The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-10
THE DEAD SOLDIER.
Once More the King Of TerrOrs Selects
a Shining Mark.
His Coming Unheralded and UneX.
pected...A Great Loss 10 the
Nation.


Nation.
NEW YORK, Feb. 10-Gen. Hancock's |
death was the result of malignant car
buncle on the back of his neck which had
confined him 20 his bed for several days |
No serious alarm was felt until shortly |
before he expired. The news caused the
profoundest sorrow in commercial and
financial circles as well as among the
business men generally. When the sad
event was known in the exchanges and
custom house the flags were Immediately
ordered at half mast 1t has been gener-
ally known that Gen. Hancock was in
Washington week ago and was obliged
to return home without paving his re
spects to the president. The carbuncle
which caused his death made its appear
ance on the generals neck at the base OF
the brain. The COmmsrcial- Gazette
special says that Gen. Hancock has been
unable to actively attend to his military
duties on the island He suffered from
complication of diseases.
The recent development of the car
bunclc while he was at Washington com
peled him to remain at his house from
this attack He did not rally. and his
condition has been considered precarious
for day or two past. His only son died
last autumn and since then lie has not
been given the strength to resist the dis
ease with the determination he had pre-
viously exhibited. When he expired his
wife was beside him. Upon the an-
nouncement of his death the flag at his
headquarters was displayed at half mast
and telegraphic dispatches were sent to
the army stations in the harbor and army
| building at Houston and the navy yard,
as well as at Washington and other
places General HancOck's condition has
been source of much anxiety to the
officers and men of his department since
the beginning of the year.
New YORK, Feb 10.-ln front of No.
s Governors island an orderly yesterday
afternoon was pacing to and fro. 1t was
the residence of Maj. General Winfield
| Hancock, who died therein at Pol
o'clock. In the second story front room,
furnished with soldier.like simplicity lay
| lut ltUldluS VI StlGidlp Nh' t.c th'
gu, rds remarked led his troops TO more
battles than any of his military cOnlem-
porares. The death of General Hancock
was not merely surprise 10 his family;
il was a shock to them as to his friends.
| Twenty DAYS ago he started on business
connected with the department of the
Atlantic TO Philadelphia, where he remains
ed two days and then proceeded to
| Washington, where be had business. In
" Washington a boil developed itself on
the back of his neck 1t was lanced on
Jan 80 and as the general was much in
conveninced by its presence he returned
to New York several days sooner than
designed During the first week in Feb
ruary the boil developed into a malignant
Carbuncle, which suppuratcd constantly
and prevented rest or sleep. Dir, Jane
way was called, and it was not until IL
marked weakness resulted from the pres
ence of the carbuncle that the surgeon
discovered General Hancock suffering
from diabetes and kidney trouble. DR..
Janeway was called in consultation with
DR.. Sutherland, medical director OF the
department, and DR.. d. NJ. Stinsor,
of New York The medical men conclud-
ed that the case was assuming very ser
ious form.
AT 10 O'Clock Monday night before
going away, Dr. JaDeway found the pa
ient in good spirits and able to assist
himself End LETT him apparently improv>
ed. A; 6:45 O'Clock yesterday morning
Mrs Hancock dispatched an order for
Dr. .Ianeway as the general was sinking
rapidly. The doctor came speedily and
found the general comatose with feeble
pulse and all the premonitory symptoms
of death present He summoned the two
physicians already named Hypodermic
injections of brandy and ether and cars
Donate of ammonia and brandy were adj
minstered These however, only al
leviatcd the suffering of the soldier who
gradually sunk away until death was
touched at 2:51 p. m, as stated The
general leaves his widow and three
grandchildren, two girls and one boy
named Mora, Ada and Gwynne, the issue
of the generals son, Russell. who died
Dec. 26, 1888, and whose death the gem
eral ever since mourned bitterly.
Major General Whipple will assume
command of the department, supported
by Lieut.. Colonel Jackson, until the
president shall appoint Gen. Hancock 5
> successor from General Scofield, Terry OF
Howard. The general will probably be
inferred at Norristown. Penn
J WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb 10.-A tele,
gram announcing the dangerous illness oi
Gen. Hancock was received by the presi-
dent about ! o'clock yesterday, and wa:
read to the cabinet then in session. Just
after the cabinet adjourned a second tele,
, gram was received conveying the intelli
gence of his death. The flag on thG
white house was Immediately placed a
half mast and the president soon after is
sued the following executive order;
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON
Feb. 9.-Tidings of the death of VIM
: field Scott Hancock, senior major gen
eral of the army of the United States, have
lust been received. A patriotic and valian
defender o. his country, an able and he
roic soldier, spotless and accomplished
gentleman. crowned alike with laurels o
military renown and the highest tribute
of his fellow c0untrymen 10 MS worm a.
citizen, he has gone to his reward, 1t /
fitting that every mark of public respec
should be paid to his memory There
fore it is now ordered by the preslden
that the national flag be displayed at hal
mast upon all public buildings OF the ex
ecutlve department in this city until ate
his funeral shall have taken place.
DANIEL s. LAMONT. Private Sec5y.
The president also sent the foilowln!
telegram to Mrs Hancock. Executive
mansion. Washington. Mrs W. 8
Hancock, Governors Island Accept IN,
heartfelt sympathy and coincidence il
yoar terrible bereavement. The herolsn
and worth of your late husband hav
gathered TO your side in this hour o
your affiiction nation of mourners'
(SignedD GROVER CLEVELAND.
Immediately upon the receipt OF intel
lioence of the death OF Gen. Hancock, th
fac on the war department building wa
,s..5 AZ half ,nast hV order OF the sec