The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-07-24
The Man Of Many Battles and the Hero
Of a World SuCCumbS to the
Inevitable.
General Ulysses g. Grant Dies at 7:4b A
M. Yesterday.

Grant. Jesse Grant and wife, u. 3. Grant and
wife, and Mrs. Col Grant were quickly beside
the doctors at the bed. Mrs. Sartoris and Mr.. |
Dawson had followed the doctors In from the
piazza and the entire family was present,
except Col. Fred Grant. Hasty summons were
sent for him, but he entered the sick room
while the messenger was searching for him.
The colonel seated himself at the head of the
bed with his left arm resting upon the pillow
above the head OF the general, who was breath
ing rapidly and with slightly gasping respira-
tons. Mis-. Grant, calm, but with intense
agitation bravely suppressed. took a seat close
by the bedside. She leaned slightly upon the
cot, resting uponher right elbow and gazod
with tear-blinded eyes into the generals lace.
She found there, however, no token OF recog-
milton, for the sick man was peacefully and
painlessly passing into another life. Mrs.
Sartoris came behind her mother. and leaning
over her shoulder so witnessed the close Of u
life In which she had constituted u strong ele-
ment of pride. Directly behind Mrs. Grant
and Mrs. Sartoris, and at little distance re-
moved, stood Drs. Douglass, Shrady and
Sands, spectators of closing life their efforts
and counsel had SO prolonged On the oppo-
site side OF the bed from their mother and di-
rectly before her stood Jesse Grant and u. ).
Grant, Jr., and near the corner of the cot on
the same side as Jesse and near to each, was
N. E. Dawson, the Generals stenographer and
confidential secretary, At the foot Of the bed
and gazing directly down into the generals
face was Mrs. Col. Fred Grant, Mrs. u. ),
Grant, Jr, and Mrs. Jesse Grant, while some
what removed from the family circle, Henry.
the nurse, and Harrison Smell, the generals
body servant. were watching the closing life
CT the patient, DR.. Newman had repaired to
the hotel To breakfast The generals little
grandchildren, U. s. Grant, Jr.. and Nellie,
were sleeping In the nursing room above.
Otherwise the entire family and household
were gathered at the bedside of the dy-
ing man. The members OF the group
had been summoned not moment
sooner than was prudent. The doctors noted
on entering the room and pressing to the bed
side, that already the purplish tinge, which Is
one of natures signs of dissolution, settled
beneath the Generals finger nails. The hand
that DIR. Douglas lifted was fast growing cold.
err than II had been throughout the night. The
pulse had tiuttered beyond the point where the
physicians could distinguish il from the pulse
beats in his own finger. His respiration was
very rapid. anu was succession of shallow,
painting inhalations, but happily the approach
ing end was becoming clear uf the rattling full
ness Of the throat and lungs, and as the respir-
alton grew quicker and more rapid ut the
close, they also became less labored and almost
noiseless. This fact was comfort to the
watchers by the bedside, to whom was spared
the scene of an agonizing or other than u
peaceful death. The wife almost constantly
stroked the face. forehead and hands of the dy-
ing General, and at times as the 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.
Col. Fred Grant sat silently. His bearing
was that of u soldiers sor at the death bed OF a
hero father. U. 5. Grant, Jr., was deeply
moved, but Jesse bore the scene steadily, and
the ladies while watching with wet cheeks
were silent as betitted the dignity of life such
as was closing before them. The morning had
passed five minutes beyond eight o'clock, and
there was not one of the strained ami waiting
watchers, but who could mark the nearness of
the life tide to its final ebbing DR. Douglas
noted the nearness OF the supreme moment
and quietly approached the bedside and bent
| above II, and while he did so the sorrow of the
gray haired physician seemed closely allied
with that of the family. DIR. Shrady also drew
near il was seven minutes after 8 O'Clock, and
the eyes of the General was closing. His
breathing grew more hushed rs the last funct-
ions of the heart and lungs were FASTENED TO
the closing of life. A peaceful expression
seemed to- be deepening In the firm and strong
lined face, and IL was a reflection of closing
comfort in the sad hearts. minute more
passed and was closing as the General drew
deeper breath. There was an exaltatIon like
that of one relieved of long and anxious ten
sion. The members of the group were impell-
cd each to step nearer the bed, and each
waited TO catch the next respiration, but
IL did not come. II never came. There was
absolute stiffness in the room, and hush of
expectant suspense. No sound broke the sill
ence, save the singing of birds i'm the pines out
side the cottage. and the measured throbbing
of the engine that had awaited all night by the
little mountain depot down the slope. 1t IL
all over" quietly spoke Mr.. Douglass, and
there came heavily TO each witness the reaiiza-
ton that General Grant was dead. Then the
doctors withdrew. The nurse closed the eye
lids and composed the dead Generals head.
Each OF the family group pressed to the bed
side one after the other and touched their lips
upon the quiet face 80 lately stilled.
DIR. Shrady passed out upon the piazza, and
as he did so, he met DIR. Newman Fastening up
the steps. "He Is dead" remarked DIR. Shrady
quietly. The fact Of having been absent from
the side Of the dying man and his family ut
The last was u cause Of sorrow and regret TO
the clergyman who had awaited all night at the
cottage.
The pulse first had indicated failure aud the
intellect succumbed In clearness and consci
Gus tenacity after midnight last night, though
II circumstance ut three o'clock indicated
cognizance. ado you want anything, father!'
questioned Col. Fred at that hour, water
whispered the General huskily. But when Of
fered water and milk they gurgied In his throat
and elected and that one word Of response
was the last utterance of General Grant. I'r
Douglass remarked that the popularity of
Gen. Grants death was explained by the re
markable vitality that seemed To present an
obstacle To the approach of death. IL was
gradual passing away of the vital forces. and
u reflex consciousness the doctor thought was
retained to the last. The General died Of sheer
exhaustion and perfectly painless sinking
away"
"Yes," interJccted DIR Shrady, quietly, "the
General dreaded pain when he felt he had be-
gun sinking and he asked that he should not
be permitted to suffer. The promise was
made, and II has been kept. Since he com.
menced to sink on Tuesday night he was free
from pain"
Toward the last no food was taken but when
a wet cloth was pressed to his lips, he would
suck from II that water 10 mosten his mouth.
During the Generals last night DIR. Shrady was
constantly within call DIR. Douglas was all
night at the cottage, and DR.. Sands slept at the
hotel after midnight.