Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-24


Ihere was no marked change In his condition. He
remained unconscious up to the end. His breath
Ing, which had become feeble as the night came
on, was the only indication that he was alive. AS
dawn approached the forces OF his life reached
the lowest ebb, and finally the action OF the heart
ceased The low breathing was no longer noticea-
Die, and the aged philanthropist was dead. He
had experienced some days Of suffering In the last
rev months, but the closing hours were as peace
ful and devoid OF pain as the sleep of little child.
The struggle, II such 1t might be termed which he
mad carried on against the insidlous approaches
OF weakness, had been maintained with WONDER
ful vigor and a display OF astonishing vitality.
His advanced age, however, was against him. lie
realized that and had prepared for the end, which
he knew was coming.
AROUND THE DEATH BED.
Those about him saw yesterday that he W.
gradually reaching the limit OF his strene IN.
There was nothing that could be done for him,
and the watchers could only witness the gradual
fading out OF the life. When the last moment
came Mr.: Corcoran died surrounded by his rela-
lives and friends. Mr.. Z. VI. Matthews, his friend
anu relative by marriage, who had been with him
during MS last illness almost constantly, was at
his side. His youngest grandson, william Cor
coran EustiS was one Oh the group about the bed.
His orotner, George Peabody (EuStis, had shortly
DeLore gone to his nome on'N street. Mrs. Rey-
nolds OF Norwich, Conn.,, niece OF the dead man,
VINO arrived here several days ago, was also pres
ent. MI. James Corcoran, one OF the nephews who
lives on ranch In Arkansas, and who arrived in
talS city yesterday was present at the last mo-
lnent Mr. COrcOranS faithful nurse was at his
side, and so surrounded by those whom he loved.
Mr.. Corcoran Dreathed his last. His physician,
Dr. Garnett, VINO had been with the sick man un-
I'LL late hour, and had gone home, returned
shortly alter Ar. Corcoran had passed away. The
limos or the deceased were imposed, and he was
leII lying In the room where hi, last hours had
been spent, and Where tue children in his earlier
days mad played In the happy carelessnesS OF
chiidnood. The stiffness in the house remained
a rv4n u r.,r
Undertaken, and In couple OF hours the Grape ON
Lue door announced 10 all passers-by thai the
Weii-Spent LIE OF the ph.lanthropist was ended.
hr. CorcOlan's features as they are fixed by the
cold lines OF death Will exhibit many changes to
those VINO were familiar with them in life. His
lace looks much lOnser ana JuS /, due to the fact
that II Is thinner. The ravages OF his sickness
were hrsl shown Ia his lace, and, as there were
veral days when ne took no nOlirtShment al all
he became rather emaciated.
THE FATAL ILLNESS.
The fatal illness OF Mr.. Corcoran dates back to
last summer, when lie had a stroke OF paralysis
This affected one leg and an arm, and he could
move about only with the aid OF an attendant.
Still his vigorous vitality enabled him to avoid the
more serious sequences OF such an attack as
had been the case under other attacks several
Tunes before In the course or his long life He at
tended 10 his business as usual and retained his
usual control and cnaTge or Affairs. The only
chang. was in the habits OF hts life, whtca yere
regulated by Stricter regimen. AS he apprcatised
his eighty ninth birthday he looked forward the
day with good deal OF interest The Sunaay be-
fore he attendeL divine service at St. Johns church
and after sttlng Through the long service he went
10 the sltar-rall TO cCmmune While there his
paraiyzed leg slipped, and being weakened by the
fatigue OF tue long service he was unable TO con-
troll his limbs and fell forward He was helped to
his carriage and driven home. He soon recovered
from MS fatigue, but expressed his mortin-
cation that he should have made such
| spectacle. 1t was quite slock to his pride be-
cause he felt that he was stronger and was conf
dent that he could go out much as USUAL How
4 In
afterward he celebrated his eighty ninth BIRTH
day. This was In December last. During that
day he sat In his large chair In the library and re-
ceived everybody that came. He was perfectly
well and was In very good spirits. His birthday
been the case. A few weeks later, however he
was attacked by severe cold which developed
into bronchitis and the ravages upon his strength
Dy That disease terminated his LIE.
WHERE NIX. CoRCORAN DIED.
The room In which Mr. CorcOran died is on the
first floor in the rear addition to the house. The
windows open to the west, and the view is cut
upon the fine grounds which surround the house.
The old house Is the result Of gradual growth and
as the various additions have been put on tt has
left many odd hooks and corners This little square
room seems 10 be one or those OCd architectural
freaks IL Is almost entirely shut Oil from the
ret VI the house, and access TO II IS through a
narrow passage-way. The wide corridor at the
back OF the house Into which the reception-rOon
and library opens, Is connected by the passage
way with this room. Many years ago, when
the room was used as a nursery, and here
their childish laughter ana clear voices
wGTs heard Di,v as they engaged in .hsir
has not been used, but since MIR. Corcoran's at
tack OF paralysis I was found that 1t would be I'm
possible Tor him TO go up stairs HIS room then
was abandoned, and Ire Old Nursery was lifted uD
for his use. A bed was placed near the window
looking out into The garden, and The few articles
the room and here the last months Of Mr. Cor
corihs nie were passed There were some pic
lures on the wall and the light Of the setting sun
Streduied In at the Windows lie spent his days
however, In other portions OF the house and was
wheeled about la an invaids Chair. The library,
across the corridor, Was his 1avuriIe resort, and
h tre he receives his friends WHO came In every
day 10 cnat with him.
His ATTENTION TO BUSINESS
Until within the last week or so Mr. Corcoran
was able TO transact his business In much the
same way as ne had always been accustomed to-
There Was no matter OF detail which was TOO
small for his attention, and the directing power OF
his mind was felt In his household as well rs in his
business almost up to the last moment that he
Retained consciousness Even after he. entered
upon his niuetieth year, and before lie had taken
the cold which terminated MS life Mr. COrcOran
gave dinner parties and was careful To look at the
table before is guests arrived, and to see that all
his directions mad been Carried out. Ii anything
did not quite suit him he said so and had iU cor
rected his faiIhfui secretary, Mr.. HYDE was
accustomed TO make his daily Visits and submit TO
| him matters OF business he continued tins prac-
tice almost 10 the last.
There are many Instances of his careful business
habits IN these later days 1t Is related that when
tue arrangements were being completed by the
Washington Monument Society for the erection
| OF the small building near the monument the
papers were taken 70 the members OF the
| society Tor their signatures This was
done III order to relieve sir. Corcoran, who was
then believed 10 be IN dying condition. When
Mr.. Corcoran learned what had been DONE he IN
| sisted upon having the papers brought to niln,
and, iyip IN his Ded he tr lced nj tremulous sigma
ture with d hand which was already Yielding To
the weakness Of approaching death This was one
| OF the last business acts which he performed.
THE RELATIVES OF Mr.. CoRCoRAN,
who are expected TO attend the funeral are all In
! the city. The last one to arrive was Mr.. James
| Corcoran, a nephew, who reached here yesterday
| Irom Arkansas. He Is brother OF Mrs. Thom
who resides In this city. Mrs. Hill and Mrs Mat
| thews, who are weliknown residents OF this city
are also neces His nearest relatives are the three
| Eustis children-GeOrge Peabody Eustis, William
Corcoran Eustl5, and Miss Luu Eustls. The nrst-
named married u daughter OF Senator Eustis, and
Eustis, who has been spending some weeks al
Aiken, 3. e., came on last Monday, having received
word OF the serious condition Of her grandfather.
| Miss Jones, who Is . niece OF MI. C0rcoran, has
been living with him for some time and has been
| In charge VI his household. Her father, who was
at one time postmaster OF the city, had wide CIR
Gle OF acquaintances here, and his daughter, by
her agreeable address and kindly nature, endeared
herself not only 70 MI Corcoran, but 70 all those
who came 70 the house.
Another niece. Ms. Reynolds, who lives In Nor
| wien. Conn, reached here several days ago, and
was IN tue mouse at the time OF Mr.. Corcorans
death. There are number OF rand-nephews AND