Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-24

Douglass strolled out from the cottage in the
2early morning. but could give no suggestion
1 Of definit limit of the Generals life. Hi.
brain, his heart, his lungs are alive and that
Iis all can say of either or ALL" remarked
|ihe doctor.
Scenes at the Death Bed.
A few minutes before 5. Drs. Douglass
Shrsdy snd Sands stood on the versnda con,
1versing of the condition OF Gen Grant and
/ discussing the probabilities OF his death and
sthe limit of life left the sick man. Mrs. Sar-
3toTis and Stenogrspher Dawson were con
{versing little distance away. when Henry
A 4the nurse, stepped hastily upon the piszzs
and spoke quietly 10 the physicians. He told
them he thought the General was very near
TO death rhe medical men hastily entered
the room where the sick man was living and
approached his side. Instantly. upon his
scanning the patients face, DR.. Douglass
ordered the family to be summoned to the
bed side. Haste was made and Jessie Gran,
and wife, L. 5. Grant. Jr. and wife and Mrs.
ICol. Grant were quickly beside the doctor.
at the sick mans cot. Mrs. Ssrforis AND
Mrs Dawson had followed the doctors from
the piazza, and the entire family was presen,
except Col. Fred Grant A hssty summons
was sent for him, but he entered the sick
room while the messenger was searching fol
him. The Colonel seated himself at the
head OF the bed with his IL fl arm resting upor
the pillow above the head of the General who
was breathing rapidly and with slightly gasp
ing respirations. Mrs. Grant. calm, but " itt
!intense inward agitation bravely suppressed
took seat close by the bed side. She leanec
slightly upon the Colonel, resting upon hel
, right elbow. and gazing with nearly blinded
. eyes into the Generals face. She found there
however, no token of recognition, for the
sick man was peacefully and painlessly pass
Ting into another life.
| Mrs. Sartoris came behind her mother, ant
leaning on her shoulder. so witnessed the
close OF the life in which she had constituted
a strong element of pride. Directly behind
Mrs Grant and Mrs. Sartoris, at little di.
.tance removed, stood Drs Douglass, Shrady
and Sands spectators of the closing of life
which their efforts and counsel had SO pro.
yonged On the opposite side of the bed from
. his mother, directly before her, stood Jessie
Grant and L s Grant, Jr., and near the
corner of the cot, on the same side as Jessir
and near to each, was Mr.. n. f. Dawson
the Generals stenographer and confidenta
secretary.
At the foot of the bed, gazing directly
liown into the Generals face. were Mrs. Col
3Grant, Mrs. U. s. Grant Jr and Mrs. Jes-
! 3sie Grant, while somew hat removed from the
Family circle. Henry, the nurse, and Harrison
Fyrrell, the Generals body servant, were re
Ispectively watching the closing life of the
patient and their master.
DIR. Newman had repaired to the hotel for
breakfast and was not present.
The Generals little grandchildren, U. S
IGrant, Jr., and Nellie, were asleep in the
nursery room above stairs. Otherwise the
entire family and household were gathered al
the bed side of the dying man. The members
aof the group had been summoned not a mo-
ment sooner than was prudent. The doctors
|nOted on entering the room and pressing TO
the bed side, that already. a purplsh tinge,
(which is one of the natural signs of final dis
|ssolution, had settled beneath the finger nails
The hand that DR.. Douglass lifted was fast
growing colder than it had been through the
might.
The Morning Scenes.
The sick mans pulse just before A. NJ
on Thursday, had futtered beyond the point
where the physician could distinguish it from
|the pulse beats in his own fngar tips
Respiration WAS very rapid and was sue
|cession of shallow, parting inhalations. But,
happily the approaching end was becoming
|clear Of the rafting fullness of the throat
land lungs, and as the respiratiOns grew quick
Ter and more rapid at the close, they also be
|came less labored and almost noiseless. This
|tact was in its results comfort to the watch
|ers by the bedside, to whom was spared the
sense of agonizing or other than a peaceful
death.
The wife almost constantly stroked the
face, forehead and hands Of the dying Cen
Ieral and at times, as passionate longing to
prevent the event so near would rise within
|her, Mrs. Grant pressed both his hands and
|leaning forward tenderly kissed the face of
THE sinking man. Col. Fred Grant sat silent
|lv but with evident feeling, while U. S.
Grant, jr., was deeply moved, but Jessie
bore the scene steadily. and the ladies Will
watching with wet cheeks were silent in the
presence of life such as was closing before
hem. The morning had passed five minutes
beyond o'clock, and there was not one of
the strained and waiting watchers but who
could mark the nearness of the life tide to
tits final ebbing. DR.. Douglass noted the
nearness of the supreme moment and quietly
approached the bed side and bent above ii,
ami wept while he he did So The sorrow of
he gray haired physician seemed closely
|allied with that of the family. Dr. Shrady|
drew near. 1t was seven minutes after g
o'clock and the eyes of the General were
closing. His breathing grew more hushed as
The last functions of the heart and lungs were|
FASTENED to the closing of the ex-presidents
life. A peaceful expression seemed to be
deepening in the firm and strong-lined face|
|and it was reflected as a closing comfort inl
the sad hearts that beat in unity under theI
stresstof loving suspense. A minute more|
passed. As the General drew a deeper
breath there was an exhalstion like that of
one relieved of long and anxious tension.
The members of the group were impelledI
"a step nearer the bed and each awaited
another respiration, but it never came. There
was absolute stiffness in the room and the|
hush of expectant suspense, and no sonnd|
birds in the pines outside the cottage and
he measured throbbiug of the engine that al
blight had waited by Little Mountain depot
down the slope.
SIT is All Over"
quietly spoke DR.. Douglass. and there camel
then heavily to each witness, realization
that Gen. Grant was dead. Then the doc
tors withdrew. and the nurse closed down the
eyelds 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 sol
stely stilled. DIR. Shrady passed out upon
he piazza. and as he did so met DIR. New
man Fastening up the steps. 'He is dead, II
remarked DIR. Shrady, quietly. The fact of