The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-10
WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.
Sudden Death Of the Ranking Major
General of the United States Army.
His Demise q Great Shock to His Family and
Friends-His Death Attributed to a
Combination Of Disorders.


GEN. w. 8. HANCOCK.
Nudden Death of One of Americas Most
Famous Soldiers.
NEW YORK. Feb. 9.-The following official no.
ALLEGATION of the death of General Hancock has
just been received:
GOVERNORS ISLAND, N. T., Feb. 8. 1886.
'Majorg general W. S. Hancock. United States
Army. died at 2:5l this afternoon.
wv. D. WHIppLE,
Assistant Adiutant- general
In front Of No. 8, Governors Island, an orderly
was this afternoon pacing to and fro. 1t was
Che residence of Majorgeneral Winfield Scott
Hancock, who died therein at 2:5l o'clock. If
Che General had lived until the l4th day of the
present month he would have completed his
sixty-second year, having been born in Morris
town, Pa, February IA, 1924 In a second-story
front room, furnished with soldier-like sim
plicity, lay the remains of the General. who, as
sfhe guard remarked, led his troops to more
battles than any Of his contemporaries. The
death of General Hancock was not merely a
surprise to his family, it was a shock to them,
as to his friends. Twenty days ago he started
ION business connected with the Department Of
hhe Atlantic, to Philadelphia, where he remained
two days, he then proceeded to Washington,
where he had business. In Washington a boil de-
weloped on the back Of his neck. It was lanced
on Jan. sc, and as the General was much incon-
xenienced by its presence, he returned to New
york several days sooner than he designed.
During the first week of February the boil de-
veloped into a malignant carbuncle, which sup
purated constantly, preventing rest or sleep. DIR.
r,r~ II. - --A:t -
weakness resulted from the presence of the car
buncle that the surgeon discovered that General
Hancock was suffering from diabetes and kidney
trouble. DR.. Janeway called in consultation
DR.. Sutherland, medical director of the depart
ment. and DR.. D. M. Stimson, of New York.
The medical men concluded the case was assum-
ing q very serious form on Monday. At 10
o'clock Monday night, before going away, DIR.
Janeway found the patient in good spirits and
able to take care of himself, and left him ap-
parently improved.
AT 6:45 this morning, Mrs. Hancock dispatched
an orderly for DR.. Janeway, as the General was
sinking rapidly. The Doctor came Immediately,
and found the General in a comatose state, with
feeble pulse and all the premonitory symptoms
Of death present He summoned the two physi-
0b1Ao 0iLouNy aulc IL PSQcEunC lGJSStlOuS OI
brandy and ether. and carbonate of ammonia
and brandy, were administered These, how
cver, only alleviated the suffering of the soldier,
who was gradually sinking away, Until death
was touched, at Isl, as stated. In the words of
DR.. Janeway, 'the General went down to the
close of his life like a person descending a fight
of stairs" When death came, the three physi-
eians and the hospital steward only were pres
ent. Mrs. Hancock was then in an adjoining
room.
The General was unable to speak or converse
with the family or attendants, except in broken
tones and scarcely ineligible terms, during this
morning. When his wife became exceedingly
alarmed at his condition, the General endeav-
orsd to address her, and succeeded in calling her
by some name that had been one of endearment
in addressing his wife.
The General leaves a widow and three grand
c~hildren-two girls and one boy-named Mora,
Ada and Gwynne. the issue of the Generals son,
Russell, who died Dec. &c, 1884, and whose loss
che General has ever since mourned bitterly.
Major-general Whipple will assume command of
the department, supported by Lieutenant Colonel
Dackson, until the President shall appoint Gen.
Hancock's successor from Generals Schofeld,
FERRY or Howard. Orders in relation to the
funeral ceremonies are expected from Washing
lhon tomorrow. Meantime the body will be en-
baimed by the officers of the post. In general
orders tomorrow will be promulgated the an
nouncement of General Hancock's death, when
the regulation mourning will be adopted. Flags
were at once half-masted on the announcement
of his death. The Generals remains will prob
ahJv ha ;1<ar~nJ 90 Norn.locr~ d.
The news of the Generals death had been
flashed abroad by wire but a little while when
messages of coincidence began coming to the
island, among them were these:
s'Mrs. Gen. w. s. Hancock:
! 81 have this moment heard of the death of
Eenerai Hancock, and wish to express to you,
my dear madam, my deep sympathy and con-
Violence. The army has lost a very distinguished
II. Fl. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. o.
fs'Mrs. Gen. W. g. Hancock:
II am panied beyond expression to hear of
your husbands death. The loss to yourself is
5rreparable, and to the country and his numer-
Gus friends scarcely less. / tender you my heart
kelt sympathy. VIM Il. ENGIrsH.n
No member of the Generals family anticipated
the fatal termination of his illness, until Mrs.
Hancock became alarmed at his rapid decline
fhis morning.
1t has been decided that there shall be no au-
&orsy. The hospital steward has charge of the
remains, which lie in the family room on the
second floor.
So far as could be learned, no definite arrange
msnt fer the funeral had been agreed upon up to
o late hour tonight. It was stated by one of
She staff officers that Mrs. Hancock had ex-
pressed herself as being opposed to a military
funeral; that it was her desire that the funeral
arrangements DO as simple and unostentatious
as possible. 1t is also said that Mrs. Hancock is
UppeaAd to having the body embalmed and r. ;ts