The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-07-24

one of natures signs of final dissolution, had
settled beneath the finger nails, and the hahd
that DR.. Douglass lifted was fast growing
cold His pulse had futtered beyond the
point where the physician could distinguish
1t from the pulse beats in his own flnger
tips. Respiration was very rapid, ana
there was succession of shallow painting
inhalations and the respirations grew quick
er and more rapid at the close. They also
became less labored and almost noiseless.
This fact was, in its results comfort to the
watchers by the bedside. The wife almost
constantly stroked the face, forehead and
hands of the dying General, and at times as
passionate longing to prevent the event SO
near would rise within her, Mrs. Grant press
ed both his hands, and leaning forward ten
derly kissed the face of her husband. Col.
Fred Grant sat silently, but with evident
feeling, while U. s. Grant, Jr., was deeply
and the ladies, though with wet cheeks, were
silent until the end of the life which was
closing before them.
The morning had passed five minutes be-
yond s, and there was not one of the strained
and waiting Watchers. but who. could mark
the nearness of the life tide to its final ebb-
ing. DR.. Douglass noted the nearness of the
supreme moment, and quietly approached
the bedside and bent above it, and while he
did so the sorrow of the gray-haired physl-
clan 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 closing, his breathing
grew more hushed as the last functions of
the heart and lungs were hastened to the
closing of the ex-President's life. A peace
ful expression seemed to be deepening in the
firm and strong lined face, and it was re-
Elected as a closing comfort in the sad hearts
that beat in unity under the stress of loving
suspense. A. minute more passed, and as 1t
was closing the General drew a deeper breath
which was an exhalatiOn like that of one re-
IlnVnd of n l0OO and anYinnc tQnciOO Maln-
berS OF the group were impelled each a step
nearer the bed, and each waited another res
piratiop, but it never came. There was alb
solute stiffness In the room and a hush of ex-
pectant suspense. 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 mountain depot down
the slope
'It is all over,' quietly spoke Dr. Douglass
and there came then heavily to each witness
the realization that General Grant was dead.
Then the doctors withdrew, the nurse closed
down the eyelids and composed the dead
generals head, after which each of the fam
lily group pressed to the bedside one after the
other, and touched their lips upon the quiet
lips so lately stilled. DR.. Shrady passed out
upon the piazza, and as he did so met Dr.
Newman Fastening up the steps, tHe is
dead, remarked DR.. Shrady quietly. The
fact of having been absent from the side of
a cause of severe and sad regret to the cler-
gyman who had waited all night at the cot
tage. He had been summoned from his
breakfast a moment too late and he rushed
to the cottage only in time to administer to
the family in their sorrow and gaze upon the
the scarcely closed lips of the dead General
to whom DR.. Newman's care had bound him
in such close ties and relations. Those who
saw and knew and all who learned of the
clergyman's absence from the deathbed
quickly spoke on the impulse words of
hearty sympathy.
Soon after Drs. Douglass and Shrady left
the deathbed they conyersed of the last
hours of General Grants life. The pulse
first had indicated the failure and the intel
lect was the last to succumb his clearness
and conscious tenacity, and that after
midnight last night. DR.. Douglass remarked
that the peculiarity of General Grants
death was explained by the remarkable Vi
tality that seemed to present an obstacle to
the approach of death. 1t was gradual
passing away of the vital forces, and reflex
consciousness, the doctor thought, was
retained to the last. The General died Of
less sinking away. Eyes, interrupted DR..
Shrady quietly, ''the General dreaded pain
when he felt he had began sinking and he
asked that he should not be permitted to
suffer. The promise was made and it has
been kept. Tuesday night he was free from
pain. Toward the last no food was taken
but when wet cloth was pressed to his lips
he would suck from it water to moisten his
mouth.
During the Generals last night Dr. Shrady
was constantly within call, and DR.. Douglass
was all night at the cottage, and DR.. Sands
slept at the hotel till after midnight.