The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-11

tonight SAYS Mr.. Conkiing was quietly
doing. His physician, DIR. Hartley, then
left the sick chamber, giving those anx-
iously waiting TO learn OF his condition the
impression that Mr.. Conkling was doing
well, and that there was no likelihood Of
an exigency meanwhile requiring a ply
stefan.
THE CAUSE OF ILLNESS
Roscoe Conkling's illness dates from the
eventful day OF the big blizzard on March
IL. On that Monday evening he started
10 walk to the Holman house from his
Wall street office. He set out after 0
O'Clock, and at time when the snow was
drifting very deep in some places, and
when pedestrianism was well nigh impos-
sible, save to the very strongest and hardi-
est. On the following day Mr.. Conkling
related his terrible experience as follows;
1T was impossible TO got a cab or n car
riage OF any kind. None were 10 be had.
Once during the day j had declined an
offer to ride up town in carriage because
the man wanted $50, and | started up
Broadway on my pins. II was dark, and
II was useless TO try 20 pick out path, 50
! went magniilcently along, shouldering
through drifts, and headed for the north.
/ was pretty well exhausted when got 10
Union square, and wiping the snow from
my eyes, tried TO make out the triangles
there. But II was impossible. There was
no light, and ! plunged right through on
as straight line as could determine
upon.
sometimes have run across passages
in novels Of great adventures in snow
storms; for example, in stories Of Russian
life, where there would be a vivid descrip-
ton Of a mans struggle ON snow-swcpt
and windy plain; but / have always con.
Hidercd the presentation an exaggcration.
] shall never say so again, for after what |
encountered in last nights blizzard can
believe that the strongest description would
fail 70 approximate truth. ! had got 10
the middle Of the park and was up TO my
arms In drift. ] pulled the ice and snow
from my eyes and held my hands up till
everything was melted of, 30 that might
see; but II was too dark and the snow too
binding. For nearly twenty minutes
was stuck there, and came m near Civ.
ing right up and sinking down there Ia
die ~ man can and not 10 II. Somehow
got out and made my WY along. When
reached the New York club, nj Twenty
fifth street, was covrncd all over with
ice and packed snow, and they woul,
scarcely believe me that ] had walkc(
from Wall street. II took three hour {,
make the journey.
Although he attended 60 business iol
several days after this trying adventure,
his friends remarked that he did not APP
pear n bright and alert as usual. lie
complained OF pains in his head and car.
These pains became acute and finally grew
unbcarablc, and he summoned DIR. Ag-
new ON Friday, March 30. Dr. Agnew,
after m examination, decided that an alb
cess had formed within tho ear. Despite
all means used 10 alleviate the pain, Mr..
Conkling grew rapidly worse, and on
Thursday last lac was delifious
Soon after IL O'Clock last evening II bo.
came noised about the hotels that DIR.
Sands had said that the chances were that
Mr.. Conkling probably could not live more
than iorty-eight hours, unless some I'M
looked for and almost unhOped for change
should occur for tho better. The one
chance in his favor was the perfect phys.
ical condition aud the wonderful consliiu.
ton Of the man But that chance was q
slight one nj best, and yet the only one on
which hopes Of recovery could be based.
The senator was informed Of the exact
possibilities In his case, and issaid 10 have
accepted the position most philosophically
and with the remark that ho wodld tab,
every advantage of that chance. His phys
icians expressed 10 his friends the fear thai
the pain would be No Intense that the sen
aior might lose courage. Should that
happen, they say, every hope Of his rccoy'
cry would be gone.
Among the Tow visitor 10 the senator's
apartments WIS Edward :. Stokes, of ia,
Holman house, for whom Mr. Conklinl
sent Immediately on Alr. stokes return
from Washington last week. A very clos,
friendship has existed between the two fol
years, aud 10 him Mr.. Conkling has talked
more freely than 10 any one else Of the
terrible suilcrings he his undergone sine,
his illness. such suffering never saw. >
said Mr. Stokes, after he left the senator's
room nj 1880 o'clock last evening, moi
did supposcit possible for a man tosuiicl
~ he evidently IA suffering and live. Vet
he bears Il with n .hcroism that Is marvel
Gus, and said. II I can stand this pain fol
twcnty.four hours longer and retain my
mental powers ! believe I can recover.
II was simply heart breaking ~ eco that
physical and intellectual giant fighting lol
life, siriding about his chamber and sup
pressing the cries OF pain that must hay,
Involuntary come 20 DE lps, Tor his sui
fcrings were such AZ wnull have driven q
man with lcss will powt insane.
"Will that iron cOnsI uiion OF his en-
able him 20 be successful "a his eight ioi
liie2' Mr.. Stokes was a,krl.
There IL a chance slim one, perhaps
but his physicians tcl him he has
chance, and he IL fighting for u with
such bravery M might BE- expected OF
man like Roscoe Cmflng. lint u n
fight against long odds, i0r be has had M
sleep Tor ten days, exoeTi such ~ he ha'
obtained under the influence OF the mos
powerful opiates."
Mr., Stokes says that Mrs. Conkling u
completely prostratcd and wholly I'M
nerycd by the reports which come TO hei
from the chamber Of be- husband, whom
she Is not permitted 70 soe because OF heI
condition. Strong, stod man as Mr.
Stokes Il, the suIicrings 81 his friend have
nearly .unneryed him. much iha' d,
seemed 10 have aged year during the past
forty-cight hours, during which time h'
has been constantly within call OF hi'
friend"
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