Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-08-09
GENERAL GRANTS DEATH.
Struggling Amid snfcring and Discasc for
tim Qood Of Ills Family.

Struggling ANITA s6frcrihR ami Discasc for
"A tho Good OF Hts Family.
History records no more heroic death
than that of General U. S. Grant, who
died July "a. 1885, after nearly ayear's
suffering, OF cancer nt tho root OF tho
tongue. In Muy. 1877, when his sec
ond term OF office had expired, General
Grant and his wifo made u tour OF the
world, during which tho great soldier
was received by all nations MS sove-
reign. On no titled man have such
honors been hcaped as on this citizen
OF the United States. Returning to
New York, he engaged in business en-
terprises thore After long and
oventful life 1t began to look us II finau-
cial prosperity MS well us honors would
crown his days. But the dishonesty of
n partner suddenly plunged him into.
ruin. Ho had reached the ago whom
men cease from their labors, but this
disaster brought out the courage that
had distinguished him during the late
conflict-a higher kind of courage
and made him rise superior to disnster,
defeat mud calumny.' oimmediately
gave up his own and his wife's prop
erty to the payment of tho debts for
which he was personally responsible
and then went TO work on his me-
moirs so rs to leave his loved ones pro-
vided for after his death. A fall on tho
ice made him partial invalid for SOW
eral months, during which time pain
full irritation in tho throat gave him
much trouble. In August, 1884, tho
disease was discovered to bo cancer at
Tho root OF the tongue, supposed to
have been induced by excessive smok-
ing. Tho long months that followed
are familiar to every reader OF the daily
press. Amid the greatest pain the
hero OF the civil war toiled at his me-
moirs, debating to n stcnographcr even
after compelled to take to his bed,
when the pain OF speaking was so great
that ho would almost faint after a con-
tinued effort. In March. 1885. when it
became evident to all that ho had but
few months moro to live, Congress re-
stored him to his old rank in the army
and placed him on the retired list. He |
rallied under this stimulus of Justice |
having been done him enough to con-
tinue his work. In June he was re-
moved from New York to Mount Nc
Gregor to escape the oXhausting heat
of the city. Up to tho last week of his
life he worked to fulfill his contract |
with his publishers. He was cheerful, |
too, in spite of the great pain. To |
General Butler, who visited him few |
days before he died, ho related story |
about the Peace Commission calling on
him, laughing heartily after he had
told the joke.
"Did you SEQ Alex. II. Stevens?n
asked Lincoln on that occasion.
"Yes, sir" replied General Grant:
"See him in his overcoat?n
"Yes, sir"
"See him takeit Off"
"Ycs, sir"
"Well," and Lincoln fairly roared,
''ain't he the littlest ear out of tho big
gest shuck you ever saw in your
lifePn
During his long and painful illness
hS SA APiSSoSu ohly OuS MlSll' anu JldJ
was that his daughter Nellie-Mrs.
Sartoris-should come. This request
was granted. When asked where he
would be buried he replied:
II should prefer West Point above
all other places, but my wife could not
then lie by my side. After that, Galena
or some point in Illinois. Tim in Now
York. whore the people have been so
kind.n
July 23 he sank into semi-uncon-
scious condition. from which ho mover
aroused except to utter one word. AT
four o'clock n m. July "a, his son,
Colonel Fred Grant. noticed slight
movement, and, leaning over the bed,
inquired:
"Do you want any thing fatherp"
"Water!' he gasped This was his
last word. His breathing became more
rapid, and he died shortly after eight
o'clock. The funeral occurred in New
Y ork August 8, when Ulysses S. Grant
was laid to rest in magnificent tomb
at Riverside Park, New York City. -
Chicago Tribune.