The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-18
Roscoe conkling's Terrible Struggle
with Death.

the Hoffman House. I, was shortly after 6
o'clock. and the snow in some places was
six feet and more deep. He had terribly
trying experience sticking in snow drifts
nearly breast deep. He said For nearly q
minutes was stuck there, and ] came as
near giving right up and sinking down thers
10 die as y man could. Somehow ! got Ont
and made my way along. When | reached
the New York Clab at tweiiy-fifsh street
was covered all over with ice and packed
snow, and they would scarcely believe that
[ had walked from Wall street. 1t took
three hours to make the journey"
Mr.. Conklng transacted business as usual
for some days aser this, appearing, notably.
in the Stewart will case for two or three days
until the case was adjourned over 10 May.
II was noticed then that he had somewhat
preoccupied air, aud although his attention
was centered on the case, he leaned his head
on his hand and repeated questions put to
him as though he had not heard them dis
tinclly He complained, too, of pain in
his head and ear. He undoubtedly caught a
severe chill in his walk home on March Il,
but be was able 10 get ont the next day and,
as Is often the case robust constitutions, the
cold grew worse, without his paying any
attention. TO il at first. When the pains in
his head and ear. however became unbear-
able, Dr. Cornelius Agnew was summoned
10 attend him. Ibis was on Friday. March
80 Dr. Agnew said Mr. Conkling was suf-
fering from and abscess in the ear. Tie
pain increased until meningitis was develop
ed. and by Thursday Of last week Mr.. Conk-
ling was delirious. inflammation of the brain
was feared.
1t was agreed that the threatened inhama-
ton resulted from the presence of a quaint
iiy of pus back Of the ear, and if this pus
were not removed. worse inflammation and
death would inevitably ensue. The removal
Of the pus involved cutting through the
skull and draining the matter away. an oper-
alton whose attendant dangers were greatly
enchanccd by the probability yofhemorrhage.
Dr. Sands was selected to perform the opera
head over on the right side and cut lateral
incision in the scalp two inches behind the
left ear. The incision was about three inches
long. The scalp parted and the assistant
surgeons dried the slight hemorrhage that
ensued and stood by. ready 10 stop the
possible hemorrhage from the lateral cnt.
The skull lay exposed. Deity and quickly
DR.. Sands ran the edge of little steel chiscl
under the squamus portion of temporal
bone-the scale-like plate of the temporal
back Of the ear. DR.. Sands gave three or
four smart raps with a mallet upon his
chisel and raised the bone plate. As he did
50 the pus gushed out The diagnosis of
Dr. Baker was confirmed. A pocket Of pus
formed back of the ear and was pressing
upon the brain. Dr. Sands had the plate
raised for little while and let as much pus
out as would flow. About an ounce came
out Then Dr. Sands let the plate back.
The heroic operation performed on his
skull the doctors say, prevented his dying
but il did not remove the acute pain in the
distinguished invalid's head. Most of the
time during the night and far into the day
Mr.. Conkling paced his room in the greatest
agony lie did not recognize those about
bin, and seldom uttered word to indicate
how great was his suffering. His wife was
with him great part of the time, but he
was unable to recognize her. His periods of
IL
brief. There was a constant procession of
callers to inquire how he was, but not more
than three or four persons were admitted to
his presence. Those who did see him de-
scribed his appearance as pitiful in the ex
IRENE. The spectacle they saw was that dfa
man Of magnificent physique fighting grimly
and hcroically excruciating pain that seem
ed to be gradually driving him crazy.
When the doctor arrived, Mr.. Conkling
recognized him and said Doctor, can't you
do anything to stop this bothering me ? e
Why, certainly" replied the doctor,
" take this medicine" Mr.. Conkling took
it readily from the doctors hand, and then
said Cant 20 out I'm very busy
Again the doctor answered Certain
ly." adding, Take these pills first" He
then administered some pills, which speedily
produced sleep.
Col Frederick A. Conkiing. the disting-
uished patients brother. was one of the
most melancholy men seen about the hotel.
Col. Conkling confirms the report that the
Senator sdelirium, which continues to altern-
ate with fits Of stuporand inseDsihility. takes
the form Of an exaggerated desire 10 return
10 fancied duties of great importance.
A" | must get 10 work--to work-to work"
the sick lawyer moans or cries, as his mood
Is Gespondeut or fFenziei Meantime, he
walks the iioor. his eyes flashing with the
fire that is burning up his tissue.
New YoBK, April l5.-Mr. Oonkling pass
ed bad night, his rest being disturbed by
severe cough, which seemed 10 exhaust the
sufferer. Dr. Barker called at 10 O'Clock
this morning aud said bronchitis had deyel-
oped during the night, but otherEise there
was no change FOR the worse. The pulse
%, temperature 9S, there were still some
OF twitching of the muscles The
patient had not slept well, but had taken
pourshmont,
Up TO 9 O'Clock his doctors could report no
and the best they could say
was that lac was no worse. One attendant
stated that he was too weak TO have either
during the night and another
that he was in stupor at 6 O'Clock this
evening. but the doctors denied both these
stories.
MELVILLE HAS no HOPE.