The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-13
HIS LAST BATTLE.
Gtneral Sherman's Desperate
Fight With Death.
The Attending Physicians Give No Hope
Of His Recovery.
!
4 Slight Rally During the Afternoon Fol-
loved By Sinking Spall-Sleep-
Ing at 4 O'Clock.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

Special TO THE MORNING CALI.
New YORK, Feb. 12.-The fitting lights
and shadows in the death chamber of Gen.
eral William Tecumseh Sherman were
eagerly watched during the entire night by
q score Of newspaper men. The great Gen.
eral was foV the first time in his eventful
life ON the retreat. His last march had be-
gun. The gallant old soldier was heroic
ally battling with the grim warrior who
knows not defeat, and at times retreatng
then advancing with the sublime courage of
leader wont to conquer, but gradually and
inevitably yielding to his enemy's superior
prowess. The coign of vantage was never
regained. Slowly but surely the victor of
many a well-fought field was being driven
back to his last trench. His base of sup
ples-strength and vitality-were cut off,
and annihilation was deferred but for a lit
ila while.
A PRIEST SUMMONED.
During the night Rev Father Taylor of
the Church Of the Blessed Sacrament was
called TO the bedside and remained until
o'clock. At 80 o'clock a messenger rushed
to the telegraph office with message to
Senator Sherman. He arrived in a carriage
an hour later and considerable movement
was then noticed in the Generals bedroom.
After short while, however, the light
was turned down and the announcement
made that he was still sinking. Two po-
licemen on duty outside kept everything as
quiet as possible in the neighbOrhood In
Structions were given not to admit any one
except the relatives and personal friends.
QUESTION OF FEW HOURS.
The next bulletin was given out at 4:45
o'clock. 1t said that death was only a uues-
ton Of few hours. With this came dis
patch from ?. Tecumseh Sherman, the Gen.
erals son, to President Harrison, informing
him that death was momentarly expected
from that on the house remained in COM
paratiYe darkness.
During the night messages of sympathy
were received from the President and men,
bers OF the Cabinet and many Of the Gen.
erals old friends in the army.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
At 1918 o'clock this morning the General
was much worse, and the family was sum-
moned TO the bedside.
Half an hour later it was announced by a
caller that General Sherman was dying.
This was tod hirI by the Generals private
secretary.
The second announcement was that he
could not live over one hour.
At II 80 O'clock the Generals condition
was little better. The family thought ne
was dying at II o'clock. but he rallied
slightly, though still unconscious, and he
suffered from mucus on the lungs and his
breathing was very labored.
ENCOURAGING SYMPTOMS.
At / o'clock the symptoms were such as
10 gle a faint hope Of General Sherman's
recovery.
This dispatch was sent to President Har-
rison by Senator John Sherman: 1.-The
Improvement OF General Sherman at l
o'clock to-day justifes faint hope of his
recovery"
At , o'clock this afternoon General Hora-
ito c. King left General Sherman's house.
He said that few minutes before be left
the sick chamber General Sherman showed
signs OF improvement. The patient, he
said, had arisen from his bed and, walking
across the floor, sat down in a chair. The
physicians regarded this as very hopeful
indication. Their chief fears were of Dneu-
monia, because of the accumulation OF mu-
At o'clock the Generals condition had so
much improved as to give good hope for
his recovery.
CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.
The condition of General Sherman during
the latter part of the afternoon was en-
couraging up to as late as o'clock. At that
hour change for the worse took place.
The General lay in comatOSe state and it
was exceedingly difficult to rouse him. He
could open but one eye, and he appeared to
be suffering greatly, but the doctors thought
he was not troubled with pain:
ANXIOUS INQUIRIES.
The patient continued in this condition
during the early part of the evening
During the evening a great number of per-
sons called to ascertain the dying Generals
condition.
A great many kilograms were sent away
this evening, but what the nature of them
was could not be learned.
At $50 O'clock this bulletin was issued:
The physicians in consultation say there is
no change. If General Sherman maintains
his present status for twenty-four hours the
situation will be hopeful. John Sherman"
IN A sEMI-coNsCIoUs STATE.
On the sidewalk opposite the house quite
a large crowd OF people stood watching the
windows OF the chamber where the sick man
lay fighting the battle for life.
AT II 70 O'Clock Thackaray, General Sher-
mans son-ln-law, left the house. He said
buc bCueIdl " as III d Selnl-cOQSclOuS state.
WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM.
Lieutenant Fitch said that IL o'clock Cen
eral Sherman got out OF bed and walked
across the room without assistance. He
could not speak, but appeared to recognize
those in the room. Tne Gsneral had to be
helped back to bed. He was very much ex-
Edusted.
APPEARED TO BE ASLEEP.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13-At l o'clock this
friday morning It was stated that General
Sherman appeared to be asleep. His breath
ing Indicated that his lungs were filed with
mSeu5 DR.. Alexander thought the erysip-
elias was leaving the patient, but the GEN
eral had not improved.
AT Z;4o o'clock there was no change.
QUIETLY SLEEPING.
At 3:35 O'Clock this morning Mr.. Barrett
came to the door Of the Sherman residence
and SAID the General was sleeping quietly.
No nourlshment had been given him for sew
eral hours, but he did not seem to be any
worse.