The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-24
GEN. HANCOCK'S DEATH.
Expiring Suddenly at His Home
on Governors Island.
Details of His Last Hours, and a
Sketch of His Life.

laatic department Of the East died on the
afternoon Of the 9th at his home on Gov
ernor's Island, in New York harbor, from
diabetes, aggravated by malignant carbuncle
He had been i'll only week, and it was not
until the previous Monday that a fatal
termination of his illness was apprehended
On January 81 General Hancock went tc
Washington on private business, and while
there boil appeared on the back of his neck
The boil afterward developed into car
buncle, and until Thursday, the 4th, General
* Hancock was quite i'll, but on thai
day he was feeling better and next
day attended to official business.
During Sunday night he alarmed Mrs.
Hancock by suddenly appearing in her room,
to which she had retired but few minutes
before. He was fully dressed and equipped
for a journey, and asked where his travelling
bag was He was deliriouS.
Kidney troubles, which had not been SuS-
pecteG, shovel themselves on Monday, and
DR.. Janeway. attending surgeon at division
headquarters, called in Colonel Sutherland,
medical director of the division of the At
lantic. They decided that the condition of
their patient was serious, and warned Mrs.
Hancock that death might be near at hand.
Mrs. Hancock was in and out of the room
during Monday night, and about o'clock
Tuesday morning noticed change in the
for Dr. Janeway, who found the Gen
eral almost comatose. He sent for Colonel
Sutherland and for DR.. Daniel NJ.
Stimson of the city. and at once gave hypo-
dermic injections Of brandy, whisky, ether
and carbonate of ammonia, separately and
combined, for the purpose of restoring the
sufferers strength.
Mrs Hancock was terribly unstrung by
the sudden change in her husbands con-
she left the bedside General Hancock awoke
for an instant. sOh, Allie-Myra," he said
in weak voice. "Good-" He could say
nothing more, and relapSed into the state
from which he had for moment emerged.
DR.. Stimson reached Governors Island
shortly after nine o'clock, and the three doc
tors held consultation. 1t was then learned
definitely that the general suffered from dia-
betes The depravity of the blood caused by
carbuncle from which the general suffered.
The combined forces of the two diseases had
SO weakened the patient that his case was
hopeless.
: Gen James B. Fry. an old friend of Gen.
Hancock's, came to Governors Island in the
morning, and was admitted to the sick room.
The general was then in the comatose state in
which he had remained since his attempt to
speak to Mrs. Hancock. DR.. Stimson returned
to the city at l O'Clock, the other physicians
remaining, simply waiting for the end which
they were powerless to put off. DR.. Janeway
was in attendance upon Mrs. Hancock, who
needed hlS presence more than her dying huS-
band. General Fry called the attention Of
Lieutenant Griffin to the twitching of the
nerves Of General Hancock's mouth, and
they were bending over the bed to-
gether when the general drew his last
breath, a very feeble one, and was dead:
not come out Of the diabetic coma. He died,
as DR.. Janeway said, ''quietly like man
who had done his work, and as easily as man
going down flight of stairs"
AT thetime Gen. Fry sat in chair between
the generals bedside and the west window Of
the room. Around the bed stood Lieut.. Erl-
gene Griffin, aide-de-camp, and nephew
erland, Hospital Steward Robinson,
and Orderly Ward In the ad-
joining room were Mrs. Hancock, her cousin,
Mrs. Emma Bouvier, her niece, Mrs. Griffin,
her grandson, Gwynne Hancock. son of the
generals only son, Russell, and DR.. Janeway.
The news of her husbands death was at once
broken to Mrs. Hancock. She remained in
her room all the rest of the day, constantly
attended by her family and by DR.. Janeway.
The flags on the island were at once set at
half-mast; the Castle Garden flag next was
holsted halfway up the staff. The Produce
Exchange flag and the Washington building
flag passed on the news, and the New York
postoftice and the city hall announced it
with their flags. 1t had travelled over
the continent in few minutes more, and
dispatches of coincidence began to pour in on
Lieutenant Griffin and on Adjutant- General
Whipple. Among them were the following:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON.
To Mrs. W. S. Hancock:
Accept my heartfelt sy1naathy in your ter
Title bereavement. The heroiSm and worth
Of your late husband have gathered to your
Side in this hour of afflction q nation of
mourners GROVER CLEVELAND.
A second dispatch from President Cleve-
land asked what Mrs. Hancock 's::wishes were
about the funeral
Mrs W. s. Hancock:
have this moment learned of the death of
General Hancock, and wish to express to you,
my dear madame, my deep sympathy and
coincidence. The army has lost very dis
tinguished and faithful officer, and the coun-
Try one of its best citizens
... &c.. P. H. SHERIDAN.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 9.
Gen. W. d. Whipple:
Gen. Miner has been here, and says Han
cock is dead. Is it possible! 1 must 20 to
the Burnett House, Cincinnati, tonight.
Telegraph me there. Can do ANYTHING to
manifest my love for him and his widows
SHERMAN.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 9.
Commonding Officer Gorernor'S Island:
All parties and all classes in Virginia de-
plore the death Of Gen. Hancock. The coun-
try mourns the loss of superb soldier and q
noble citizen. I personally grieve that a dear
1l1end has gone. FITz HUGH LEE.
Please let me know when Gen. Hancock
will be buried. desire, if possible, to attend
The services. FITz HUGH LEE.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Feb g.
To Mrs. Winfield S. Hancock:
am panied beyond expression to hear of
your husbands death. The loss to yourself
Is irreparable, and to the country and his
numerous friends scarcely less tender YOU
my heartfelt sympathy.
WI. H. ENGLISH.
When the news Of General Hancock's death
reached Washington the flag on the White
House was put at half-maSt, and the Presi-
dent soon after issued the following executive
order:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 1886. 4 P NJ.
Tldlngs of the death of Winfield Scott
Hancock, the senjor major-general of the
army OF the United States, have just been
received
A patriotic and valiant defender of his
country, an able an heroic soldier, spotless
and accomplished northumberland alike
with the laurels of military renown and the
highest tribute of his fellow-countryme to
his worth as a citizen-he has gone to his re-
ward.
1t is fitting that every mark of public re-