The Hope pioneer., 1888-06-01
PhIE,s HARDEST Fight.

PHiE'S HARDEST FIGHT.
General sherldan.s struggle with the Con-
ducrof OF An-Eis PhysIciahs Say There
Is a Slim Chance TkHt He May Yet
yanqnish Death His Condition Slightly
Improved.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-The reports from
General Sheridan's bedside are 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
Itclosely every thing that took place around
him. The bulletin signed by Drs. O'Reilly,
Matthews, Byrne and Yarrow, issued at
$3.50 last evening, said
| General Sheridan has passed most COM
Portable day. He dozed at intervals, and about
5 p. m. had quiet sleep of nearly an hour s
duration, from which he awoke feeling re-
| freshed and cheerful. He has slept occasion
| ally since. His mind is perfectly clear. He
is, stronger. His RHlse. has gained in force
and regularity, and at no. time has ex-
| ceedcd ITO. The respiration shows great i'm
provement, and the aeratlon of the blood is
! better. The odema of the legs has entirely
disappeared. He takes sufficient food, and his
tongue, previously much coated, is now clear.
His secretions are normal. He says he feels
Splendid.
The midnight report said, .
General Sheridanss favorable condition still
continues. He. sleeps easily and restfully,
wakes occasionally, makes some rational re-
marks and goes to sleep again."
At2:30 this morning General Sheridan
was reported to have been sleeping quietly
for two hours. His condition remained un-
changed. Every one in the. house had re-
tired except DR.. O'Reilly and the two
| watchers.
Colonel Kellogg who; came out of the
house soon alter the midnight bulletin was
issued, said it did not state the case any
too strongly. He had visited the sick
chamber few moments before and was
surprised at the indications of improve
ment. He was at General Sheridan's bed
side yesterday morning at clock when his
life seemed to be at the lowest ebb since
his sickness began. The doctors then be-
lieved that the fated moment hads.arrlved.
They all expressed the belief that he would
expire in few moments and were greatly
surprised when a short time afterward
he began to improve. When Colonel Kel-
logg again visited the General at mid
night he was both surprised and de-
lighted to find such change forth better.
Colonel Blunt was also cheerful and Mr.
Moxley, who supplies the oxygen admins
tered to the General, could not restrain his
surprise when he found him so much better.
The oxygen was not used much last night
For period of three hours none was used at
all and the General experienced no difficulty
in breathing. The 9dema in the legs, which
subsidized early in the day, has not reap
peared, so that there seems now to 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 it
: will not.be permanent
From the beginning Of his illness Cen
eral Sheridan appears to have realized the
uncertainty of his hold on life. The first at
tack alarmed him, and in spirit of Chris
tian resignation he gave himself at once TO
serious consideration of the dread ordeal
through which it 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 at that time to give him
the sacrament, but Saturday afternoon his
condition was such that it was not thought
prudent by the family 10 further delay
the administration Of extreme sanction.
DR.. Chapelle was sent for, and in the pres
cnce of the Immediate members of the
household and the senior surgeon, DR..
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. 1t is impossible to tell when
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
ndema in the leg has been quite marked
and has given rise to fear that it may
have been in part caused by the fluid
which produces the swelling having
gone to other and more vital parts
Of the body. IT was thought that it
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 a good effect 1t is thought
that the heart failure is also complicated
with chronic trouble Of the liver, and that
the existence of edema 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. Ii he had
been an ordinary man he would have died
last Friday, but the General of the army
commands the best medical skill in Wash
ington, and four physicians have done
nothing but watch him and invent means
for prolonging his life.
There has been 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-camp of the crowned
heads of Europe, whose personal ac-
quaintance Sheridan made during his
visit to the continent at the
|, time of the Franco German war; The
\ Emperor of Germany and Bismarck are
both personal acquaintances 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.
Terrible Explosion.
FREDERICK, Md, May 29.-An explosion
of gasoline occurred last evening in the
store of r Zel1era dur;no tho nropro,,