The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-19
Tho Gallant Soldier. Patriotic Citizen and
Perfect Man Receives and Answers the
Final Summons--How the News
Was Received.


NEW YORK, Feb. 10.-The whole coun
try was shocked yesterday afternoon by
the brief telegraphic message from Adj
|. jutant-G General Whipplc, on Governors
Island, announcing the death OF General
Winfield S. Hancock, senior Major-Gcn
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 ut 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 bereaved widow,
whose grief is overwhelming, and OF
| tributes to the Generals private and pub
lie virtues as a 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 he 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
90, he had it lanccd by DIR. O'Reilly,
the attending surgeon in Washington.
The eruption continued to discharge
freely, and the loss of blood was
such as to make very pcrceptible differ
ence in his usual robust appearance. I'M
mediatclv after his return to Governors
island Il week ago, the General sent for
DR.. John II. Janeway, attending surgeon
# the department, who soon perceived
signs of carbunclc. To his experienced
we the evidence of this was unmistaka-
ble. The next day the carbun-
lie appeared, and it gradually
rev worse, although DR.. Janeway
lid not consider the condition of his
llustrious patient past the point of
,pecdy recovery until Sunday night,
he 18th inst, when decidedly unfavora-
Dlc symptoms set i'm, accompanied by de-
rum. The maladv had then touched
the brain and there appeared to be good
ground for the opinion that his days
we're numbered.
Proper nOurishmcnt, consisting Of con.
.cntratcd beef tea, milk and stimulants
we're iudiciOusly administered. Colonel
,harlcs Sutherland, medical director on
he island, cO-opcratcd with DR.. Jancway
II attendance on the patient, and the
General chccrfully assisted his physicians
" complying strictly with their dircc-
ions. lie recognized their supreme
authority under these circumstances, and
ike a true soldier to the last, he Obcyed
III orders Of his supcriors. Although his
OnditiOn was alarming, his pulse was
rcyular and he rested easily up to Mon
lay evening and during the greater part
4 tho night, so that the hope OF ultimate
ecovery was by no means abandoned.
| Oliver Russell, the Generals brother
,n-law, watched by his bedside, and did
rot notice any decided change until at an
arly hour this morning. Between four
| md five O'Clock the General became rest
ess, and was unable to take either medi-
inc or nourishment. The physicians
| we're called Immediately, and they sent to
thisucity for DR.. ID. NJ. Stimson, of No. Z
West Seventeenth street, an old friend
| # the Generals, who arrived at ten
| o'clock.
In the consultation which was held the
physicians were unanimous in their dag
| lOsiS of what soon after proved to be a
atal illness. This was to the effect that
he General was rapidly sinking from
xhaustion, caused by the loss of vitality
Incident to the powerful drain upon his
constitution made by the carbuncle, COM
,licated and aggravated by chronic dia-
,etes. The General soon fell into what
| appeared to be a quiet slumber.
General James b. Frye, who had served
| N Hancock's staff as an assistant Adju-
'int-General, 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
n the room watching and waiting, when,
t seven minutes before three O'Clock, the
inal summons came, and the great CON-
handler passed away to join the noble
lrmy of his departed comrades without q
nurnur.
The sorrowing spectators of this peace
| nj and impressive scene were still
standing there as though transtixed,
..hen the cathedral clock on the mantel-
piece in the sitting room below sounded
in its three swect-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 Governor
Island. He was allowed to look at the
| Generals remains within an hour after his
Heath. General Hancock lay Ga the bed
IN the easy natural position in which he
died in the simple secOnd-Story chamber
WITH its windows facing west AID 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. Ellis face
was turned toward the South. whose at.
! lection he had fairly won after the wal
was over by his wise, benctcent 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 20 definite
arrangements for the funera. had been
agreed upon up to late hour last night.
1t was stated by one OF the staff officers
that Mrs. Hancock had expressed herself
as being opposed to military funeral;
| that it was her desire that the funeral
arrangements be as simple and IN
ostentatious as possible. The place
of interment has not yet been
fixed upon, but it is the general belief
that Norristown, Pa, where the Gencrs:'s
parents and only daughter, Ada, are
buried, will he selected. 1t is also said
that Mrs. Hancock is opposed to having
| the body embalned and its living in state