The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-22
A Plan by Which Accurate Information Is
Secured Without Undue Annoyance Of
the Family or the Physicians.
The Mystery of the Intimacy Between
the General and Pars0n Newman.
The Old Commander Closely Following the
Progress of the Trial of James D. Fish
Grants Unrest Of Mind.
Arrangements of the Newspapers for OBJ
tanning Accurate Information.


tanning Accurate Information.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, March 21.-The New York news
papers have set on General Grant what they
term the death watch he may die at any mo-
ment, and he may be alive three months hence.
But whenever he does die the newspapers must
instantly have the news hence some must
watch the house for the newspapers all the time.
The chief papers have therefore hired a con-
venient room, close to the Grant residence, and
there, all day and all night, sit o group of re-
porters waiting for General Grant to die. They
have books, and card table, and the daily
newspapers, and whatever occurs to them may
be of aid to help pass away the wearisome
hours. They are well-paid for their trouble,
and among them are some of the most trust
worthy newspaper men in the city 1t is very
responsible work. and men who are of irregular
habits and who drink, are not selected for it.
At stated hours in the day and night, the Grant
mansion is visited, and Colonel Fred Grant tells
the reporters how the General has passed the
preceding hours. Twice a day, and just before
midnight, the physicians are seen, and they tell
the reporters the condition of their distinguished
patient The work speedily becomes reduced to
SYSTEM and the plan renders both the family
and the physicians much more freedom than
when the bell was rung twenty five times day
by the representatives of the press
in pursuit of information. The newspaper
headquarters in Grants case, has become noted
already. and is bound to become more so as time
runs on Probably it will not be kept open so
long as was the room in which the reporters
waited 80 long for the death of Commodore Van
derbilt. There the watch was kept up for just
seven months, and jolly time indeed the boys
had. The room became club-room, known to
half the newspaper men in town, and they
dropped in and out, and played cards. and had
good time generally. Charles O'Conor, too,
gave the press of New York much trouble and
expense, and ended it by getting well instead of
dying When, years afterward, he did die at
Nantucket, they got very brief notice Another
notable newspaper wait was in the long absence
of the jury in the Beecher-Tlton suit. There,
too, a room was hired and the newspaper men
all used it while waiting for the verdict that
never came. The chief newspapers have obit-
uary notices of General Grant, descriptive Of his
last days, headings, and everything save the
bare announcement of death, all set in type and
made up ready to rush out an extra with all
possible haste after the fatal moment is an
nounced.
THE GENERAL AND THE PARsoN
Strange that General Grant should have taken
such liking to Parson Newman, isn't ita To
see the two men together you would not imagine
that they had any tastes in common Newman
is not bright or quick of wit, or learned. He is
slow in conversation, as is Grant, and you get
info f;op from what he saws Vet Grant
has never let Newman get far away from him
since their friendship first ripened in Washing
ton, in Grants first term there, sixteen years
ago. The Parson could always roam all over the
White House unmolested, and was ever and al
ways welcome there. Grant did all in his power
to help Newman along and it was Grants infu-
ence that brought the Parson on to New York
and established him over then prosperous
church. There was, it must be admitted.
great deal of politics connected with the church,
and in the end the congregation split and the
Parson had to 60, but not until Grant
had suffered through the failure of Grant e.
Ward, and had been attacked by an incurable
disease. Friends of the General say that there
is none whom he loves more outside his family
than Newman, and as it plain that Grant
forna, and he has lived in the same house with
the Grants since his arrival Newman's sermons
never attracted attention either here or in Wash
ington, and what Grant could find to admire in
him will always remain a mystery. Yet Grant
clings to him as to a brother, and will not let
him quit the house for an hour without knowing
just when he is to return That Newman is
great comfort to the sick man is conceded on all
sides. While Grant has millions of admirers,
the number of his intimate friends are very few.
The silent man never seemed to enjoy what
almost all men seek-the companionship of other
men. He idolized his family, and he loved Par
son Newman and a few others, but they do not
count up half a score all told
THE GENERALS UNREST OF MIND
General Grant is reading more about the trial
of James d. Fish than anybody can who relies
on the published reports, for the newspapers
squeeze each days proceedings into quarter to
half column, while he gets stenographic YER
batim report This is provided for him, on his
urgent request, by order of Judge Benedict, who
is presiding in the United States Court where
| Grant & Wards silent partner is being tried for
| violating the banking laws. The shorthand
notes of the testimony are taken to the Generals
house every evening and read TO him. 1t was
through Fish's connection with the swindle that
Grant was drawn into it He was president of
aleading bank, inancier of reputed solidity, and
possessed Of considerable wealth. Therefore,
when he seemed to trust young Ward implicitly,
| Grant blindly followed his example. To this
| day Grant is not clear in his mind whether Fish
| was Wards confederate victim though now
almost brought to the former view; and be is q