Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-07-30
GEN. GRANTS DEATH.
SCENE IN THE CHAMBER OF
DEATH - HOW THE ILLUSTRI-
GUS SUFFERER PASSED AWAY

"A few minutes before o'clock Drs.
Douglas, Shrady and Sands stood on the
cottage veranda c0nversing Of the con-
IlitiOn OF General Grant, and discussing
the probabilities OF his death, and the
limit of life left the sick man. Mrs.
Sartoris and stenographer Dawson were
conversing little distance away, when
Henry, the nurse, stepped hastily upon
the piazza and spoke quietly to the ply
SicianS.
He told them he thought the General
was very near to death. The medical
men hastily entered the room where the
sick man was lying, and approached his
J side. Instantly upon scanning the pa
TENTS face DR.. Douglas ordered the
family to be summoned to the bedside.
Haste was made and Mrs. Grant,
Mr.. Jesse and wife, u. 5. Grant, Jr.,
and wife and Mrs. Colonel Grant were
quickly beside the doctors at the sick
mans cot. Mrs. Sartoris and Mr.. Daw-
son had followed the doctors in from
the piazza, and the entire party was
present except Colonel Fred. Grant.
! Hasty summons were sent for him, but
he entered the sick room while the mes
senger was searching for him.
The Colonel seated himself at the
head Of the bed with his left arm rest
ing upon the pillow above the head of
the General, who was breathing rapid
ly and with slightly gasping resplra-
tionS. Mrs. Grant, calm but with in
$ tense agitation bravely suppressed, took
q seat close by the bedside. She leaned
slightly upon the cot, resting upon her
right elbow and gazing with blind
ed eyes upon the Generals face. She
found there, however, no token of re-
cOenition, for the sick man was peace
fully and painlessly passing into anoth-
er life. Mrs. SartOriS came behind her
mother, and leaning over her shoulder,
so witnessed the close of a life i'm which
she had constituted strong element of
pride. Directly behind Mrs. Grant and
Mrs. Sart0ris, and at little distance
removed, stood DrS. Douglas, Shrady
and Sands, spectators of a closing life
their efforts and counsel had so long.
prolonged. On the opposite side of the
bed from his mother and directly before
her stood Jesse Grant and u. s. Grant,
Jr., and near the corner of the cot on
the same side as Jesse and near to
each was Mr.. NJ. Dawson the Generals
StenOgrapher and confidential secretary.
At the foot of the bed and gazing di-
rectly down into the Generals face was
Mrs. Col, Fred Grant, Mrs. US. Grant,
Jr., and Mrs. Jesse Grant, while some
what removed from the family circle,
Henry, the nurse, and Harrison TYR
! ell, the Generals body servant were re-
spectfully watching the closing life of
the patient and their master. DR..
Newman had repaired to the hotel to
breakfast, and was not present. The
Generals little grandchildren, U. 5.
Grant ,Jr., and Nellie were sleeping the
sleep Of child hood in the nursery room
above stairs. Otherwise the entire
family and household were gathered at
the bedside of the dying man. The
members Of the giOup had been sum-
mOned not moment sooner than was
prudent. The doctors noted on enter
ing therOOm and passing to the bedside
that already the purplish tinge, which
is one of natures signals of final diSso-
luton had settled beneath the finger
nails. The hand that DR.. Douglas lift
ed was fast growing colder than it had
been through the night. The pulse had
huttered beyond the point where the
physician could distinguish it from the
puise-beats i'll his own finger tips. The
respiration was very rapid and was a
succession of shallow painting inhala-
ti0ns. The respirations grew quicker
and more rapid at the close they also
became less SlabOred and almost noiseless,
This fact was i'm its results a comfort
to the watchers by the bedside to whom
was spared the scene IF an agonizing or
other than peaceful death. The wife
almost constantly Str0ked the face,
forehead and hands of the dy ing Gener-
al, and at times, as the passionate long
ing 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. Colonel Fred sat silently but with
evident feeling, though his bearing was
that of soldierly son at the deaf hbed
OF a hero father. u. 5. Grant, Jr., was
deeply moved, and Jesse bore the scene
steadily, and the ladies, while watching
with wet cheeks. were silent as befitted
the dignity of life such as was closing
before them. The morning had passed
five minutes beyond 8o'clock, and there
was not one of the strained and waiting
watchers but who could mark the near
ness OF the life-tide to its final ebbing.
Dr. Douglas noted the nearness of the |
supreme moment. and quietly approach |
ed the bedside and bent over it, and |
while he did so the sorrow of the gray
haired physician seemed closely allied !
with that of the family. DR.. Shrady |
also drew near.
1t was seven minutes after O'Clock |
and the eyes of the General were clos.
ing. His breathing grew more hushed |
as the last functions of the heart and |
lungs were hastened to the closing of |
the x-Presidsnt's life. A peaceful ex.
preston seemed to be deepening in the
firm and str0ng-lined face, and il was
reflected as closing comfort in the sad
hearts that Leaf quickly under the
stress of loving suspense. A minute
more passed and was closing as the
General drew deeper breath, There
was an exhalation like that of one re-
lieved OF long and anxious tension.
The members Of the group were impen-
cd step nearer the bed, and each "a
waited another respiration, but it never
came. There was absolute stiffness in
the room. and a hush Of expectant sur
prise, and no sound broke the silence
save the singing of the birds in the
pines outside the cottage, and the
measured throbbing of the engine that
all night had waited by the little noun
tain depot down the slope.
sit is all OYER" quietly spoke DR..
Douglas, and there came then heavily
TO each witness the realization that
General Grant was dead Then the