The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-24
THE DEATH-BED SCENE.
The General Passes Away Peacefully an'
Without Suffering.

without Suffering.
1 Mt. MCGREGOR, July ga few minutes be-
fore o'clock Doctors Douglas, Shrady and
Sands stood on the cottage veranda, conversing
on the condition of General Grant, and discuss
ing the prof. abilities of his DEATH and the limit
of life left the sick man. Mrs. Sartoris and
Stenographer Dawson were conversing little
distance away, when Henry, the nurse, stepped
hastily upon the piazza and spoke quietly to the
physicians. He told them he thought the Gen
eral 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 patients face, DR.. Douglas
ordered the family to be summoned to the bed
side. Haste was made, and Mrs. Grant
Mr.. Jesse and wife, U. S. Grant,
jr, and wife, and Mrs Colonel Grant
were quickly beside the doctors at the sick mans
lowed the doctors in from the piazza, and the
entire family was present except Col. Fred
Grant hasty summons was sent for him, but
he entered the sickroom while the messenger
was searching for him. The Colonel seated him
self at the head of the bed, with his left arm
resting upon the pillow above the head of the
General, who was breathing rapidly and with
Slightly gasping respirations. Mrs. Grant, calm,
but with intense agitation bravely suppressed,
took seat close to the bedside. She leaned
slightly upon the cot, resting upon her right
elbow, and gazed with tear blinded eyes into the
Generals face. She found there, however, no
token of recognition, for the sick was peace
fully and painlessly passing into another life.
Lol,;x hos
leaning over her shoulder so witnessed the close
of life in which she had contributed a strong
element of pride.
Directly behind Mrs Grant and Mrs. Sartoris,
and at a little distance removed, stood Doctors
Douglas, Shrady and Sands, spectators, of a
closing life their efforts and counsel had so pro-
longed.
On the opposite side of the bed from his
mother, and directly before her stood Jesse
Grant and U. S. Grant, ir., and near the corner
of the cot, on the same side as Jesse and near
to each, was Mr.. N. E. Dawson, the Generals
stenographer and confidential secretary. At the
foot of the bed and gazing directly down into the
Generals face was Mrs. Colonel Fred Grant,
Mrs. U. S. Grant ir., and Mrs. Jesse Grant,
while somewhat removed from the family circle,
! Henry, the nurse, and Harrison Trrell, the
Generals body servant, were watching the clos
] ing life of the patient, their master. Doctor
Newman had repaired to the hotel to breakfast
and was not present The Generals little
grandchildren, U. S. Grant, ir, and
Nellie sleeping the sleep of childhood in the
nursery room above. Otherwise, the eentire fam
lily and household were gathered at the bedside
of the dying man.
The members of the family group had been
summoned not a moment sooner than was
prudent The doctors noted, on entering the
room, and pressing to the bedside, that already
the purpish tinge, which is one of natures sig
nails of final dissolution had settled beneath the
finger nails. The hand that DR.. Douglas lifted
fast growing colder than it had been
through the night The pulse had luttered
beyond the point where the physician could dis
tingush it from the pulse beat in his own finger
! tips. The respiration was very rapid and was a
succession of shallow paintings, but happily the
approaching end was becoming clear of the rat
Ting fullness of the throat and lungs and the
3resprations grew quicker and more rapid at the
close. They also became less labored and almost
noiseless This fact was, in its results, a com
1ort TO the watchers Dy the BEDSIDE, TO WhoE
was spared the scene of an agonizing or other
than peaceful death. The wife almost con
stantly stroked the face, forehead and hands of
the dying General, and at times, as the passion
ate longing to prevent the event so near would
rise within her, Mrs. Grant pressed both his
hands, and leaning forward, tenderly kissed the
face of the sinking man.
Col. Fred Grant sat silently, with evident feel
ing, though his bearing was that of a solderly
son, at the deathbed of his father u S. Grant,
jr., was deeply moved, but Jesse bore the scene
steadily, and the ladies, while watching with wet
cheeks were silent, as beftted the dignity of a
life such as was closing before them.
The morning had passed five minutes beyond
s o'clock, and there was not one of the strained
and watching walters but what could mark the
nearness of the life tide to it's final ebbing Dr.
Douglas noted the nearness of the supreme mo-
ment, and quietly approached the bedside and
bent above it, and while he did so the sorrow of
the gray haired physician seemed closely allied
with that of the family. DR.. Shrady also drew