St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-08
Mr.. .BARNUM NO MORE
The Great Snowman Painless
ly Passes Away at His
Bridgeport Home.
At His Request Sedatives Are
Given When All Hope Is
Gone.
His Physicians Report That
He Had No Organic Dis
ease Whatever.
Brief Story Of the Career of
One Of Americas Most Re-
mapkable Men.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, April 7.-The
great Snowman, p. I. Barnum, passed
| away at 30 o'clock this evening in the
| presence of his grief-Stricken family
During the period of Mr.. Barnums in
validiSm and confinement to the house,
which began twenty-one weeks ago last
Friday, there have been frequent tluctu-
| atiOnS in his condition, from each of
which he rallied, although in each in
stance with slightly lowered vitality.
The change for the. worse which oc-
Cured last night. however, was so much
more pronounced than previous attacks
had been that it convinced the attend
ing physicians that their patient had
not many more hours to live. During
his confinement to the house he has
been down stairs only twice, although
sitting up much of the time, and being
cheerful and conversationally inclined
III his waking moments. After the at
tack, which came upon him shortly be-
fore midnight. Mr.. Barnum suffered a
good Geal Of pain. He seemed to realize
that he could not live much longer. and
spoke of the approaching end with
calmness. During his illness the
physicians have been careful about
administering morphine OF sedatives of
any kind through a fear that they
might produce ulterior ill-effects. That
night Mr.. Barnum spoke of this, and
said when all hope was gone he wished
to be given sedatives which
Would Allay His Pain
and make his death as peaceful as pos
sible. DR.. Hubbard promised compli-
ance with his wishes In this respect.
The first sedative was given at l0:10
o'clock this morning. It was understood
by the patient and his family to mean
that the end was near. Mrs. Barnum re-
mained at her husbands side through
out the night. In alternate spells of
doing and in conversation, which
showed his brain to be as clear as ever,
Mr.. Barnum passed the hours until
about O'Clock this morning. when he
sank into lethargy, which was Il con-
dition of stupor rather than of natural
sleep. To rouse him from this state of
Inconsistencies was difficult. A faint
gleam OF recognition alone indicated
that he had knowledge of his surround
ings, OF knew the familiar and
sympathetic faces grouped about
him. Thus matters went on un-
til about 10 o'clock this morn
ing. He was again aroused, and his
mental faculties appeared to be brighter
than at any time during the several
hours previous. The scene in the dy-
ing mau's chamber was deeply pathetic.
Mr.. Barnum was fully awake and con-
scious, although his nearly exhausted
physical powers made it impossible for
him TO talk. The affectiOnate messages
he conveyed with his eyes to the weep
ing attendants were more expressive
than words. With the exception of
himself, all were in tears. Previous to
the arrival of several of the relatives
from New York on the 10 o'clock train,
Rev. Mr.. Fisher bent
Over the Dying Man
and spoke to him words of religious con-
ISOLATION. Mr.. Barnum;s eyes bright
ened as the scriptural promises were
recalled to him, and he half nodded his
head i'll assent. Shortly after ii o'clock
he took sedative from DR.. Hubbard,
and soon afterwards sank into peace
full sleep. Mrs. Thompson, his daugh-
ter, sat by the bedside holding his hand
in hers from the time of her arrival in
the sick room. She could not hold back
tears, although she struggled to com
pose herself. MRS. Barnum also
endeavOred to restrain her feel
ingS and present to her hus-
band cheerful countenance.
At $50 o'clock this afternoon Mr. Bar
mum sank into cOmatose condition.
from which it was evident that there
would be little hope of his again re-
turning to consciousness. When the
end finally came it was peaceful and
to all appearances painless. The ply
Mr haI
organic disease whatever, the enfee-
bled heart action, which had been ap-
parent for the past few months, being
due TO a gradual failure of his general
mental powers, resulting from old age.
In general way Mr.. Barnum had pre-
scribed directions for
His Funeral.
He wished 1t to be of private char
acter and unOstentatious. Of show and
parade he said he had had enough dur
ing his life, and his commitment to his
last resting place he wished devoid of
all ceremony beyond the simplest trib-
ute of affection and respect. He di-
rected that the interment should be i'm
the Mountain Grove cemetery, where
several years ago he erected a massive
granite monument of simple design.
The funeral will be held Friday after
llOOu III tHC NOl III COHSItSdliOllal
church, and win be conducted by
Rev. l.. B. Fisher, the Universalist
pastor, assisted by Rev. Charles Ray
Palmer, of the North church. Mr.. Bar
NUN had an intense horror of embalm-
ing or of having his body placed OH ice
after death. The remains will there
fore be kept In a dark, cool room in the
house. The body will then be inclosed
in hermetically sealed metallic casket.
This is in exact accord with Mr.. Bar
NUNS expressed wishes. There will.
no doubt, he an effort made to induce
the family to have the obsequies pub
lie. From present indications, however,
the family will probably strictly adhere
to the wishes of the deceased.
NEW YORK, April THE announce
ment was given out tonight by the man.
agement of the Madison Square garden. J
where the show now is. 1t was stated
in typewriter announcement that the
death of Mr.. Barnum, while not en-
tirely unlocked for. was not III any
sense anticipated by his equal partner.
j. A. Bailey. Mr.. Barnum, however.
realized that at his advanced age-he be-
ing over eighty years of age-demise
might occur at almost any time. 1t was
accordingly provided in their articles of
agreement that ''In case OF the death
of either, the show should go ON
as usual" J. A. Bailey accordingly
announces that the show will continue
with its policy entirely unchanged. The
capital Of 50, 10000 will remain intact,
and Mr.. Bailey will continue to act as