The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-25

victim who had struggled so long, when /,
weaker nature would have succumbed
The sad news OF impending dissolution
| spread rapidly in the Hoffman house anC
was licked off by wire to a sorrowine
country. There was a hush in the cor
rldors OF the hotels near by and pervad
ing oppressive quiet and solemnity. Al
| voices were subdued. The friends who
came to make a last call went away with
| sorrowful faces. The doctors have based
their hopes exclusively on the patients
splendid physique. Putting this magnif.
cent physique to a severe test during the
blizzard of March u is said to be thefvery
cause of Mr.. Conkling's illness. Mr.. Conk.
| ling delighted in telling the story of his
truggle through the snow on that evening
when he walked from his Office in Wall-st
to his home in w. Twenty-fourth-st
For two weeks after his heroic
deed he continued to work and al
last, on March so, had to succumb. On
April 3, he called in Dr. Agnew, and on
the 9th, DIR. Sands, after consultation, de-
termined to perform one OF the most deli
cate operations known to surgical science.
Physical diagnosis proved that pus sack
lay inside the skull, back of the ear. In
the operation the rather awkward trepan
was dispensed with. In order to give
vent to the pus, which doubtlesslv bore on
the brain, DR.. Sands made a lateral in
cision in the scalp and then, with a sharp
chlsel placed on the exposed mastoid bone,
with one sharp stroke of a mallet, the
chisel was sent right through the bone.
Pus freely flowed and the fever was re-
duced. Temporary relief followed.
All the afternoon the sick statesman Law
mOtiOnless in his bed in the Hoffman
house annex. He occasionally moved his
arms, which were under the bed-covering
He lay on his right side in order that the
wound on the left side of his head might
not get irritated. This cut, it will be un-
derstood, is the one DR.. Sands made when
he operated in his endeavor TO save the ex-
senator's life At $50 p. m. Ed Stokes
came out of the house and said that Mr..
Conkling was sinking very rapidly. His
death was merely a question OF time.
Large crowds of people congregated in the
streets through the evening, owing to the
bulletins announcing that the end was
near. Prominent politicians and members
of the bar were seen in the corridors of
the Hoffman house discussing the abilities
of the dying senator and inquiring the
latest news. Every one was anxious to
get information and yet feared that at any
moment. it would be learned that the end
had come.
y sorrowful group surrounded the sick
mans bed. Mrs. Conkling, whose vigils
have been beyond the endurance of many
stronger women, and who had watched
her husband well on in the early morn
ing, was at his side looking worn and de-
spondent. His nephewS, Judge Alfred C.
Coke and Alderman Conkling. and his
brother, Col. Frederick a. Conkling, and
Mrs. Oakman were sOrrOwful observers of
the passing away of the great senator. The
strong frame that in his delirium required
the Stoutest porterS OF the Hoffman to
hold, even while wasted by disease. now
lay low and almost lifeless in the hands of
the great destroyer. The breathing of
those powerful lungs whose musical but
sounds reverberated through
the halls Of congress, was weak and diff
cult
DR.. Hartley came out shortly after S
and said the senator was very low, but he
would talk no further. Col. Frederick A.
Conkling left at S:i5, and five minutes
later young Alderman COnkling. the for
mers son, came out and inspired a little
hope by saying the senator might live
twelve hours longer
Dr.. Barker called at 1850 o'clock and
remained until IL D. m. He said Mr.
COnklinS was failing rapidly. His .ex-
tremitieS were becoming cold His legs
were quite cold nearly all the way up.
He was pulseless. His respirations very
quick. He did not think Mr.. Conkling
could live much longer. In fact he did
He was suffering from general failure of
I no naFypuS Sx-ctaD,