River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-31
PILLS HARDEST FIGHT.
General sheridan's Struggle with the Con-
queror of All-His Physicians say There
Is "a slim Chance That lie May Yet
Vanquish Death His Condition slightly
Improved.

General Sheridan's Struggle with the Con-
queror of All-iIis Physicians Say There
Is slim Chance That lie May Yet
Vanquish Death His Condition slightly
Improved.
WAsHINGToN, May 29.-The reports from
General Sheridan's bedside are a little
more hopeful, though the chances are still
against his recovery. He is weak, and did
not leave his bed yesterday, but his mind
remained clear and bright and he watched
closely every thing that took place around
him. The bulletin signed by Drs. O'Reilly,
Matthews, Byrne and Yarrow, issued 1T
$3.50 last evening" said;
General Sheridan has passed a most COM
Portable day. He dozed al intervals, and about
3 p. m. had a quiet sleep of nearly an hours
duration, from which he awoke feeling re-
freshed and cheerful lie has slept occasion
ally since. HIS mind is perfectly clear. He
is stronger II pulse has gained in force
and regularity, and at no time has ex-
ceeded 40. The respiration shows great i'm
proyement, and the aeratIon OF the blood Is
better. The oedema OF the legs has entirely
disappeared He takes sufficient food, and his
tongue. previously much coated, is now clear.
His secretions are normal. lie says he feels
splendid
The midnight report said;
General Sheridan's favorable condition still
wakes occasionally, makes some rational re-
marks and goes to sleep again"
At 2 80 this morning General Sheridan
was reported to have been sleeping quietly
for two hours. His condition remained I'M
changed. Every one in the house had re-
tired except DR.. O'Rcilly and the two
Watchers
Colonel Kellogg, who came out Of the
house soon after the midnight bulletin was
issued, said il did not state the case any
too strongly He had visited the sick
chamber "a few moments before and was
surprised at the indications Of improve
ment He was at General Sheridans bed
side yesterday morning at o'clock when his
life seemed 10 be at the lowest ebb since
his sickness began. The doctors then bo-
lieved that the fated moment had arrived
They all expressed the belief that he would
expire in a few moments and were greatly
surprised when "A short time afterward
he began 20 improve. When Colonel Kel-
logg again visited the General at mid
night he was both surprised and de-
lighted 10 find such change for the better
Colonel Blunt was also cheerful and Mr..
Monkey, who supplies the oxygen admins
tered 10 the General, could roe restrain his
surprise when he found bin so much better
The oxygen was not used much last night
For period Of three hours none was used at
al and the General experienced no difficulty
in breathing The a. ama in the legs, which
subsidized early in the day, has not reap
peared, SO that there seems now 10 be a
genuine reason for hope No one believes
the General is out Of danger, however. The
Improvement is simply over the condition
Of Sunday and there is great danger that il
win not be permanent.
From the beginning Of his illness Gen
eral Sheridan appears to have realized the
uncertainty Of his hold on life. The first at
tack alarmed him, and ia a spirit Of Chris
tiau resignation ne gave himself AT once to
serious consideration Of the dread ordeal
through whichit was manifest he must soon
pass. Tuesday last he made his confession
tO> Rev. DR.. Chapelle, pastor Of ST Mat
thew's Church, where the Sheridan family
attend. The great soldier heard the words
Of admonition with all the devotion Of a
child. As the physician did not think there
was immediate danger OF death it was not
deemed necessary az that time TO give him
the sacrament but Saturday afternoon his
condition was such that it was not thought
prudent by the family TO further delay
the administration Of extreme sanction.
DR.. Chapelle was sent for. and in the pres
ence Of the immediate members of the
household and the senior surgeon, DIR.
O'Reilly, the last sacrament Of the CathO-
lie church was given him, followed by
communion.
While the Generals condition has i'm
proved somewhat, the chances are still
against his recovery, and the fact is fully
appreciated. II is impossible 10 tell when a
change may occur, and as several days
elapsed between the early attacks of heart
failure there is constant apprehension of
its recurrence. The disappearance of the
odema IN the leg has been quite marked
and has given rise to a fear that il may
have been in part caused by the fluid
which produces the swelling having
gone TO other and more vital parts
of the body. 1t was thought tina. II
might have been due to tapping" but re-
course has not been had to this process,
and in the weakened state of the patient it
might not have good effect IL is thought
that the heart failure is also complicated
with chronic trouble of the liver, and that
the existence of Udema is largely due to
this complaint
If the General should live he will owe his
life TO the skill and untiring attention of
his physicians. As it is, they have pro-
longed his life several days. If he had
been an ordinary man he would have died
last FRIDAY, but the General of the army
ington and four physicians have done
nothing but watch him and invent means
for prolonging his life.
There has been a shower of kilograms
upon the Sheridan home, coming from
every part of the country and from all sorts
and conditions of men-from the old sol
diers that fought under Sheridan's com
mand in the valley of the Shenandoah and
from the aids de-eamp of the crowned
heads of Europe, whose personal ac-
quantance Sheridan made during his
visit to the continent at the
time of the Franco-G German war. The
Emperor of Germany and Bismarck are
both personal acquaintance of Sheridan
and have been his correspondents for sew
eral years, and messages of sympathy and
hope have come from both of them. Every
public man of note in town has called to
leave his card, and the three aids Of the
General have been kept busy explaining to
people the nature of his improvement.