Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-02-17
HISTORY OF THE WEEK.
DEATH OF GEN: HANCOCK.

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Major Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock died
at his military residence on Governors
Island in New York Harbor, at t2:51 p. M,
Feb. 9th. The death of Gen. Hancock was
not merely a surprise to his family, it was
a shock to them, as welhas to his friends.
Twenty days ago he started on business
with the department Of tho At
lantlc to Philadelphia, where he remained
two days. Then he. proceeded to Washing
ton, where he had business. In WASH
ington q boil developed itself ON tho
80, and as the general was much in
by its presence he returned
to New York several days sooner than de-
signed. During the first week of February
the boil developed into q malignant carbun-
Gle which lsuppurated constantly and pre-
the marked weakness which resulted
from the presence of tho carbun-
Gle that tho surgeon discovered that Gen.
Hancock was suffering from diabetes and
kidney trouble. DR.: Janeway called in
DR.. Sutherland, medical d.
rector Of The department., and & Or: D: M:
concluded the case was assuming q very
serious form on Monday. At 10 o'clock
Monday night before going away DR.. Jane
way found the patient in good spirits and
able to assist himself, and left him appar-
emily improved. At Gas the morning Of tho
9th, Mrs. Hancock sent an orderly for DR..
fho vo oiy hi mid
ly. The doctor came speedily and found
the general in comatose state with feeble
pulse and all the premonitory symptoms of
death present. He summoned the two
already named and hypodermic
infections of brandy and ether and car
ministered. These, however, only allevi-
ated the suffering of the soldier, who
gradually sank away until death was
touched at 2:51 p. m., as stated. In tho
words of DR.. Janeway, 'The general went
down to the close of his life like one
descending a fight OF stairs" When ,s
hospital steward only were present.
Mrs. Hancock was then in an adjoining
room. "he general leaves his widow and
three grandchildren, two girls and one
boy, named Nora, Ada and Gwynne, the
issue of the generals son, Russell, who
died Dec 26, 1884, and whose loss the
Maj Gen. Whipple will assume command
of the department., supported by Lieut..
Col Jackson, until the president shall
appoint the generals (Hancock's) sue
cessor from Gems. Schoae1d. Terry or How
ard.
Gen. Hancock was born in Norristowu,
Pa, on the 14th of February 1924. He gradu-
ated at West Point in 1874, and served
through the war with Mexico and the war of
the rebellion. He was made brigadier gen.
eral of volur teers in September 1851, and
was conspicuous in the peninsular cam
paign iu 1862 under Mcclellan, and in the
subsequent campaign under Burnside in the
latter part OF that year, and under Hooker
at Charlottesville in 1863. For gallant
conduct at the battle of Getty sburg in July,
1853, he received the thanks of Congress-.
The wound received at Getty ysburg disabled
him until March, 1854, when he RESUMED
active service. He took prominent part
closed the rebellion. After the end of the war
he commanded sucessively various depart
ments, including that of Dakota QS70-72),
with headquarters at st. Paul. In the lat
ter year he was transferred to the depart
ment Of the east, whore he remained until
death, at headquarters in New York. BE
m m19y ny votes TOR
vention in 1853, when Horatio Seymour
was nominated, and was made tho
national standard bearer Of that party in
the presidential canvass Of 1880, In which
Garfield was elected.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral of the late Gen. Hancock
took place on Saturday Feb. 18th. At 7:3O
a. m. all the officers on Governors island
assembled at the house, and the final details
of the funeral were perfected. Mrs. Han
cock had previously gone in to look for the
last time on the face of her husband. Her
forehead, while the tears fell fast from her
overaowing eyes. Then she sank into a
chair, and would have fallen to the floor
had kind hands not come to her assistance.
The last farewell was too much for her
strength and all her poignant grief and
consequent prostration returned: When
all on the island had viewed the body the
coffin lid was fastened down. The ferry
boat then conveyed the remains and funeral
party to New York reaching the Battery
at q. M, and Trinity church on Broadway
and Wall streets at 10 a. m.
Sexton Brown preceded Rey. Morgan Dix
and Rev. E. II. G. Goodwin down the main
and pail bearers were. The procession
moved along slowly up the aisle to the al
tar, the clergy men in front Of the casket,
and immediately behind them came Gen.
Sherman and Secretary Bayard. AS they
wended their way to the chancel the words,
II am the resurrection and the life," which
came from the minister's lips, were heard
distinctly throughout the structure. After
the four gentlemen above mentioned, came
eight stalwart soldiers bearing the magnif-
cent casket, and on either side of the boys
in blue marched the other pail bearers in
the following order: Gen. P. Sheridan,
Gen. W. B. Franklin, Gen A. b. Terry. Gen.
A fRo1 1u\ n
Cen John Newton, Gen. James Frye, Gen
J. NJ. Schof1eld, Gen. o. B. Wilcox, Gen
Francis Walker, MIR. J. NJ. Hartshorn, Col.
W. P. Wilson and Maj. w. D. w: Miller
On the casket was an American flag, and
on the top Of this was Gen. Hancock's sword
in its gold scabbard, and his major generap'
chapeau. Following the pail bearers came
Lieut.. Griffin aud his wife, who was dressed
in deep mourning. and who led her four
year old daughter by the hand. With them
was little Russell Hancock, the grandson
of the dead hero.
After the reading of the Episcopal buria
service the procession was reformed and
going to the ferry was transported to Jersey
City where a special train conveyed them
to Norristown, Pa. Arriving at the ceme
terry the bearers alighted and formed in
lines on each side of the remains. Secre
tary of State Bayard walked even with th<
head of the coffin, aud half his colleague,
1OllOWeO, WINE oeU OOeI"du leu t0o uls
on the opposite side, with Secretary of Wal
Endicott next to him. Gen. Sheridan wal
next behind Mr.. Bayard. There was ne
pause at the entrance OF the tomb, the re
gulars carrying the casket directly inside
where they placed it in the niche- that va.
awaiting. As the body passed through th<
gateway of the tomb the first of the salute
was fired from the hillside by Light Battery
F. of Fort Hamilton. Then came forward
blue-coated messenger from the widow
He bore two wreaths Of white Marguerites
Upon one in purple immorteiles was ths
word ''Daughter,' and the other bore the
word Husband" The upper right hanG
niche was opened, and upon the casket o.
the generals daughter Ida was placed ont
of the tokens from the widow, while th>
other was placed upon the generals casket
The marble blocks were set in position AND
sealed. Then. as the regulars withdrew
from the sepulcher, bugler came out from
the ranks and, standing upon the gentl,
slope. sounded the last sstaps'' for Gen
Hancock. The bearers re-entered their car
riages, the gate of the tomb was fastened
the thousands melted away through tn,
snow-wet paths and down the hillside II
town, and the last rits were ended.
AID FOR MRS. HANCOCK.