The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
DEATH OF HENRY ". GRADY.
Journalist, Orator, Patriot.
THE COUNTRY MoURNs FOR HER BEST
BELOVED CITIZEN.

After Delivering the Finest Speech
That Has Been Heard Since the
War. the Distinguished Southern.
CIR COuses Home 10 Die 80
Public Calamity.
ATLANTA. GA, Dec. aa.-Henry Grady Is
dead.
Death came at $40 this morning. Its com,
ing had been feared by those VINO had
watched the case closest, but nobody expect
Tho scene at the home during the last hours
were most pathetic. 1t was shortly after ii
o'clock that DR.. Everett announced that MT;
Grady was sinking rapidly ana that tne emu emu
was near Then IL was that all the members
of the family and relatives gathered ABOUT
the bed hoping against hope, yet praying
that the cup might be taken from them.
Friends who had, at the doctors suggestion'
left the house few hours ago, were sum
moned. Among those who came Acre capt.
+. P. Howell. Mr.. w. A. Hemphill, Judge
Newman, Mr.. s. NJ. Inman, Maj. Kiser, Capt
mir. T. d. Meador, Mr.. Donald Balm and 9TH
ers.
MRS. GRADY'S WISH.
TWAS Mrs. Grady's wish that those who
loved him be permitted 10 take last look
upon his face while yet life remained, and
one after another, those who had loved him
with q love that was exceeded only Oy that OIL
the nearest and dearest, stepped into the SICK
room which was soon to be the chamber OF
death. ,,,
death came. Upon the scene Mt that oeath
bed and the scene In the house we let the cur
tain fall. The grief Of the wife, of the orphan
children, the mother-all Is too sacred TO be
written Of save upon the hearts OF those
whose sorrow 1t was.
DAY OF ANXIETY.
All day long yesterday his Illness was the
subject Of general discussion and uneasiness
A line of caI rlages was standing almost con-
stantly in front of his door, and the front
walk was crowded with anxious M1I friends; ,o,,
the invariable answer. Some construed 1t
hopefully others were alarmed, as minutes
and hours passed with no sign OF Improve.
ment. 1t seemed impossible to realize thai
the case was so hopeless. "He can't die"
was the expression uttered hundreds OF times
yesterday; ale can't die now"
Darkness came, and there was no change.
The group of friends in the parlor talked in
subdued tones and moved about noiselessly.
The group about the steps and gates were
scarcely less subdued in conversation and
ask for the latest bulletin from the sick cham
| ber.
| TALKED IN A WHISPER.
The feeling OF suspense was fearful, but
there was hope in uncertainty. BY 10 o'clock
|
1890, not exceeding q half dozen outside OF
the family remained; between 1880 and II
came the change for the worse. DR.. Orme had
gone home exhausted, M DR.. Morse late eoO OF
sulting physicians, were present
| The physicians recognized that the Crisis
had come. All that could be done was done.
He grew rapidly worse. All the family was
summoned to the bedside and messages sent
to dozen or more special friends. Mr.. w. A,
Hemphill, who had left not an hour before
was one of the first to come. Judge Newman
came in lew minutes later.
| "1s THERE NO HoPE?"
they asked. "None," was the answer
Strong men wept like children. One by one
they stole back, gazed for few seconds upon
heads and burdened hearts. They realized fol
kthe first time that death was inevitable
There was no hope-he was still unconscious
At $40 he drew his last breath and the great
heart was still.
| THE DATE OF HIS ILLNESS.
we'll. He, himself, dated his illness from that
Orme's objection on the eve of starting, "is
out OF the question" "Then promise me, y
said the doctor. "that you will talk none on
the way up. Keep as quiet as possible and
come straight home after the speech"
This advise was forgotten In the excitement
of the events that followed. Mr.. Grady nat
urally OF O nervous, impectuous tempera-
ment, was fully aroused In anticipation OF
the occasion. He talked even more than US.
ual on the Journey to Boston. More than once
he was reminded by his friends of the DOCTOR e
advice, and he always stopped talking when
demonstrated with, but only for Il short while
He seemed to be
| IN THE BEST OF SPIRITS,
forgetting his physical condition in the ten.
tion OF affairs After the Thursday nights
speech in Boston e5contracted Il new cold
from exposure. The Visit to Plymouth Rock
stood for sometime in the raw atmosphere
with his head uncovered: Friday night he
was seized with q cold and chill and for the
first time, seems to have realized that his
health was in a critical condition.
i In New York he was treated by DR.. Goldth.
waite. Before the party started homeward
Mr.. Grady was assured that all danger o
pneumonia was past and that it would be en-.
tirely safe to return home at once.
i HE HAD A PREMoNITIoN.
On the Journey home Mr.. Grady was de-
spondent and suffering from nervous de-
preston.
"I am going to be seriously, sick. I know
he said to all who inquired about his health
| He complained Of nausea and weakness and
refused to take any food.
i At Lula he telegraphed DR.. Orme to meet
him when the train arrived In Atlanta.
I tender him q reception upon his arrival, and
TO honor the man whom they loved so well
and of whom they felt so proud. But when
he arrived he was too Ill to even shake hands
| with his friends. He was placed In Dr. Orme's
carriage and driven straight 10 his resi-.
dence. For day and half he remained
consious, but since Thursday night he was
| delirious.
On Thursday his son spoke to him and told
him of something to be done when he got