The reporters were always sure Of hearing one
thing from him: 'Oh, it is marvellous he
would say; ''such Christian resignation. such
peace of mind, such fortitude.r and then answer
ing readily most questions put to him, hurried
OFT DIR. Douglas would give plenty of informa-
ton IL approached in the right wav. General
Badeau said little. Or. Shrady usually repeated
colored man servant, gave good informa-
ton at times, and was often we'll
paid for it. Such was the strife for news that
the reporter of one paper succeeded in being adj
mitted to the Grant house one night, and re-
manned until morning. The matter was brought
to Col Fred. Grants attention, ard entrance
thereafter was forbidden.
All the papers held their forms in readiness to
strike oil an extra editisn as soon as the an
nouucement Of Grants death was received. So
long as all the reporters were within a few yards
of each other it hardly seemed possible that the
news could get to one before it would get TO an
other. Yet there was much seheming and specu-
lation. Some thought that the General would
w AONA 0OiOAG 1tolQS WGl0 SiOWGu 10 kuOH
it. Others thought that the end would be an
nounced Immediately on it's occurrence. The
chief difficulty was to get WORD from inside the
house the moment that death came. 1t was said
that one of the doctors would announce tho
event by coming to the front window and MAX
ing certain motions. Others thought that the
news would be made public through the same
channels by which the bulletins were issued.
There was speculation as to whether the morn
ing or the evening papers would get the news of
his death. The gpnnral imnraGsi0n hOyy0yGr
was that the General would die about 4 o'clock
In the morning. This seemed probable, because
all his bad turns had come at that hour.
One morning about 4 o'clock those of the re-
porters who we're not on watch were amusing
themselves by a game of cards in the little back
room of the Mutual District Messenger Com
pany. Suddenly those who were on watch
came rushing In and scrubbed away in great
haste. AT the same time the telegraph machines
began to "click, click In an instant the card
players were on their feet, the cards were scat
tered, and the table nearly upset. rs he Geadf'
they cried. Then the watchers stopped and
laughed. 1t was only a joke. But scarcely half
an hour later there was a genuine scare. Mes
senger boys rushed for cabs, and the doctors
were brought in hot haste. That was the time
when the General had a hemorrhage and was
thought to be dying. The reporters outside.
suspecting the worst, but knowing nothing an-
thoritatively, were wild with excitement. Eyes
were strained toward the windows and doors.
OF how the announcement of death was to be-
made no two reporters probably had the same
idea. Perhaps he was dead even then as they
stood ready to rush for telephone and telegraph.
After nearly an hour of suspense word came
that the warrior had been snatched from death.
and that there was no longer immediate danger.
Amusing things happened occasionally. Soy
eral times George Francis Train sent peculiar
rhymes, written on a postal-card, and addressed
to 9Th reporters who haunt the stone walls and
sit on the telegraph poles in the neighborhood of
Sixty-sixth street The words were so closely
written that it was hard to distinguish them,
and the eccentric writer had used in the compost
ton lead pencils of all colors. He penned lines
on ex-senator Chaffee, DR.. Newman, General
Badeau and others, and TESTED at the expense of
the physicians. He called the newspaper men
'the death boom syndicate
Many curious people came along the street.
Sometimes a crank would inquire which house
General Grant lived in. He would be directed
to the wrong house. The stranger would pause
and spend an hour or more in gazing at the wallis
which he supposed inclosed the great soldier.
The names of all who called to inquire concern
ing the Generals condition were obtained, and
the more prominent Of them put into print. This
induced many seekers after n~otoriety to leave
their cards. Such visitors. however. could usually
be detected by the reporters, and were studiously
avoided. E