Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-02-13
GENERAL. HANCOCK DEAD.

NEW YORK. Feb. g.. General
Winfield Scott Hancock died at 2.51 |
O'Clock this afternoon, at Governors |
Island, in New York harbor, of a
malignant carbuncle and a compll-
cation Of kidney troubles.
In all the grand procession that
moved up Broadway last August ac
companying the remains of General
Grant to the tomb at Riverside, no
man was looked upon with more
popular interest than the soldier
who rode at the head. That was
General Hancock. He looked so
brave and so manly that the people
who thronged the streets could not
help repeating McClellan's famous
description of bin: General Han
cock was superb today"
None thought on that day that
two great men who rode in that pro-
cession would die suddenly within a
few months, yet Vice President Hen
bricks and General Hancock are
now numbered among the dead.
The death of Gen. Hancock has
produced profound sorrow here.
His long residence at Governors
Island as the commander of the
Eastern department made him IA
miliar figure on our streets. His
simple, direct, soldierly bearing
made him very popular with all
classes of citizens here.
The news of the death of Gen.
Hancock was all the more startling
from the fact that few even 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 at
tending to his official duties. When
he went to Washington, two weeks
ago today a slight eruption on his
neck near the base of the brain gave
him some uneasiness, and the in
tlammation increased SO rapidly
that on Friday, January 20, he had
it lanced by DR.. O'Rielly, the attend
ing surgeon at the headquarters of
the army in Washington. The
eruption continued to discharge
freely, and the loss of blood was
such as to make very perceptible
difference in the Generals usual TO-
bust appearance. Immediately af-
ter his return to Governors Island,
week ago, the General sent for
DR.. John III. Janeway, attending
surgeon of the department, who soon
perceived signs of a carbuncle. Next
day the carbuncle was developed,
and it gradually grew worse, al.
though DIR. Janeway did not consid-
Ell the condition of bis patient past
the point of speedy recovery until
Sunday night, the 7th inst, when
decidedly unfayorable symptoms set
/ in, accompanied by delirium. The
tnalady had touched the brain, and
there appeared to be good ground
for the opinion that his days were
numbered. Concentrated beef tea,
milk and stimulants were admins
! tered. Col. Charles Sunderland,
medical director on the island, CO.
operated with Dir. Janeway in at
tendance on the patient, and the
General assisted his physicians by
complying strictly with their direc.
lions. Although his condition was
alarming, his pulse was regular, and
he rested easily up to last evening
and during the greater part of the
night, so that hope of his ultimate
recovery was by no means abandon
ed. Oliver Russell, the Generals
bretherin-law, watched by his bed.
side, and did not notice any decided
change until at an early hour this
morning.
/ Between 4 and 5 the General be
came restless, and was unable to
take either medicine or nourishmAnt.
The physicians we're called immedi-
ately, and they sent to this city for
DR.. d. M. Slimson, of No. Z West
Seventeen, street, an. old friend of
the Generals, who arrived at 10
O'Clock. In the consultation which
was held the physicians were unan-
imous in their diagnosis of what soon
afterwards proved to be fatal ill.
ness. 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, complicated and ex-
aggerated by chronic diabetes. The
General soon fell into what appear
ed to be quiet slumber. Gen.
James B. Fry, who had served on
Gen. Hancock's staff as an assistant
acknowledgement, having heard that
his old commander was i'll, arrived
during the morning, and together
with Drs. Janeway and Sunderland,
Mr.. Olivar Russell, Hospital Steward
Robinson, Ward, the Generals faith
full private messenger, and Daniel.
his young colored servant, we're in
the room watching and waiting,
when at seven minutes before three
O'Clock the final Summons came. and
the great commander, without a
murmur, passed away to JOIN the
noble army of departed comrades.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born
in Montgomery county, Pennsyl.
vania, February Ia, 1924. He re-
ceived his early education at Nor
ristown (Pa.) Academy. In 1910 he
was appointed a cadet at the United
States Military Academy, from
whence he was graduated and pro-
noted in the army July 1, 1874, as
brevet second lieutenant in the Sixth
Infantry. In 1S47 and 1S4S he ser.
we'd in the war with Mexico, and
was breveted first lieutenant for gal
lant conduct IN the battles of Con
treras and Churubusco.
On the breaking out of the civil
war he was relieved from dutv in