Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-18
Surrounded by Family and Friends
He Passes Calmly From Life
Unto Death.
No Arrangements yet Made for the Fun
eral-Dr AgnewS Death Expected
at any Moment.
Emperor Frederick Better Yesterday
Little Harry Moo nInjured by the
Hazleton Explosion Died
Yesterday.
BULLETIN.

At the bedside of the dying man were
Mrs. Conkling, Judge Coke, DR.. Anderson
and Mrs Oakman. Mr.. Conkling passed
away without moving limb. He looked
as though peacefully sleeping. There
were number of persons outside on the
street waiting to catch the last report.
Within doors there We're between forty and
fifty persons also waiting to hear the
worst. They were composed chiefly of
representatives of the press and friends of
the dead senator.
Shortly after $50 DR.. Barker issued the
following bulletin:
Mr.. Conkling is falling fast. His lungs
are fast filing up with blood, owing to the
failure of the heart, which has resulted
from the gradual wasting of his vital
powers.
DR.. Barker would not say definitely how
long Mr.. Conkling can live, but he says he
cannot possibly survive the night.
s:45 p. MIR. ConkIing's brother, who
has Just come out of the house, SAYS the
senator is not dead, but dying The re-
port of his death at SIG was on the
strength of q note from the professional
nurse, who appeared at the door at that
time and was asked if Mr. Conkling was
dead.
Dr. Fordice Barker seemed quite over
come as he stood on the steps of Mr.. Conk
ling's house this afternoon and told the
reporters of the impending dissolution Of
his patient. His voice was husky with
emotion and his eyes were suffused with
tears He made no effort to conceal the
fact that death was ready at any moment
to set its seal upon the brow of the noble
victim who had struggled so long, when a
weaker nature would have succumbed.
The sad news of the impending diSsolu-
ton spread rapidly in the Hoffman house
and was licked off by wire to a sorrow
ing country. There was hush in the
corridors OF the hotels near by and per-
vading oppressive quiet and solemnity.
All voices were subdued. The friends
who came to make last call went away
with sorrowful faces. The doctors have
based their hopes exclusively on the
patients splendid physique Putting this
magnificent physique to a severe test
during the blizzard of March - is said to
be the very cause of Mr.. Conkling's illness.
Mr.. Conkling delighted telling the story
of his struggle through the snow on that
evening when he walked from bis office in
Wall street to his home in West Twenty
Third street. For two weeks after
his heroic deeds he continued
to work, and at last on March
80, had to succumb. On April 8 he called
on DR.. Agnew, and on the 9th on DIR.
Sands, who after consultation determined
to perform one of the most delicate opera
tions known to surgical science A phys
ical diagnosis proved that pus sack lay
inside the skull back of the ear. In the
operation the rather awkward tephyne
was dispensed with in order to give vent
to the pus, which doubtleSsly bore on
the brain Dr. Sands made a lateral in
cision in the scalp and then with a sharp
chisel placed on the exposed mastOid bone,
with one sharp stroke of a mallet the
Il. = 3
freely flowed and the fever was
reduced. Temporary relief followed.
All afternoon the sick statesman lay mo-
tioness 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
understood, is the one DR.. Sands made
when he operated in his endeavor to save
the eX-Senator's life
At $40 D. H. Edward Stokes came out of
the house and said that Mr.. Conkling was
sinking very rapidly. His death was
merely question OF time. Large crowds
of people congregated in the street
through the evening owing to
the bulletin 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. Every
one was anxious to get information and
yet feared that at any moment it would be
learned that the end had come
A 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 morning,
was at his side looking worn and des-
pondent. His nephews, Judge Alfred
{. Coke and Alderman Conkling.
and his brother, Col Frederick
a. COnkling, and Mrs. Oakum We're
sOrrowful observers of the passing away of
the great senator. The strong frame that
in his delirium required the stoutest
porters of the Hoffman house to hold him,
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 sonor- /
Gus sounds reverberated through the halls /
of congress, was weat and difficnlt.
DIR, Hartley came out shortly after 8 /
O'Clock and said the senator was very low /
but he would talk no further.
Col. Frederick \. Conkling left at S:45 I
and five minutes later young Alderman
the formers son came out and +
inspired little hope by saying the senator /
might live twelve hours longer.
DR.. Barker called at 1850 O'Clock and re- .
manned until ii y. N. He said Mr. Conk- /
ling was failing rapidly, His extremities /
were becoming cold. His legs were quite +
cold nearly all way up. He was pulseless. /
His aspirations very quick. He did not /
think Mr.. Conkling could live much /
longer. In fact he did not think he would /
live for two hours. He was suffering from ,
a general failure Of the nervous system
NIcHOi { ECTE0