Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-23
Gen. Grant Patiently Wait
ing the Summons.
he Grows Weaker Hour by
Hour.
The Family at the Bedside
Of the Dying Hero.
Mr.. MCGREGoR, July %.

MI. MCGREGOR, July ~.
The actual condition Of the patient is pro-
nounced unchanged since the last bulletin,
except that he is said by DR.. Douglass to be
krowine weaker. Some food has been taken
and retained this morning. The patient Is
sitting with slightly inclined head. He is
conscious and his mind is clear. DR.. Doug
lass has sent tor DR.. Sands, as he anticipates
the end during the day or evening.
1925 z MI he condition of the General
is reported unchanged, except the gradually
increasing weakness.
l Z Nj DIR Douglass has just left the
cottage. He says the General sits with his
head inclined for~ ard ana his eyes closed a
greater part of the time. His pulse is very
weak and tiut,ering. The patient once dur
the morning attempted TO write, but succeed
ed only III titng the date, the effort being
.r-ater than warranted by the little remain
ing strength He had spoken at intervals.
tut his voice was very weak. With the de
Ginning day the ph, sician believes the General
will also decline.
The doors of the Generals room are shut
and the blinds closed, but the cool breeze of
the afternoon finds a passage through the
blinds. and so the sick man sits and waits.
DIR Douglas has just reported that his pa
tient has taken and retained cup of milk,
and the physician thinks that if thert has not
been II slight rally III the last half hour the
General Is at least holding his own.
This mc ning the General was leaning back
| in his chair. On his head was the skull cap
that at all times lends a startling effect to the
sick mans appearance. aud from beneath it
stragg ed the hair that hung in sweat mois-
tened loo ks about his emAciated neck. A
crimson scarf had been thrown over the back
of the Generals chair, but as he leaned for
ward il drew across his shoulders. one end
being gathered under his arm. A d rk dress
ing gown covered the Generals attenuated
form and handkerchief encircled his neck
The gray of the close cut beard seemed white
and the lines on lis cheeks and forehead
were d,ep and when his face was turned up
ward to speak his eyes seemed grayer and
abnormally large. They were clear and
steady, showing that the Generals reason
was clearly at his command, but there was
that wistful aud yearning expression IN them
that make women weep and men sympathetc
The Generals face as he spoke seemed
strained and drawn, but its color and fullness
were not such as would be expected after
such suffering.
The lips moved heavily and the whisper
was husky and low, but the nurse understood
and pad and pencil were brought. Then
while the light of the candle fell on his down
cast face he wrote but only briefly. The slp
was handed to DR.. Douglass who at once
turned it over to Col. Grant, who had arisen
and stood beside his mother at the Generals
side. 1t was a private family communica-
tion and when finished the General resumed
h,s IL Al
inclined forward and his elbows on the sides
of his chair while the fingers of either hand
were interlocked each with the other beneath
his chm. The General has taken stmulants,
but grows weaker hour by hour. Visitors
are kept from the cottage. The family are
present. also Drs. Douglass and Newman.
3 20 p M-Drs. Sands and Shradv have
just arrived by special train, which also
brought L. 5. Grant, Jr., and wife.
7. M-The physicians met at once with
DR.. Douglass in consultation, having left the
cottage. 1t was stated that Drs. Sands and
Shrady had found Gen. Grant in the critical
ly low condition already stated by DR.. Doug
lass and already announced in these dis
patches. No one of the staff is willing to
make any prediction beyond "a hours, which
period it is deemed impossible for the Cen
eral to survive, though the possibilities now
indicated are that less space of time marks
the limit Of the Generals life. A change for
the worse is anticipated as the day closes.
His pulse is now over 100.
6.45 p. M.-Gen. Grant is sinking
The development of the Generals weak
ness during the afternoon was not particu-
larly noticeable from hour to hour, but be-
tween three and six o'clock there was clearly,
if not violently, marked an increase of weak
ness. At three o'clock il was possible to
measure the pulse beats, but at six o'clock
one of the physicians said that the pulse
could not be counted There were two rea-
sons existent for the inability of the doctor.
to catch the pulse beats, theya were so tre-
qut NJ ard so feeble. During the afternoon
the blood tide had so quckened that it more
rapidly wore the system and exhausted the
frail basis. if snv existed. upon which might
be placed hope that the General might rally.
The point was reached at six O'Clock when
there was little TO be expected from attempts
to administer food. Soon after six Harrison
came up from the cottage and told Drs.
Sands and Shrsdv that DR.. Douglass desired
to see them at the cottage. Thither went the
doctors. remaining but short time and then
coming again to the hotel. 1t is believed the
condition OF the patient was found to have
been as stated above and that while the tenn
persture was nearly if not quite normal the
resprations were nearly thirty to the minute.
The family, beginning at six O'Clock .llcame
to the hotel TO dinner in twos, the others re-
manning at the cottage in the meantime The
party dined in private room set apart for
their use at the hotel, in order that at this
critical time they might be secluded from
curious observation.
The closed cottage had suggested mutely
the enactment of the last scene in Gen
Grants earthly existence, and uaon the
guests and visitors had settled the nearness
Of death and there seemed hush on the noun
tain and with all those on it. AS the sun
went down cool breeze sprung up and De
laymen on the mount endeavored to persuade
themselves and others that the cool night
would bring renewed strength to the patient
and help him rally through the night. but
such was not the opinions of the doctors who