The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-07-30
TIE rAn1rr IND TIE SHADOW.
last Hours Of a Gredt Man Who for Long
Months Suffered the A0onies of Disease
Increasing Weakness Witch Betokened
Rapid Dissolution.

0tu. UTant, as mas already Deen an
nounced, died at Mt. McGregor on the
morning Of the 23d. A dispatch from that
place, dated the Oath, gives the following
account of the closing hours in the life OF q
man who has been honored as no one was
ever honored before, and the progress Of
whose disease the nation had watched for
months with the deepest solicitude:
The use Of hot applications to keep
warmth in Gen. Grants extremities and
vital parts were resorted to early last
night. They were of some avail, but artiti-
cial warmth was without power to reach
the course or stay the results OF dissolu-
had been progressing steadily, though grad
ually. Hypodermics OF brandy were fire.
quently given to stimulate the tagging
physical powers, but later this failed to
affect the patient, whose vitality and
whose physical forces were so far spent as
to furnish no footing for a rebound. In
deed, the efforts of the medical men were
being made because none could stand by
inactive and without the trial OF an expe-
dent that might prolong life an hour or a
minute. The physicians believed the pa
tient might reach the extreme ebb of his
strength at 1 o'clock this morning and the
approach of that hour was anticipated
with intense anxiety at the cottage. 1t
passed, however, and the general, lying
upon his back and propped by two pillows,
lay upon the cot bed in the parlor and was
yet living, though growing weaker. The in
evitable close OF the generals long sickness
seemed more and more imminent. The
feeble pulse-beats had worn themselves by
their rapidity to a fluttering throb that
could not be gagged beneath tine fingers OF
The physicians. His body was being worn
out by it's own life currents, SO rapidly was
IL coursing through the veins. Repeatedly
brandy was injected beneath the skin OF
the generals arm, but despite It's warming
influence the respiration had quick
ened from A to the minute dur
ing the evening to a point OF labored
breathing that was painful to the friends
who grouped and bent near the sick man.
Two O'Clock had been passed and the evil
dences OF death were multiplying. The IN
Inspirations were not alone more
ranid. but more shallow. The lungs and
heart were giving away, SO weak a the
general grown at 3 o'clock that though
he frequently attempted to do SO,
he was unable any longer to
clear the gathering mucus from his throat.
IT accumulated and remained and as 4
o'clock drew on and the daylight came a
point had been reached when expectora-
ton was impossible. There was not left
enough strength, and from 4 O'Clock on
there was in the throat the significant rat
tie of mucous that was filling the lung and
c~logging the throat. At 3 O'Clock the gen.
eral asked for water and after that 1T is
NOT remembered that he uttered any word.
The respiration had reached sixty and be-
tween s and 6 o'clock the finger nails had
become blue and the hand further evil
denced the progress Of numbness at the
extremities and at every breath the mucus
cloepinp in the throat was growing more
noticeable.
A few minutes before 8 O'Clock Drs. Doug
las, Shrady and Sands stood on the cot
tage yeranda conversing on the condition
of Gen. Grant and discussing the proba-
bilities of his death and limit OF lie lett the
sick man. Mrs. Sartoris and S~tenographer
Dawson were conversing a little distance
away when Henry, the nurse, stepped
hastily upon the piazza and spoke quietly
to the physicians. He told them ne
thought the general very a ms deatn.
The medical men hastily entered the room
where the sick man was lying and APP
his side. Instantly, upon scam
ming the patients face, DR.. Douglas ordered
family to be summoned to the bedside.
Mrs. Grant, Mr.. Jesse Grant and vile, U:
g Grant. Jr.. and wife and Mrs. Col. Grant
we're ouickly beside the doctors and at the
sick mans cot. Mrs. Sartoris had ollowed
the doctors in and the whole family was
present except Col. Fred Grant. A nasty
was sent him, but he entered the
sick room while the messenger was search-
for him. The colonel seated hlmseiI at
The head of the bed with his LETT arm rest
mo on the inflow above the head OF the
general, who was breathing rapidly with
gasping Inspirations. Mrs. Grant,
braveiv suppressing her agitation, took a
seat close by the bedside. She leaned
SLIGHTLY upon the cot and gazed with tear
blinded ewes into the generals lace. She
found there, however, no token OF recoenl,
ton. for the sick man was peaceiuIly ana
painlessly passing away Mrs. oaruorie
came behind her mother and, leaning over
her shoulder, witnessed the close OF a lie III
which she had constituted a strong element
of pride. Directly behind MIS-. oran' anu
Mre Sartoris. and a little removed, were
Drs. Douglas, Shrady and Sands. On the
other side of the bed and opposite the
mother stood Jesse Grant and US. Grant,
r. Near the corner of the cot and on the
Same sid as Jesse, stood Dawson, the gen.
eroTs stenoaraDher and confidential secre-
tary. At the foot OF the bed, and gazing
directly down into the generals lace stood
Mrs. Fred Grant, Mrs. U. 8 Grant, Jr.,
ond Mrs. Jesse Grant, while somewhat re-
moved from the family circle Henry, the
nurse. and Harrison, the generals BODY
servant were watching the close OF the lie
of their master. DIR. Newmanhad repaired
To the hotel for breakfast and was not
present. and the generals grandchildren
we're asleep in the nursery room above.
Otherwise the entire family and house
hold were gathered at the man.
sion. The group had been sum-
monad NOT a moment sooner than
was nrudent. for the doctors noticed that
ON entering the room a purplsh tlnge' an,
.nouncing final dissolution had appeared
beneath the finger nails, and the mana
which DIR. Douglas lifted vas last growing
cold and the pulse had futtered beyond
the noint where the physician could dis
tincnish the pulse beats by his own finger.
The respiration was very rapid ana there
was a succession of shallow painting IN the
inhalations, but the throat seemed TO be-
come clearer and as the resplratlons De-
came quicker ard more rapid at the close
tbev also became less labored and almost
noiseless. This fact was a comfort to the
watchers. who were thus spared a scene
OF agonizing or other than peaceful death.
-. --ly- Ol-n n