Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-02-18

there were slight but unmistak-
able symptoms Of approaching
dissolution. Mental disturbances
were added to other troubles, and
he failed to realize the seriousness OF
his condition. The family were made
aware weeks ago that his death was only
q question of a short time, and that the
efforts of his physicians were direct
ed solely to a postponement of the
inevitable, and to making his last hours
as comfortable and as free from pain as
possible
Medical Director Philip S. Wales.
of the Navy, has been his
attending physician for about
fifteen years, and the last six months
has, been at his bedside for two or three
hours out of every twenty-four He
said this morning that Admiral Porter
suffered from strangulation of the bow
els, twelve years ago, and the malady
1had weakening effect on his system;
but it was not until seven years
later that the disease which
itself The Admirals condition
had been such for the past five years
that he had been unable to transact
much public business. He was retained
on the active list Of the navy, however,
and given the lightest and least res pom
sible kinds of duties. The department
authorities have shown him meanwhile
scrupulous honor and respect, and
treated all his official utterances with
due Difference.
His death this morning was calm and
peaceful. II came almost entirely with
out warning. When Dr. Wales left him
at II o'clock last night his condition
was about the same as it had been for
several weeks past, and there was no
indication that medical services would
be needed before the time for the doe
tors regular visit this morning about
9 o'clock. The nature of the Ad-
miral's disease made it extremely
dangerous for him to lie on his back, SO
that he was accustomed to rest sitting
up on a large sofa, with his back and
head supported by pillows. Nourish-
ment was administered every hour, and
the Admiral was awake at $40 O'Clock
this morning and took his nourishment
as usual. He afterwards fell into a
light sleep, and gave no indication what
ever that the end was SO near at hand.
At 6 o'clock the Admiral's son, Rich
ard, who slept by bis side, noticed that
there was change in his fathers con-
dition. He was breathing with difficult
ty and seemed to be choking. The
nurse 1elt his pulse and found it to be
futtering feebly. The household was
at once aroused, and DR.. Wales sent for.
The patients pulse grew fainter and
fainter, and at SIS O'Clock ceased to
beat. At that hour he gasped con-
vulsively and expired without word.
He sat bolt upright, with his son, Rich
ard, holding one hand, and his daugh-
ter, Mrs. L. c. Logan, the other. There
were also at his bedside his son, Lieut..
Theodore Porter, U. S. N, and his SON.
in-law, Lieut.. L. c. Ii gan. Z.
S. N; his nurse, James Mcdonald,
and his faithful man servant, William
Wilkes. His other sons, Capt. G. P.
Porter, U. S. M. c., and Maj. D. F. Por-
ter, formerly of the army, and his
youngest daughter, Mrs. Charles Camp
bell, arrived soon after, and joined the
sorrowing group which bad gathered in
the chamber of the afflicted widow.
Mrs Porter, who is herself an invalid
and was prevented by her own feeble
health rom attending her husband dur
mo MS Ips' &c