Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-02-18
The Gallant Soldier, Patriotic Citizen and
Perfect Man Receives and Answers the
Final Summons--How the News
Was Received.


the brief telegraphic message from Ad-
jutant-General Whipple, on Governors
Island, announcing the death of General
Winfield S. Hancock, senior Major-Gen-
cral United States army, and Commander
OF the Military Division of the Atlantic.
The sad intelligence was Immediately
conveyed to the remotest corners Of the
country, and, as if by magic, the flags
appeared at half-mast on the various pub
lie buildings in the city.
Within an hour the telegraph wire lead
ing into the headquarters was burdened
with messages Of coincidence and tender
sympathy with the bcreaved widow,
whose grief is overwhelming, and of
tributes TO the Generals private and pub
lie virtues as citizen, as well as to his
greatness as commander.
The news of his death was all the more
startling from the fact that few of his in
innate friends had any knowledge that his
illness was considered to be serious As
late as Saturday last he was in his private
Office attending to his official duties.
When he went to Washington two weeks
ago to-day slight eruption on his neck
near the base of the brain gave him some
uneaSineSs, and the Inflammation in
creased so rapidly that on Friday, January
30, he had it lanced by DR.. O'Reily,
the attending surgeon in Washington
The eruption continued 20 discharge
freely, and the loss of blood was
such as to make very perceptible differ
ence in his usual robust appearance In
mediately after his return to Governors
Island week ago, the General sent for
DIR. John III. JancWay, attending surgeon
of the department, who soon perceived
signs of a carbumcle. To his experienced
eye the evidence of this was unmistaka-
BILE. The next day the carbun-
Gle appeared, and it gradually
grew worse, although DR.. Janeway
did not consider the condition of his
illustrous patient past the point of
speedy recovery until Sunday night,
the 9TH inst, when decidedly unfavora-
bic symptoms set in, accompanied by de-
lrum. The malady had then touched
the brain and there appeared to be good
ground for the opinion that his days
were numbered.
Proper nouriShment, consisting of con-
ccntrated beef tea, milk and stimuants
were judiciously administered. Colonel
Charles Sutherland, medical director on
in attendance on the patient. and the
General chcerfully assisted his physicians
by complying strictly with their direc-
tions. He recognized their supreme
authority under these circumstances, and
like true soldier to the last he obeyed
all orders C his supcriors. Although his
condition was alarming, his pulse was
regular and he rested easily up to Mon
day evening and during the greater part
OF the night, so that the hope of ultimate
recovery was by no means abandoned.
= Oliver Russell, the Generals brother
in-law, watched by his bedside, and did
not notice any decided change until at an
early hou" this morning. Between four
and five o'c. ,ck the General became rest
less, and was unable to take either medi-
cine or nourishment. The physicians
were called Immediately, and they sent to
this city for DR.. ID. Nj. Stimson, of No.
West Seventeenth street, an old friend
of the Generals, who arrived at ten
O'Clock.
In the consultation which was held the
physicians were Unanimous in their dag
noSiS OF what soon after proved to be a
fatal illness. This was to the effect that
the General was rapidly sinking from
exhaustion, caused by the loss of vitality
incident to the powerful drain upon his
constitution made by the carbuncle, COM
plicated and aggravated by chronic dia-
betes. The General soon fell into what
appeared to be 4 quiet slumbcr.
General James B. Frye, who had served
on Hancock's staff as an assistant Adju-
tant-Gencral, having heard that his old
commander was i'll, arrived during the
morning, and, together with Drs. Jane
way and Sutherland, Mr.. Oliver Russell.
hospital steward Robinson, Ward, the
Generals faithful private messenger, and
Daniel, his young colored servant, were
in the room watching and waiting, when, |
at seven minutes before three O'Clock, the |
final summons came, and the great COM
mander passed away to join the noble |
army of his departed comrades without a |
murmur.
The sorrowing spectators of this peace
full and impressive scene were still |
standing there as though tranSfiXed, |
when the cathedral clock on the mantel- |
piece in the sitting room below sounded |
in its three sweet-toned strokes Then |
they fully realized that all was over, and |
the sad Intelligence was publicly an |
nounced.
A representative of the United Press |
was dispatched Immediately to Governors |
Island. He was allowed to look at the |
Generals remains within an hour after his /
death. General Hancock lay On the bed |
in the easy natural position in which he |
died in the simple Second-Story chamber |
with its windows facing west and south.
The Generals head was toward the
north, in whose cause of National integrity |
he had rendered such conspicuous and |
important service on those famous battle
fields of the rebellion, with which the
honor of the Union and his own renown
must be forever linked. His face
was turned toward the South. whose af-
lection he had fairly won after the war
was over by his wise, bencfcent and SUI
premely Just administration of affairs
during the reconstruction period, when,
though acting under martial law and
clothed with all the power which that i'm
plies, he kept his sword within its sheath
and asserted the supremacy of civil law.
As far as could be learned 70 definite
arrangements for the funera; had been
agreed upon up to a late hour last night.
1t was stated by one OF the staff officers
that Mrs. Hancock had expressed hers elf
as being opposed to a military funeral;
that it was her desire that the funeral /
arrangements be as simple and I'M
ostentatious as possible. The place
of interment has not yet been
fixed upon, but it is the general belief
that Norristown, Pa, where the Generals
parents and only daughter, Ada, are
buried, will be selected. 1t is also said
that Mrs. Hancock is opposed to having
the body embalmeG and its lying in state.
In conversation with one of the officers
siast night that gentleman stated that in all
hat Lot;
and most intimate friends would be in
rftad IN attend the obseouieS md that