Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-02
The Illness of Gen. Grant,

NEw YoRK, May 1.-Universal sympathy
ia expressed at the condition of Gen. Grant,
which was made public yesterday. There
seems Co be no doubt but that the General has
but n very short time to live, He has been
suffering from cancer, brought on by excessive
smoking for some time. His disease assumed
a most dangerous character last Monday. The
General had eaten some very rich cream and
he found 1t 80 palatable that he probably took
too much. At the same time the bringing up
and the failure to pass the relief bill in cen
gress, it is thought, annoyed him. His friends
tried to keep the various paragraphs in the
newspapers from him, but he evinced a desire
to read them. Last Sunday night he felt con,
siderable pain in his head. He sat up in bed
and listened to the reading of his book. When
the front Edoor was opened, or a draft OF
air passed across his head, 1T
seemed to make the pain worse. During the
last week he suffered q great deal, and was
visited by DIR. Douglas twice a day. The
general slept Tuesday night according to DIR.
Douglas statement, but on Wednesday he
was seized with a violent earache. 1t was not
neuralgia, but q reflex of the pain Ia the
throat. That night he rested poorly. On
Friday night he was somewhat better, and
the pain had subsidized. Yesterday he sat up,
bolstsred in q chair, and worked on his book.
The pain was nearly all gone, although he
was not free from q diaagreeable feeling in his
head. DIR. Elliott made a microscopical ex-
animation on February 10, which did not
result in favor Of the patient. The
doctors, of ccurse, make no pre-
dictions as to the rapidity with which
the disease will work, but their opinion
seems to be that the gallant old warrior has
at most only a few months to live, and that
HIS DEATH MAY OCCUR IN A SHORT TIME.
The generals relatives have constantly tried
to cheer up their patient. and to encourage
him with the hope of Cutting better, but after
talking with his physician he seemed to real
ize the dangerous character Of his disease,
hence he has worked with all his strength
upon his book, which he seems anxious of fin
ishiug at once. During his recent illness,
when not confined to his bed, the generals
habits have been very regular. He was &c
customed to rise at 8 o'clock. He would then
read the papers and breakfast. At $3.50 he
would be driven down to DR.. Douglas
office on East Tw~enty-sixth street, accompan-
led by his old colored valet, Harrison Tyrrell.
On his return he would work on his book
seven or eight hours at times. dining at z p.
m, Sometimes in the afternoons the General
would take a ride in the park, but his hours
of recreation were usually after dinner. Many
friends were accustomed to call, and a pleas
III ALL VI llle DNoulNt 10 uDlk Ills L III
General usually retired at about IL o'clock.
General Grant would often consult with his
friends in regard to his book. General Badeau
would go over it with him at times. These
little gatherings in the evening tended to
cheer him up when he became troubled over
his throat.
He had been'toldf r ON thestart the nature of
the trouble. Many friends have called at the
house in Sixty.sixth street du ling the last
week to make anxious inquiries as to the gen.
erals condition. 1t has been one of his sor-
rows that he could not see them.
THE GREATEST SYMPATHY
is expressed on every side with Gen. Grant in
his painful trouble, while the anxiety for his
welfare of his old army friends, who had been
accustomed to gather in lifelong parlors on the
first floor, which are adorned with many
curiosities gathered and presented to him
during his %journsyings around the world, has
been touching in the extreme. Throughout his
troubles, Gen. Grant has worked constantly
on his literary project. OF late his attention
has been given to his WI autobiography, feel
ing that it 1t is to be completed it must be
done at once; His literary work for the last
year has embraced n series of papers on the
different battles and campaigns of the late re-
bellion, which were contracted for by the
Century Magazine, and one of which has been
printed, that on "The Battle of Shiloh.
The others were to be on "The Vicksbure
Campaign" "Ih Chattanooga Campaign
and "The Wilderness Campaign. His last
work, and that upon which he is now
laboring, the history Of his military life. The
frat volume is completed, and the second
nearly 80. General Grant has been most
patient during his sickness. Even while sit
ting up with bandages about his head, which
was %throbbing with pain, with q resigned,
calm expression he would listen to the read
ing of his book, and with an apparent effort
suggest the few changes he desired in the text
His sons and relatives have been about him al
every possible moment during his suffering
and have tried to raise his spirits and mak'
the hours as cheerful as possible.