The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
A BAD NIGHT FOR GEN. GRANT
The Sick Mans Much-Needed Rest
Broken by Intervals of Wakefulness.
A Visit and a Bouquet from School Children
An Explanation of the Generals De-
spondency on Wednesday.

MT. MCGREGoR, June 20.-General Grant ala
not sleep as we'll as usual last night, the inter
walls of waking being more frequent. DR.. Doug
las was called once to clear the Generals throat
after he had taken food. This afternoon the
Generals voice is clear his pulse So and full,
strong and regular. The General did not appear
today on the piazza until noontiine. He had
dozed through much of the forenoon, and sought
thus to recover the sleep lost by the breaks of
wakefulness during the night
Almost az soon as the General had taken his
chair on the piazza, a lad, who headed delega-
ton of children from Saratoga High-school,
assembled the steps, bearing in his hands bou-
quet, and advancing to where the General sat,
the young spokesman for the party delivered a
carefully prepared declaration of welcome and
sympathy. AS he finished, he handed the flow
ers to the General, who rose, and bowling to the
children family smiled, and signifed desire
that DR.. Douglas should thank the children
for their greeting and their token. The physi-
clan did so. in pleasant words of thanks which, he
said the General would be glad to say himself
If ne could speak to them, which was not posi-
bic in his condition. The General was not a
little touched by the incident. as the interest of
children throughout his sickness has more deeply
touched him than the more imposing remem
ORANGES Of friends throughout the country. The
little party of children trooped down the steps
well pleased, and, with gladdened faces, returned
to Saratoga on the 1890 train, that had waited
just below the cottage for them to conclude their
presentation.
THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
Since midday the General has been sitting on
the piazza at times with the members
of the family near him, and at others
alone reading the papers. At o'clock he threw
aside the papers and slowly made the rounds of
throat treated. After this was done the General
composed himself in his chair. He fell asleep,
and was fortunate enough to secure an hour of
quiet repose. When he awoke he took q stroll
around the house, upon the piazza, and then
Joined the family. The thermometer marked IS.
The swelling at his throat is of usual prominence,
while the other conditions are not materially
different from those existing at the time the
General arrived. In the evening his throat was
treated and painted with cocaine. About 8
o'clock the family entered the cottage for the
night.
During the evening General Grant coughed
very little, and the result of his broken rest on
Friday night was evident in natural WEAKNESS,
which, together with favorable conditions 9th
erwise led DR.. Douglas to believe his patient
would tonight sleep we'll.
AZ midnight the Generals room was quiet,
with a lamp burning low, usual.
THE GENERALS TEST Oh HIS POWERS.
It was stated in the Associated Press dis
patches on Thursday that after his long walk
on Wednesday, General Grants mind was dis
traught. Though this expression was casually
employed, there was a reason for its use, which
constitutes an important feature in the
case, and, when taken in rela-
ton with the other facts then given,
furnishes the key to the whole disturb ance that
so alarmed those near to General Grant When
the General sat upon the piazza, Wednesday at
ternoop, he pondercd upon his own case and con
dition. He had already been more than twenty
four hours in his mountain quarters. To him
it seemed that the bad effects of the journey
from New York had been wellnigh overcome By
the better air and cooler temperature. He
reasoned that with these improved conditions
he was at least as we'll as when he left the city.
and perhaps better Thus weighing and consid-
ering his situation, General Grant reached
determination to put himself to a test He
would try his feeble powers, and would
convince himself as to his own strength
"a ssn.y debility Ths last He ms desired Excepting
when the General walked in New York was to
Madison avenue, then to Sxty-sixth street and
back to the house. AS he sat on the piazza and
thought. Wednesday afternoon, he gazed
toward the eastern brow of the mountain, and
laid out for mis- trial q pathway that led to this
point Perhaps the distance to the bluff was
little more, but that should be the more o
test Then he rose from his chair,
summoned Harrison to attend him, and started.
His progress was tireSome The slope was a
little sharper than that between Sixty sixth and
Sixty seventh streets, on Madison avenue. He
paused at times, and was weary when he came
to the end. He steaded himself, and the express
painful expectation. The test had been conclu-
sive to the General. He had informed himself
of his own debility. So, after resting he wrote,
first, the letter to his family. In it he told them
he felt that he was now better informed of his
own condition than the doctors were, and his
conclusion was that he was failing and growing
weaker. More he wrote, bat it beongs to the
family only. Afterwards, he wrote the
letter to DR.. Douglas. He indicated
to the Doctor that his mind was clear as
to his condition-that he thought he understood
himself now better than any other person did.
He knew how he had failed, and that he was
still growing weaker, and the purpose of the
communication was to state these conclusions.
And then the General added that if
Dr. Douglas felt that he was willing to
assume the full responsibility of the case
under the present conditions, which the General
had indicated he-the General-was content
and willing it should be So He felt as secure
with one as with four doctors, but the General
desired DR.. Douglas to know fully how weak he
had become, and if then he felt he would like to
share the responsibility by having some one of his
colleagues present he-the General-was perfect
ly willing or the'other doctors should be sum-
moned. His concern was not for himself. The
tenor of the Generals communication was such
as to indicate that he had no choice in the mat
ter. and that whatever course was pur-
sued, the result would be the
same for him. He desired his
family and physician to know his careful judg-
ment of his own condition, and he wished the
latter to feel that he was at liberty to
adopt such q course as should seem
to him wisest for himself, and upon this
Dr. Sands was summoned. The next day,
Thursday the General felt brighter, and he
would have recalled his letter Of the day before
not that he regarded his conclusions as at fault
but that he would in his brighter moments,
have spared his friends the anxiety caused by
the communications referred to-
The Generals Famous Speech at Dies Moines.
Des Moines Special.
rhara has haar much disc,,ssior, Of Late. In