Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-23
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
DEATH OF GENERAL GRANT.

peacefully and without evident pain.
Throughout the night the Generals con-
dilion gave every evidence of speedy dis
solution. At three o'clock he had grown so
weak that, though he frequently attempted
to doze, he was unable any longer to clear
the gathering mucus from his throat. 1t
accumulated and remained as o'clock
drew on, and when daylight came q point
had been reached when expectoration was
impossible. There was not left enough of
strength, and from o'clock on there was
in the throat the significant rattle ofmucous
that was filling the lungs and clogging the
throat. At 3 o'clock the General asked for
water, and after that it is not remembered
that be uttered any word. At 4 o'clock
the breathing was quckened, and reached
City To the minute. An hour later the
respirations had reached sixty, and between
5 md o'clock the finger nails had become
blue and the hands further evidenced the
progress of numbness at the extremties and
at every breath the mueus clogging in the
throat was growing noticeable.
A few minutes before eight o'clock this
morning Drs. Douglass, Shrady and Sands
stood on the cottage veranda conversing on
the condition of Gen. Grant and discussing
the probabilities of his death and the limit
of life left the sick man. Mrs Sartoris and
Steuographer Dawson were conversipg a
little distance away, when Henry, the
nurse, stepped hastily upon the piazza and
spoke quietly to the physicians. He told
them he thought the General was very near
TO death The medical men hastily entered
tho roorn where the sick man was lying and
| approached his side. Instantly upon scan
ming the patients face, DR.. Douglass ordered
the family TO be summoned to the bedside.
Haste was made and Mrs. Grant, Jesse
and wife, I. S. Grant, jr., and wife and Col.
Grant were quickly beside the doctors at
the sick mans cot. Mrs Sartors and Mr..
Dawson had followed the doctors in from
the piazza and the entire family was pre-.
sent, except Col. Fred Grant. Hasty sum-
mons were sent for him, but be entered the
ing fer him. The Colonel seated himself at
the head Of the bed with his left arm resting
upon the pillow above the head of the Cen
eral, who was breathing rapidly and with
slightly aaspiug respirations. Mrs. Grant,
calm, but with intense agitation, bravely
suppressed, took a seat close by the bedside.
She leaned slightly upon the cot, resting
upon her right elbow and gazing with tear
blinded eyes into the Generals fhce. She
found there, however, no token Of recogn-
ton, for the sick man was peacefully and
painlessly passing into another life. Mrs.
Sartoris came behind her mother and, lean
Ing over her shoulder, witnessed the close
of life in which che had constituted q
strong element Of pride. Directly behind
Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Sartoris, and at little
distance removed, stood Drs. Douglas,
shrady and Sands, spectators Of closing
life their efforts and counsel had so pro-
longed The wife almost constantly stroked
the face forehead and hands of the dying
General and ut times, as the passionate
rise within her, Mrs. Grant pressed both his
hands and leaning forward tenderly kissed
the face Of the siuking man. 1t was seven
minutes after o'clock and the eyes of the
General were closing. His breathing grew
moro hushed as the last functions of the
heurt and lungs were FASTENED to the clos
ing of the ex Presidents life. A minute
more passed and was closing as the General
drew deeper breath. There was an ex-
halalion like that of one relieved Of long
and anxious tension. The members Of the
group were impeiled each step nearer the
bed, and each awaited another respiration,
stiffness in the room and hush OF expec
tant suspense, and no sound broke the
silence save the singing of the birds in the
pines outside the cottage and the measured
throbbing OF the engine that all night waited
by the little mountain depot down the slope.
ut is all over" quietly spoke DR.. Douglass
and there came then heavily to each wit
ness the realization that General Grant was
QCau. ucu Luc uOCGoIo "iIHuIcW, LILO
nurse closed the eyeids and composed the
dead Generals head, after which each of
the family group pressed to the bedside, one
after another and touched their lips upon
the quiet face go lately stiled.
An enbalmer from New York will be sum-
moned TO preserve General Grants remains,
but local undertaken will undoubtedly
conduct the immediate details and convey
the remains to New York. When the body
shall have reached New York the question
Of post norton will be considered and de-
termined by the family. Touching the place
for burial, the General, q month ago, indi-
Gated three places as suiting his wishes in
that direction. The choice, however, was
narrowed to two, owing to the natural wish