Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-11
4 HEROIC FIGHT.
ROSCOE coNKLING STILL BATTLING
WITH DEATH.
His Condition Slightly Improved-Pacins
the Room in Dslirium, He Defies the
Attendants-His Suffering Intense-A
Fight Against Long Odds-Ths Physi-
ciAn,s Statement.

Fight Against Long Odds-The Physi-
clans Statement.
NEW York, April 1.-THE sickness of
Mr.. Conkiing dates from his exposure in
the great blizzard of March II His expert
encs in that storm is best told in his own
words as follows:
.sIt was impossible to get cab OF car
risas of any kind. None was TO be had.
had declined an offer 10 ride up town in
a carriage, because the man wanted $50, and
/ started up Broadway on my pins. Ii was
dark and ii was useless to try to pick out
path, SO l went mssnificently along,
shouldering through drifts and headed for
the north. was pretty well exhausted
when got to Union Square, and wiping
the snow from my eyes, tried 10 make out
the triangles there, but it was impossible.
There was no light and | plunged right
through on as straight line as could de-
termine upon.
sometimes l have ran across passages in
novels Of great adventures in snow stormsi
for example, in stories of Russian life,
where there would be vivid description
Of y mans struggle in snow-swept and
windy plain, but | have always considered
the presentation an eIaggeration. shall
never sav so again for after what | encoun-
tered in last nights blizzard, / can believe
that the strongest description would fail to
approximate the truth.
II had got to the middle of the park and
was ap to my arms in drift. lpulled the
iee sad snow from my eyes and held my
hands up till everything was melted off so
that ! might see; but it was too dark and
the snew too binding. For nearly twenty
minutes l was stuck there, and came as
near giving right up and sinking down there
to die ae man could and not do it. Some
how got out and made my way along.
When l reached the New York Club / was
covered all over with ice and packed snow,
and they would scarcely believe me that
had walked from Wall street. 1t took
tA,ee hours 70 ma e the journey"
A few days afterwards he complained of
pains in his head, which continued for
some time, up TO March 80 when physi-
clan called in found that an abscess had
bee forme in the ear. Since that time he
become delirous. His condition grsdu-
ally become worse until he was pronounced
fatally i'll.
The Senator was informed of the
exact possibilities in his case, and is
said to have accepted the decision most
philosophically and with the remark that
he would take every advantage OF that
chance. His physicians expressed to his
friends the fear that the pain would be so
intense that the Senator might loose cour-
age. Should that happen, they say, every
hope Of his recovery would be gone.
Among the few visitors to the Senator's
apartments was Edward 5. Stokes. of the
Holman House, for whom Mr.. Conkling
sent Immediately on Mr.. Stokes return
from Washington last week. A very close
&sndship has existed between the two for
years, and to him Mr.. Conkling has talked
moro freely than to any one else, of the ter
rsble sufferings he has undergone since his
iIlaess.
Such suffering never saw" said Mr.
Stokes, after he left the Senator's room at
1:30 last evening, NOR did / suppose it
possible for q man to suffer as he evidently
Z suffering and live. Yet he bears it with a
heroism that is marvellous, and said: ''lf
can stand this pain for twenty-four hours
longer and retain my mental powers, | be-
lisSe can recover" 1t was simply heart
breaking to see that physical and intellec-
tual giant fighting for life, striding about
his chamber, and suppressing the cries of
pain that must have involuntarily come TO
his lips, for his suiierings were such as would
have driven q man with less will power
insane"
''Wll that iron constitution of his enable
him to be successful in his fight for life"
Mr.. Stokes was asked.
''TheTs is a chance, slim one, perhaps.
but his physicians tell him he has a chance,
and he is lighting for it with such bravery
- might be expected Of man like Roscoe
Conkling. But it is a fight against long
odds, for he has had no sleep for ten DAYS.
except such as he has obtained while under
the influence of the most powerful opiates."
Yesterday he showed some improvement,
having rested better after the operation was
performed, but towards the evening he be-
came restless and paced the room in de-
lirium. The attendants could no nothing
with him, he refused all medicine aud they
could not force it INTO his mouth.
When the doctor arrived, Mr.. Conkling
recognized him and said: doctor, cam t
you dc anything to stop this bothering mel"
why, certainly, replied the doctor;
take this medicine"
Mr.. Conkling took il readily from the
doctors hand, and then said: Can't go
eutf I'm very busy"
Again the doctor answered, Certainly"
adding, take these pill, first" He then
administered some pills, which speedily
produced sleep. Mr.. Conkling, to whom
the doctor had handed his coat and vest,
had partially dressed himself, but fell back
on the bed and into deep slumber.
At 6:10 p. m. Judge CoIe, of Utica, came
to the door and said his uncle was resting
quietly. No sudden change was apprehend,
ed. Mr.. Conkling ha, been sleeping since
6:15 p. m. Mrs. Conkling is very much ex-
hausted and is trying TO get some rest in an
adjoining room.
Sc. M.-Leonard Lathrop, of this city, an
old schoolmate OF Mr.. Conkling. has Just
come out of the eI-Senator's house He
says Mr.. Conkling has just awakened after
Q forty minute nap and is now in better
condition than at any time since he was
taken sick.
At ten o'clock DR.. Barker and DR.. Sands
held consultation, and reported Mr.. Conk-
ling's condition greatly improved. There
ID no danger of his immediate death, and
if he can be kept alive for three days he
will recover.
A reporter asked DR.. Barker the plain
question: "Can Mr.. Conkling recover?'
The doctor cautiously replied: at is
treacherous disease and cannot speak for
the future, All the changes that have
taken place are in the patients favor. But
very little puss has been discharged since
the operation was performed"
The following telegram was received:
URBANA, ILL. April 10.
Hon. Roscoe Conkling:
The Republicans of Champaign county in
adopted the following resolu-
tons introduced by J. G. Harris:
WHEREAS. This convention has learned
with profound regret of the illness of the
Hon. Roscoe Conkling, therefore, as the
of the Republicans of Cham
paign county, H., We desire to express our
deep solicitude and earnest hope for his
speedy recovery.
Unanimously adopted by rising vote.
lSignedl J. W. LANGLEY, Chairman.
w. K. NEWCOMER, Secretary.
Arrival of Nearly Four Thousands Emil.
grants.