Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-13
HOLDING THE FORT.
"Uncle Billy" Still Stands Hero
ically to His Guns.
DEATHS oNsETs MEET TRUE GRIT.


DEATHS 0NsETS MEET TRUE GRIT
Inc Ola Hero Holds the Fort of Life
with Characteristic Tenacity-A Dav
of Fluctuations in the Establishments
able Exhibitions of Iron VIII That
Give Hope to the Despairing-E Extreme
Unction Administered to Him While
Unconscious and Apparently Dying
Latest Bulletins.
NEW YORK, Feb. ID Gen Sherman's
wonderful vitality and will power have
kept him alive during the last twenty
Tour hours, and hopes are entertained that
the old warrior may yet recover from his
present illness. Such hopes are faint, how
ever The generals advanced age and the
severe ordeal he has undergone render it
unlikely that he can long survive. At diff
ferent times during the day it was believed
that the patient was dying, but each time
he revived, and as the night wore on
seemed to be as strong as at any time
Wednesday. At midnight there was no
change for the worse and the attendants
In the sick-room were much encouraged
The Battle Fluctuates
At O'Clock a. m. yesterday DR.. Alexan-
der, coming from the house, said: Gen.
Sherman is still alive and there is no
change for the better An arrangement
was made by which all bulletins were
sent to the telegraph Office just around
the corner in Sixth avenue. At 10 o'clock
.fa,-t Do L.. Il, ~.
was slight improvement, but half an
hour later DR.. Alexander found that Gen.
Sherman was slowly sinking. Word was
sent for Catholic priest at II o'clock,
and when he left half hour later he said
he had administered extreme JUNCTION and
that the general would live but few
minutes
The Old Warrior Rallies.
The general had by no means given M.
He shook off the coma, he nerved himself
TO the fight, and threw from his lungs the
oppression that was slowly strangling
him. He steadily improved-so steadily
and so rapidly that DR.. Alexander was
astoni he'd. Hope once more sprang up
in the household, and at ! O'Clock Senator
Sherman sent telegram TO the president
that the Improvement of Gen Sherman
justified a faint hope of his recovery. This
same news was sent to many of Gen.
Sherman's friends in all parts of the
country, and even the increased capacity
of the little office in Sixth avenue was
taxed with the sympathetic kilograms
which poured in. This improvement CON
tinued steadily, and Gen Horatio King.
who called about 1870, was admitted to
the bedroom.
An Exhibition of Will.
The physicians were however homeless
but even they began to have hope when
they saw Gen. Sherman lift himself up
snd, turning around sit upon the edge of
the bed. He struggled to rise, and as all
knew that he would not be crossed DR..
Alexander helped him up. He stood up
the bed clothes were wrapped around
him, and then, leaning upon the arm of
the doctor, he walked slowly and feebly
five steps TO great easy chair, into which
he sank. 1t was the chair in which he
was wont to sit in the days of his health
He remained seated few minutes and
then allowed himself TO be helped back to
the bed. But the brief sitting up seemed
to have helped him.
A Fighting Chance for Life.
During the whole afternoon Gen. Sher-
i
ers went away telling that he had fight
ing chance, a bare chance, fair chance.
and so on, until there was high hope in
the minds OF all who were waiting. The
doctors ceased to issue bulletins, which
was regarded as a further good sign At
o'clock two Sisters of Mercy, carving
prayer books, entered the house, and re-
manned for some time. When they came
out it was evident that they had been
weeping. So il went. During the whole
afternoon there was no change but things
looked hopeful At p. IN. the news from
the sick-room was discouraging, however,
and at $50 still more so.
Another Hopeful Change.
At $780, however, Senator Sherman an
nounced that the physicians were more
hopeful, and the belief was expressed that
if the general survives twenty-four hours
his final recovery was possible At 1890
p. IN. Gen. Thomas Ewing, accompanied
10y his son and daughter, left the Sherman
residence for their homes Gen. Ewing
said that Gen. Sherman was then resting
easy. The trained nurse and Drs Alex
znder and Green were watching at his
bedside. The family were taking little
needed rest.
The Question of Religion.
There was much wondering that ex-
IRENE JUNCTION had been administered to
Gen. Sherman, whose opinions upon mat
tiers of religion were no secret. When
Mr. Thackera, his son-in-law, was asked
about it, he declined to say anything
about the matter. Gen. Sherman was in
n state of Inconsistencies when the rite
was administered, and it is not known
whether he requested it before sinking into
that state, or whether it was at the solicit
tation of the members of his family, who
are devout Roman Catholics.
The Latest Bulletins.
12 CLOCK midnight-Lieut. FitZ has just
left Gen. Sherman's residence. He said
that at IL o'clock Gen. Sherman got out of
bed and walked halfway across the room
without assistance. He could not speak,
but appeared to recognize those in the
room. The general had to be helped back
to the bed He was very much ex-
hausted At midnight there was no