Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-01


civil-service commission. Although
elected as republican, Gen. Grant
was originally democrat, having
voted for President Buchanan III
1856. In view of this fact his name
was seriously considered in connec
ton with the democratic nomination
in 1868, and it was supposed at the
time that he would not have declined
! the nomination had it been rendered
him. So the Democrats say.
RETIREMENT TO PRIVATE LIFE.
President Grant became private
citizen again on the 4th of March,
1877, being succeeded in the chief
magistracy by Rutherford B. Hayes,
of Ohio. He soon afterwards visited
Europe and the East, and was re.
ceived at the principal foreign courts
with distinguished honors. On his
return to this country he took up his
residence in New York city. In the
winter of 1884 he was injured by a
fall, the effects of which helped to
undermine his health. In May 1884
the failure of the banking firm Of
Grant & Ward, of New York, swept
away his fortune, leaving him only
the interest on fund subscribed by
citizens of New York some years be-
fore, and held in trust for him and
his family. His collection of gifts
and trophies were pledged to Mr..
w. 81. Vanderbilt to secure debt of
S15O,000. His financial embarrass-
ment aggravated a throat trouble,
which finally developed a cancerous
character. In view of his extreme
illness and embarrassment Congress,
on the 4th OF March, 1885, passed a
bill authorizing his restoration to
the army with his former rank of
general on the retired list. During
the last few months Gen. Grant has
been busily occupied in writing his
"reminiscences of the war, and was
extremely anxious to complete the
work before bis death, which hope
was practically realized.
DEATH OF GEN. GRANT.
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant died at Mt.
McGregor, near Saratoga, N. Y,
Thursday morning, July 23d, at eight
minutes past eight o'clock, after an
illness extending over the past year.
The news was received everywhere
with profound sorrow. A proclama
ton was issued by President Cleve-
land announcing the sad event; APP
propriate action was taken by State
and municipal authorities, and in all
parts of the country there were pub
lie and private manifestations OF re-
gard and expressions of sentiment in
harmony with the melancholy CHAR
acter of the occasion.
MT. MCGREGoR, n. Y, July 3d.
A few minutes before eight o'clock
Drs. Douglas, Shradv and Sands
stood on the cottage veranda talking
of the condition of Gen. Grant, and
discussing the probabilities of his
death and the limit of life left the
sick man, Mrs. Sartoris and Steno-
grapher Dawson were conversing a
liCtle distance away, when Henry,
the nurse, stepped hastily upon the
piazza and spoke quietly to the ply
sicians. He told them he thought
the General was very near to death.
The medical men hastily entered the
room where the sick man was lying,
and approached his side.
Instantly, upon scanning the pa
TENTS face, the family were ordered
to be summoned to the bedside.
Mrs. Grant, Jesse Grant and wife,
q. S. Grant, JT., and wife, and Mrs.
Col. Grant were quickly at the sick
mans cot. Mrs. Sartoris and Mr..
Dawson had followed the doctors in
from the piazza.
The entire family was present ex-
cept Col. Fred Grant. Hasty sum-
mons were sent for him, but he EN-.
tered the sick room while the mes.
senger was searching for him. The
Colonel seated himself at the head
of the bed with his left arm resting
upon the pillow above the head of
the General. who was breathing rap
idly and with slightly gasping respl-
rations.
Mrs. Grant, calm, but with intense
agitation bravely suppressed, took a
seat close by the bedside. She lean
ed slightly upon the cot, resting upon
her right elbow and gazing with
tear blinded eyes into the Generals
face. She found there, however, no
token of recognition, for the sick
man was peacefully and painlessly
passing into anotherlife. Mrs.Sartoris
came behind her mother, and lean.
ing over her shoulder witnessed the
close of life in which she had con-
stituted a strcng element of pride.
On the opposite of the bed from
their mother, and directly before her,
stoodJeSSe Grant and q. S. Grant, Jr.,
and near the corner of the cot, on
the same side as Jesse and near to
each, was Mr.. n. L. Dawson, the
Generals stenographer and conf
dental secretary. AT the foot of
the bed, and gazing directly down
into the Generals face, was Mrs.
Col. Fred Grant, Mrs. U. S. Grant,
Jr.. and Mrs. Jesse Grant, while
somewhat removed from the family
circle Henry, the nurse, and Harri-
son Tyrrel, the Generals body-ser-
want, were watching the closing life
of their master. DR.. Newman had
repaired to the hotel to breakfast
and was not present.
The Generals little grandchildren,
U. S. Grant, Jr., and Nellie, were
sleeping the sleep of childhood in the
room upstairs. Otherwise the entire
family and household were gathered
at the beside of the dying man.
The members of the group had