Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-24
Gen. Grant Quietly Passes
Away at sos This
Morning.
Mt. McGREoR. July %, $40 a NJ
General Grant, at sos a. m. surrounded by
his family, passed out of life peacefully and
without evident pain.
The Sinking Soldier.

sent for DR.. Sands, and anticipates the end
during the day or evening. U. S. Grant, jr.,
is expected this evening, and the family cir
Gle will then be complete.
At an early hour this morning at the
Grant collage Col. and Mrs. Grant were on
the veranda, where incandescent electric
lights were burned all night. The Their
mometer marked at a. IN. ~ degrees.
This was the equable temperature maintain
ed in the sick room while General Grant
remained in New York and it was so this
morning. Added to the sweet smell from
the pine trees that bend over the cottage
roof, gentle breeze, sweet and delicious,
swept miles and miles down the valley and
from the mountain. 1t stirred the curtains at
the windows, near which sat the sick man
and famed his face more gratefully than
could careful hands. Between and a. M,
the gray tint of another day lit up the hori-
Fan beyond the Green mountains. perhaps
the last earthly day of the sick man setting
within the cottage psrlor. About and
around the cottage all was still and quiet
except for the occasional twitter of some be-
lated bird on the birches. Occasionally the
nurse walked out on the piazza for
Once, at nearly o'clock, Mrs. Grant, at
tired in q loose gown of white, came out up
pom the verandah and seated herself in one
of the many deserted willow chairs scattered
in groups about the piazza. For ten min
utes she sat motionless and looked away to
the east where the gray tint of another day
had grown to full promise. Her face rested
against one hand and she was evidently
wrapped in thought. Suddenly there came
the sound of rafting, laboring
cough from within. 1t was the
general clearing the affected parts of his
throat of mucus. Mrs. Grant left the piazza
quickly and seated herself by the generals
side, slowly tanning his brow. The cough
ing was not severe, but only incidental. Col.
Fred Grant entered the room while the
nurse was aiding the general and took his
place at his side and beside his father. The
morning had passed and the time had come
to administer his food. The nurse stepped
to the side Of DR.. Douglass as he lay
sleeping on the couch in the same
room. He arose and administered the food
and afterwards cleaned the generals throat.
As the doctor laid aside his appliances the
general leaned forward in his chair and signi-
fed his desire that the lamp should be
brought The nurse fetched the lamp, held
it at the sick mans shoulder and at that mo-
ment the general turned his face toward the
light and upward and asked the nurse for
his pad and pencil His words were not ut
that instant understood and the general re-
peated his wish. The scene at that moment
was picture in shadows. As the flicker
ing candle rays fell across the face Of the
general it became grim Rembrandt, with
strong rugged lines broken down by suffer
ing and pain.
12:25 P. M.-General Grants condition is
reported unchanged since 6 o'clock, except
the gradually increasing weakness.
LArER-Dr. Douglass has Just left the
cottage. He says the general sits with his
head inclined forward and his eyes closed
the greater part of the time. His pulse is
very weak and futtering. The patient once
during the morning attempted to write, but
succeeded only In writing the date, the effort
being greater than was warranted by his
little remaining strength. He has spoken
at intervals, but his voice was very weak.
During the forenoon food was taken and re-
tanned. With the declining day the physi-
clan believes the general will rapidly de-
cline.
IF. M.-Dr. Sands and DR.. Shrady have
just arrived by a special train. The train
also brought U. s. Grant. Jr. and wife. The
newcomers repaired at once to the cottage
and it is likely conference of the medical
men will soon be held. No special change
occurred since the last dispatch.
P. M.--The progress of the generals
weakness during the afternoon was not par
ticularly noticeable from hour to hour, but
between and o'clock there was clearly,
if not violently, marked increase of weak
ness. At 5 o'clock it was possible to meas
ure the pulse beats, but at o'clock one of
the physicians stated the pulse beats could
not be counted, because they were 80 fire.
quent and feeble. During the afternoon
the blood tide had so quickened that it more
rapidly wore the system exhausting the frail
basis, if any rested, upon which might be
placed hope that the general might rally.
The point was reached ut o'clock when
there was little to be expected from attempts
to administer food. Soon after O'Clock
Harrison came up from the cottage and told
Drs. Sands and Shrady that DIR. Douglass
desired to see them at the cottage. The
doctors remained but short time and then
the condition Of the patient was found
while the temperature was nearly
if not quite nominal the respirations
were nearly thirty per minute. The family,
beginning at O'Clock, came to the hotel to |
dinner in twos, the others remaining at the |
cottage in the meantime. The family dIned |
in private room set apart for their use in |
order that, at this critical time, they might |
be secluded from the curious observance of |
many visitors and guests, with whom the |
generals condition from hour to hour had |
been the chief topic of the day. The closed |
and silent cottage had all day suggested |
mutely the enactment of the last scenes in
Gen. Grants earthly existence, and upon
the guests and visitors had settled a sense of |
the nearness Of death, and there seemed a
hush upon the mountain and with all those |
upon it.
As the sun went down this evening a cool
breeze sprang up. At o'clock as the three
physicians were at dinner, Harrison came to
The hotel and called DIR. Douglass, who went
along to the cottage. Soon afterwards
another messenger from the cottage sum-
moned Drs. Shrady and Sands, and they re-
paired to the cottage, closely followed b
DR.. Newman. The exits OF the doctors and
he clergyman from the hotel were however
70 quietly effected that few knew they had
been summoned to the cottage. On their
arrival there they found the general again
sinking. The general seemed
restless. "Would you like to lie down
Father?" asked Fred Grant, who noticed his
iather's restlessness. The general nodded
md at the same moment essayed 10 ralse
,nassisted. but the effort WIS too much and
ne sank back in the chair. Thew then
.aised and supported him. He was
carefully lowered to reclining position and
,artly on his face, DIR. Douglass then roll
ID the chairs back, and one of the pbysicians
las since remarked. 1.-THE general bas left
lis chair for the last time" The belief is
hat General Grant has at length lain down
o die The family were ali gathered At the
ide of the sick mar, and again DR., Newman.
t about the same hour rs last night and Al
hrs. Grants request, kneIt beside the gen
raj and prayed. Tears were on the cheeks
# the general, as well as of the women. The
|octors stood somewhat apart and the fami-
Y was near the fast sinking head, and then
fter an hour death seemed to come a little
ess rapidly. 1t has pursued the general
nst nine months to-day, for it was lust nine
months ago to-day that General Grant
ralked into Doctor no,,,I.,,,