The Portland daily press., 1886-02-10

died at q So d. m today, February 9.
(Signed) WILLIAM w. WHIPPLE,
Asst. Adjt. General.
1t is stated Gen. Hancock's death resulted
from malignant carbuncle on the back of
his neck. which had confined him to his bed
for several days, but his condition was not
such as to cause alarm until within short
time of his death. General Whipple has
assumed temporary command of the post
SECOND DESPATCH.
New YORK, Feb. 9.-The whole country
was shocked this afternoon by brief tele-
graphic message from Adjutant General
Whipple on Governors Island, announcing
the death of Gen Winfield S. Hancock, SEN
ior major general u. S. a., 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 flags appeared at half-mast, on var
ious buildings in the city. Within an hour the
telegraph wire leading into the headquarters
was burdened with messages of coincidence
and sympathy with the bereaved widow
whose grief is overwhelming and OF tributes
the Generals private and public virtues, as
citizen as we'll as to his greatness as a
commander. The news of his death was all
the more startling from the fact that few, ev-
en- of his intimate friends had any knowledge
that his illness was considered serious.
Aslate as Saturday last he was in his private
office attending to hls 5 oillclal ~. duties. o,,,
ago today a slight eruption on his neck near
the base of the brain gave him some uneasl-
ness. The Inflammation increased SO rapid
ly that Friday, January 18th he had II lanced
by DIR. O'Reilly, attending surgeon at tne
headquarters Of the army in Washington,
but the eruption continued to discharge
freely and the loss of blood was such as to
make very perceptible difference in the
Generals usual robust appearance.
Immediately after his return to Governor
Island week ago, the General sent for DR..
john III. Janeway, attending surgeon OF the
department, who soon perceived signs OF
carbuncle, and to his experienced eye the re-
suit of this was unmistakable. The next
day the carbuncle appeared and 1t gradually
grew worse, although DR.. Janeway. did not
consider the condition of the patient past
the point of speedy recovery until Sunday
night the 7th inst. when decidedly unfavora-
BILE symptoms set insaccompanled by dellrl--
um The malady had touched the brain and
there appeared good ground for the opinion
that his days were numbered. Proper nour-
ishment consisting OF concentrated beef tea,
milk and stimulants was judiciously admin
istered.
Col. Charles Sunderland, medical director
in attendance on the patient and the General
cheerfully assisted his physicians by comply
ing Strictly with their directions. Although
his condition was alarming, his pulse was
regular and he rested easily up to last even
ing and during the greater part of the night.
SO that the hope of his ultimate recovery was
by no means abandoned.
Oliver Russell, the Generals prother-ln,
"a lass= 4lae q Ga,anrnl;s hedsida and
did not notice any decided change until at an
early hour this morning.
Between and 5 O'Clock the General be-
came restless and was unable 10 take ELMER
medicine or nourishment. The physicians
were called Immediately, and they sent to
friend of the Generals who arrived at ten.
In consultation the physicians were unanl-
nous in their diagnosis OF what soon aIter-
wards proved to be a fatal illness This was
to the effect that the General was rapidly
sinking from exhaustion caused by loss OF
vitality incident to the powerful drain upon
his constitution made by the carbuncle, COM
plicated and exaggerated by chronic dlabetlS.
The General soon fell into what appeared to
be quiet slumber
Gen. Hancock's staff as Assistant Adjutant
General, having heard his old commander
was ILL arrived during the morning, and to-
gether with Drs. Janeway and Sutherland,
Oliver Russell, the hospital steward, Robin
son Ward, the Generals faithful private
messenger, and Daniel, his young colored
servant, were in the room, watching and
waiting, when at seven minutes before
the final summons came, and the great COM
mander passed away.
Temporarily in Command.
Mai. Gen. Whipple will assume command
of the department, supported by Lieut.. Col.
Jackson, until the President shall appoint
Gen. Hancock's successor, from Gems. Schol-
field Terry or Howard.
The Funeral.
Orders in relation to the funeral ceremo-
MES are expected from Washington to-mor-
row. Meantime the body will be embalmed
by the officers of the post.
Officially Announcing the Sad Event.
In the general orders tomorrow, will be
promulgated the announcement Of Gen.
Hancock's death, when the regulation
mourning will be adopted. Flags were at
once half-masted on the announcement OF
the death. The General will probably be in
tered at Morristown, Pa.
! kilograms of Coincidence.
The news of the Generals death had been
flashed abroad by wire but little While
when messages of coincidence began coming
to the Island. Among them were these:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
To Mrs. General ". S. Hancock:
have this moment heard OF the death of Gen.
Hancock and wish to express TO you, my dear
madam, my deep sympathy and coincidence. The
army has lost a very distinguished and talthful
officer and the country one OF its best citizens
P. II. SHERIDAN, Lieut.. Gen.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Feb. 8.
Mrs. Gen. W. S. Hancock
am panied beyond expression to hear OF your
husbands DEATH The loss to yourself is lrrepar-
able and to the country, and to his numerous
sympathy VIM. II. ENGLISH.
Mrs. Hancock for several weeks past had
been making preparations to go to Florida
with the wife of Lieut. Eugene Griffin, who
is neice of Gen. Hancock. The party was
to have left the city one week ago today, but
as the Generals sickness assumed a threat
ening phase the trip was given up. 1t has
been decided there shall be no autopsy.
Action Taken in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb ga telegram an
nouncing the dangerous illness Of General
Hancock was received by the President
about / o'clock today, and was read to the
Cabinet then in session. just after the Cab
met adjourned a second telegram was re-
ceived at the White House conveying the
intelligence of his death. The PreSldedt was
House was placed at half mast. The Presl-
dent soon after issued the following execu-
tive order:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Feb 8, 1885,
"A O'Clock p NJ
Tidings of the death of Winfield Scott Hancock,
senior Major General of the Army of the United
States, have just been received. A patriotic and
a valiant defender of his country, an able ana
heroic soldier and spotless and accomplished
gentleman, crowned alike with the laurels OF
military renown and the highest tribute OF his
fellow eountrymen to his worth as citizen, he
has gone to his reward. 1t is fitting that every
mark of public respect should be paid to his mem
ory Therefore it is now ordered by the President
that the national flag be displayed at half mast
upon all the buildings of the executive depart
ments in this city until after his funeral shall have
taken place.
DANIEL S. LAMONT, Private Secretary.
The President also sent the following
telegram to Mrs. Hancock:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, February 8.
HrS W. S. Hancock, Governors Island, N. Y:
Accept my heartfelt sympathy and coincidence
in your terrible bereavement The heroism and
worth Of your late husband have gathered to your
side in this hour of your afiiction nation OF
mOurnerS. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Immediately on the receipt of the intelli-
| gence of the death of Gen. Hancock, the flag
| on the War Department building was placed
| at half-mast by order of the Secretary OF
| War, and arrangements were made for the
promulgating of a general order announcing
| his death to the army, which order will be
| issued tomorrow.
The Secretary of War has recalled the in
vitations he had issued for reception to the
officers of the Army, Navy and Marine corps
J for this evening,