The record-union., 1891-04-08
P. T. BARNUM.
THE VETERAN SNOWMAN DRAWS
HIS LAST BREATH.
Old Age the Cause of Death Brief
Sketch of the Events of His
Varied Life.

BRIDGEPORT Comm, April THE
great Snowman p. T. Barnum died at 6:22
O'Clock this evening in the presence ofthe
grief-stricken family.
During the period of Barnum's invalid
ism and confinement to the house, which
began twenty-one weeks ago last Friday,
there has been frequent fluctuations in
his condition, from each of which he
rallied, although in each instance with
slightly lowered vitality. A. change for
the worse, which occurred last night, was,
however, SO pronounced that it convinced
the physicsans that the patient had not
many more hours to live.
During his confine Slent he had been
downstairs only twice, although sitting
up much of the time, and being cheerful
and conversaGonally inclined in his
waking moments. After the first attack,
which came upon him shortly before
midnight, Barnum suffered 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 NOR
phine or sedatives, through fear that they
might produce ulterior i'll effects. Last
night Barnum spoke of this and said that
when all hope was gone he wished to be
given sedatives, which would allay pain
and make death as peaceful as possible.
The first sedative was given at 1910
this morning. Mrs. Barnum remained
at her husbands side throughout the
night. In alternate spells of doing and
conversation, which showed that his
brain was as clear as ever, Barnum
passed the hours uutil o'clock this
h l. 1z4y
To rouse him from this state of uncOn-
sciouSneSs was difficult.
This forenoon he rallied somewhat,
while Rev. Mr.. Fisher bent over the
dying man and spoke to him words of
religious consolation. Barnum's eyes
frightened as the Scriptural promises
were recalled to him, and he half-nodded
his head in assent.
Shortly after IL o'clock he took seda-
tive from DR.. Hubbard, and soon after
wards sank into peaceful sleep.
This afternoon Barnum sank into a
comatose condition, from which it was
evident there would be little hope of his
again returning to consciousness. When
the end finally came, 1t was peaceful and
to all appearances, painless.
The physicians say Barnum had no Or
ganic disease whatever, the enfeebled
heart action, which had been apparent for
the past few months, being due to grad
ual failure of his general mental powers.
resulting from old age
In general way, Barnum prescribed
directions for his funeral. He wished it
to be private In character and unostenta-
tious.
GPhineas Taylor Barnum was born in
Bethel, Conn, July 5, 1910. He removed
to New York in 1884, and 1S41 purchased
the American Museum, which he man
aged very successfully. He exhibited
General Tom Thumb in Europe, and in
1856 engaged Jenny Lind to visit Amer
lea and give a number of concerts. He
afterward exhibited Joyce Heth, whom
he announced to be at least 160 years old
and to have been the nurse of George
Washington.
In the spring of 1S71she established a
travelling museum and menagerie, which
has since been known as "Barnum's Cir
Gus and Menagerie."
Mr.. Barnum was four times elected to
the Connecticut Legislature, and was
Mayor of Bridgeport, to which city he
presented a public park. His other bene-
factions have been large and numerous,
among them stone museum building
presented to Tufts College, near Boston,
filled with specimens of natural history.
Ems