Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-29
rhe Last DAYS, suherings.

TUEsDAY.-Though General Grant was greatly
exhausted by the iostling ride in his Bath chair
Monday, il was believed Tuesday a. m. that the
eight hours of natural sleep obtained by him Mt
night had restored portion of the energy lostb by
him during his outing. The belief that the
General had, in measure, recovered from
his undue fatigue WINS supported by n refreshing
and somewhat brighter appearance. His pulse
had scarcely the usual volume at IL at night,
and the morning wore the doctor thought
he detected evidence OF feverish condition Of the
patient but the forenoon was passed 80 quietly
as to give strength TO the belief that the General
was resting and further recuperating from the
fatigue, which had been undertaken Mt his solicit
tation, by his express DESIRE and after an assur-
by himself that his strength was equal to the
accomplishment Of his purpose. But towards
noon there grew in the PHYSICIANS mind n con-
viction that the quietude OF his patient was more
that of extreme and growing lassitude than rest
full repOse. At midday there was a slight change
in the sick mans condition, which was marked
by increased weakness and less cognizance of
what was going ON about him. This change was
slightly marked, however, that no unusual
alarm was felt by the family, although IL was
deemed advisable to report the same to DIR. Doug
las, who mt the time, was Mt the hotel. Mr.. Jesse
Grant walked up to tho slope to speak to the
doctor who then came down To the cottage. The
General was less quiet, though he desired rest.
He informed the physician that he had declined
alcoholic stimuants because he believed they
served only TO heat the system without imparting
strength. He expressed himself rs fully that he
could endure his condition Of weakness but
short time longer, and then requested the physi-
clan to administer n hyporderinic injection Of
morphine. DIR. Douglas was not much inclined
TO grant the request because he believed the rest
produced by artificial means would too rapidly
drain the vitality of the patient Besides this,
lethargic tendency was developing in the case,
which also influenced the doctor against giving
morphine and more than this, DIR. Douglas pre-
ferred that his patient should take food rather
utaIf laE Tod
The sick man, however, declined, and insisted on
the administration of morphine. As length, to
satisfy him, DIR. Douglas administered n portion
OF morphine which General Grant thought to
contain three mnims of the drug. As fact, that
quantity was not administered, but n slight por-
ton, diluted in the usual three drops OF liquid,
was injected into the Generals arms. Then the
sick man grew more quiet, and seemed TO sleep.
Attempts were made, as the afternoon was wan
ing, to give the General food. He joined in the
endeavOr, but the quantity was small. When the
current Of goblet full of the liquid was passing
the Generals throat, its own strength distcnded
the thront, and the food passed down. but when
the few mouthfuls were being drained from the
glass, the weight and fullness Of the liquid was
not sufficient to distend the parts, and they
closed because the muscular power Of the throat
was insufficient to keep an open passage. Tho re-
suit n scene of choking and coughing, with
the election of portion Of the liquid Mt the close
Of each attempt to administer food
The condition Of the patient may be appre-
ciated when it Is known that within fifteen min
utos after an attempt to administer nourish-
up with n momentary expression OF bewilder-
ment, and inquire Of his attendant, when are
you going TO give mo that foodP half hour
might eapse, and then the sick man would
glance up rs though having forgotten something
he would remember, and calculate the question:
when aro you going to give me the food you
ceivcd the food, but that more would be given II
desired the General would again fall in to half
unconscious state and mutter; Never mind,
never mind"
The afternoon was sultry and almost breath
less with the thermometer registering as high
80 degrees. The General remained in his room,
and was dressed during the day. He did not
move, except to rise when the pillows, kept be-
meath him to prevent bad sores, were beaten and
aired. At o'clock DIR. Douglas came to the hotel
to dinner. The Grant family then dining
DR. Newman came up the mountain ON the train,
arriving ut 6 10 p. m. He joined the Generals
family at dinner, and DIR. Douglas reported the
Generals condition. He said the patient was in
a critical condition, and he would hazard no pre-
dicton Of the future, not even OF the night. Din
ner concluded, DIR. Newman and DIR. Douglas re-
turned TO the cottage. The family were con-
scious that critical season was near, and sus-
pense and ill-concealed anxiety prevailed in the
cottage Colonel Grant gave orders that all
manuscript and literary effects ut the cottage
should be Mt once packed up, and made safe,
no moro work on the Generals memoirs would
probably be done there Twilight was deepen.
ing into darkness, hurried movements were OBJ
served in the cottage. Servants fitted from room
to room. DIR. Douglas was with the patient and
family at alternate intervals and some event
seemed imminent. The nurse was seen to wheel
one OF tho Generals large chairs from the sick
room TO the cottage parlor. Dr. Douglas and
Colonel Fred Grant soon supported the sick man
from his apartment and seated him in the chair
that the nurse had cushioned with pillows Mrs
Grant took place beside her husband, and
famed him almost necessarily. DIR. Douglas
when questioned, said the General had been
brought into the parlor so he might benefit by
the freer mir, but though the sick man was cohe-
rent when he spoke in whispers, he spoke but
little, and was sinking surely. The dusk Ind
given way to darkness. The General, seeming
to take little note OF the occurrences about him.
still sat with his face to the door, while the nurse
and Mrs. Grant waved fans before his face. Crit
zeal moments were passing U. ). Grant, Jr,
was summoned by wire and all felt the end
might ut any time occur. General Grant whis-
pered to DIR. Newman, shortly before p. m, and
asked him to offer prayer The clergyman knelt
family and physician stood about with bowed
heads.
WEDNEsDAY.-T The General was gwen stimu-
lants in the morning but he grew weaker hour
by hour. The morning, was clear and the mer-
curry at IL o'clock registered 30 degrees All
visitors were kept from the cottage and sabbath
day quiet prevailed about the spot. DIR. Donglas
and Mr.. Newman were with the family and the
day was one Of quiet waiting The General sat
as he did Sunday night, his eyes closed much Of
the time, but coherent and clear whenever he
spoke. The development of the Generals
weakness during the afternoon was not particu-
lary noticeable from hour to hour, but between 3
O'Clock and O O'Clock there was n clearly II not
violently marked increase of weakness. At 3
O'Clock II was possible TO measure the pulse beats
the pulse beats could not be counted because
they 80 frequent and so feeble. During the
afternoon the blood tide had so quickened that IL
moro rapidly wore the system and exhausted the
fra basis II any existed, upon which might be
placed hope that the General might raj
ly. The point was reached mt y. m. when there
was little 10 be expected from attempts to admin
lister food Soon aftor o'clock Harrison came up
from the cottage and told Doctors Sands and
Shrady that DIR. Douglas desired to see them at
the cottage. Hither went the doctors, remaining
but short time and then coming again TO the
hotel. IL is believed that the condition Of the
patient was found to have been stated above
and that the temperature nearly or quite
NAL. Inspirations nearly 0per minute. The fam
lily, beginning at o'clock, came TO the hotel to
dinner i'm twos, the others remaining at the cot
tage in the meantime. The family dined in n
private room set apart for their in order that
at the critical time they might be secured from
the curious observation Of the many visitors,
with whom the Generals condition from hour TO
hour had been the topic Of the day.
The closed and silent cottage had all day sug-
gested mutely the enactment Of the last scene I'm
General Giants earthly existence, and upon the
guests and visitors had settled sense Of the
nearness Of death, and there seemed hush upon
the mountain and with all those upon Il.
As the sun went down cool breeze us last night
sprang up, and agan the laymen ON the noun
tain endeavored TO persuade themselves and 9th
ers that the cool night would bring renewed