The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-17
OFF FOR THE HEIGHTS,
WHERE THOUSANDS WILL PRAY THAT
THE AIR MAY BE LIFE GIVING.
HE "Old Commander" Goes in Search of
Health-Arransement fog His Com
fort A Veteran on Guard-A
Sad Prospect.


family left Tuesday morning for Mount Nc.
Gregor, near Saratoga. Gen Grant is suf
fering greatly from the heat, AMI can only
speak Iii low whisper thas only those ac
customed to be near him can understand
He is much wasted in body ami is aged look
ing.
The cottage at Mount McGregor is all
ready for the reception OF Gen Grant. II
the fatigue.of the ride thither should exhaust
the patient too much he will be driven at
once to Mr. Drexers residence, where he will
spend the night, starting at the earliest con
venlent hour Wednesday morning for
Mount McGregor. 1t is expected, however,
thaI the general Will be able
to 60 right through to the end of
the the journey. In that event his car
VIII te brought alongside the special
train on the Mount McGregor road, to
which he will be transferred Every effort
Will be made to render the trip of ten miles
to the summit of the mountain as COM
Portable and easy as possible He will be
carried from the station to his cottage,
distance of 100 yards, in sedan chair A
WIRE has been stretched about 100 feet from
the house to prevent the approach of curious
visitors. tent has been pitched near the
building, which will be occupied during the
generals stay by veteran who has offered
to do guard duty for his old commander
AT s o'clock the general, Mrs. Grant, Col.
Fred Grant, Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., Mrs.
Sartoris, Jesse Grant, DIR. Douglas, DR..
Newman and few other intimate friends
assembled in the parlor where while await
ing the carriages, the trip was discussed in
| all its bearings, and all excepting the
stricken old warrior seemed delighted over
the prospect of escaping from the sitting
atmosphere of this city. The general tried
to look contented and endeavored to make
those about him feel that he, too, appreci-
| ated the change, but it was apparent that
he did so only to encourage them. Itis said
that he preferred to spend the summer at
Long Branch, but yielded at the earnest
solicitation of his physicians.
When the carriages arrived at $50 the
sidewalk fronting the residence was
! lined with wslldrsssed people, and
when the general came out leaning
OH the arm of Col Fred Grant, hats were
lifted instantly and heads were uncovered
until he entered his carriage. Gen Grant
wore dark suit and silk hat; his face was
| pale and emaciated, and his eyes were deeply
sunken and wore an unnatural look Mrs.
Grant and DR.. Douglass entered the same
carriage The others were occupied by the
remaining members of the family and the
servants.
| Arriving at the Grand Central depot
every thing was in readiness The special
train which was to take the party to their
destination was drawn up alongside the
platform with steam up in readiness to
start. 1t was drawn by engine No. 10, the
fastest on the road, and which is always
used by Vanderbilt when he makes flying
trip over the road Gen. Grant and party
were met by Conductor Z. A. Hooper, under
whose direction the train is
Hundreds who had been waiting to catch
| glimpse of the old soldier, but who had
been kept back by the railroad employees,
finally elbowed their way up to the train as
it was about to start. and waved their hand
kerchiefs to the invalid. At exactly 9:1t
the train pulled out of the station
The Herald of Tuesday says Part Of
yesterday was spent by Gen. Grant in the
parlors OF his house in east Sixty-sixtt
street. where be found some occupation for
his leisure moments in watching busy hand.
packing valises and trunks prior to their be-
ing transferred to the express company fol
removal to Saratoga DR.. Douglas, when he
made the afternoon visit, said the genera
had spent comfortable night, and, SO far,
very satisfactory day. Later III the even
ing Col Fred Grant said his father was no
SO we'll; all physical capabiiity of speech had
left him, and that the family could not heal
what lie said, even if they put their ear
close to his mouth. Despite this significant
change in the generals condition the colone
said the journey to Mount MauGregor woulC
be begun the following morning shoulC
the weather be favorable. There wa
subdued manner and an appear
ance of sadness manifested by all the mem
Lers of the family and household yesterda,
as the arrangements for the departure wer
proceeded with. The thought of the proba
bility that the general might not return
alive to his old home, though it found no ex
preston on the part Of any one, was evi
IDENTIFY present In the minds of all, ant
when evening came and CHEEKY conversa
tion was INDUCED in Gen. Grant wa
no longer heard, and his expressive counten
ance showed how keenly he felt the loss O
his power to articulate. Ii was with diff
Guilty that sufficient self command could
| obtained t. suppress flow of tears. Their
was an unofficial expression of opinio
ye terd8y by one of the general
: physicians, that the removal of Gen
Grant might prove disastrous to hin
and hasten his death should the weathe
prove cold on the mountain 1t was admit
ted BY the same medical man that, thong
the general has less pain than he had sey
eral days ago, his bodily condition is gettin
weaker and that under most promising Gil
cumstances As regards his physical health
the general is likely now to gradually sin
away until the end, and life will no longe
be to him burden hard to bear"
ALBANY, N Y, June 17.-The speciG
train bearing Gen. Grant and party arrive
here at 1920 o'clock. The general locke
quite well and said to United Press corre
ponient, al have stood the journey well s
far" He then turned to ward the people a.
sembled oD the platform and bowed repeal
edlv
SARATOGA, N. Y, June 1.-THE specil
train bearing Gen. Grant and family al
rived at the Mount McGregor depot at l:5
D. m An immense crowd of mel
women and children had assemble
along the line to welcome the ger
erals arrival Luther NJ Wheele
post, G. A R., was in waiting to receiv
and escort the general to the residence {
Joseph w Drexel on the mountain. Whe
the general slighted the people cheered an
clapped hands, He was assisted frol
the special car to the trai
which will convey him dire'
to Mount McGregor by Harrison, tt
valet, and DR.. Douglas, where W, ]. Drex
and Dow H. Fonda, general manager of tt
road were in waiting.
The general looked we'll except for larg
swelling on the right side of his throat Z
bore the journey well. A special train ls
for the mount bearing those who wished
/, 20 to the mount, at 2:15. and was crowded
MOUNT MAcGREGoR, N. Y, June II.
Csn. Grant arrived here at 2 o'clock in tt
afternoon. The last stage Of the journe
was the worst. The jolting caused the gel
eral much pain aud fatigue.
MorrNr MrGprnoP N V lime / Z =