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-
markable Men.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, April THE
| great Snowman, p. Il. Barnum, passed
away at % o'clock this evening in the
| presence of his grief-Stricken family.
| During the period of Mr.. Barnum's in
validiSm and confinement to the house,
which began twenty-one weeks ago last
Frid ay, there have been frequent tuctu-
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 deal 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 or sedativeS of
any kind through a fear that they
might produce ulterior il-effects. That
night Mr.. Barnum spoke of this, and
said when all hope was gone he wished
to be given sedativeS which
Would AIlay 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 10:10
o'clock this morning. 1t was understood
by the patient and his family to mean
that the end was near. Mrs. Barnum re-
manned 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 IA con
dition of StupOr rather than of natural
sleep. To rouse him from this state of
Inconsistencies was difficult. A faint
CLEAN OF recognition alone indicated
that he had knowledge of his surround
ings, or knew the familiar and
sympathetic faces grouped about
him. Thus matters went OF UNI
til about 10 o'clock this morn
ing. He was again aroused, and his
mental faculties appeared to be brighter
hours previous. The scene in the dy-
ing mau's chamber was deeply pathetic.
Mr.. Barnum was fully awake and con-
scous. although his nearly exhausted
physical powers made it impossible for
him TO talk. The atfectionate 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 in assent. Shortly after II o'clook
he took a sedative from DIR. 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 Eus-
band a cheerful countenance.
At $50 o'clock this afternoon Mr.. Bar
mum sank into n 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
scians saw that Mr.. Barnum had no
organic disease whatever, the enfee-
bled heart action, which had been APP
parent for the past few months, being
due 10 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 it to be of private char
acter and transformations. 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 in
the Mountain Grove cemetery, where
several years ago he erected a massive
granite monument of simple design.
The funeral will be held Friday after
noon in the North Congregational
church, and will 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 embalnl-
ing or of having his body placed on ice
after death. The remains will there
fore be kept in dark, cool room in the
house. The body will then be inclosed
in Theoretically sealed metallic caskpt.
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 1.-THE announce
ment was given out tonight by the man
agement of the Madison Square garden.
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 20 on
as usual" J. A. Bailey accordingly
announces that the show will continue
with its policy entirely unchanged. The
capital of 800, 900 will remain intact.
and Mr.. Bailey will continue to act as
manager, For the past few wears Mr.