Evening journal., 1891-02-13
ONE RAY Or HOPPE.
A Bare Possibility That Gen.
Sherman May Live.
AN OLD HERO TO THE END.
Death BraYely Beaten Back Again
and Again.

One Moment Physicians said He Was Dy-
ing and the Next They Thought He Had
Fighting Chance for Life-Extrems
Unction Of the Roman Catholic Church
Administrations the Sick Man Rose
TO His Feet and Walked Across the
Room, but He Was Soon Compelled to
Lac Down Again-Hia SON Tom Coming
Across the sea-AIiss Rachael sherman's
Touching Devotion to Her Father.
NEW YoRK, Feb Is. = Gen. Sherman
passed another day alternately rallyihg
and sinking at his residence, No. 10 West
Seventy-frst street. The last rites Of the
Catholic church were administered just
before noon. His continuous perm now
was from suffocation by the accumu-
lation Of mucus in his lungs In his rallies
he was able to clear his lungs little. A
little whisky and milk helped 60 keep up
his strength. The news that came out of
the sick room was alternately hopeful and
despairing.
The physicians said that if he could
maintain for twenty-four hours more the
ground he held last evening the situation
would be hopeful.
A Brave Battle wlth Death.
The general had by no means given up.
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 20 rapidly that DIR. Alexander was as
tonished. Hope once more sprung up in
the household, and at l O'Clock Senator
sherman sent this telegram.
To the President, Executive Mansion:
The Improvement of Gen sherman this
morning iustifies faint hope Of his recovery.
john SHERMAN.
The same news was sent to many of Gen
Shermans friends in all parts OF the eoun-
try. This improvement eontnuedeteadily
and Gen. Horatio King, who called about
100, was admitted to the bedroom He saw
a most astonishing exhibition Of the iron
will Of the general The physicians put no
faith in the permanence Of this revolt
against death, and felt that IL was still
question Of hours, although they did nos
tell the family.
The Patient walks
But even they began to have hope when
they saw Gen. Sherman lift himself up,
and, turning around, sit upon tho edge Of
the bed He struggled 10 RISE and, as all
knew that he would not be crossed, Dir.
Alexander helped him up He stood up.
the bedclothes were wrapped around him,
and then, leaning upon the arm Of the doc
tor, he walked slowly and feehly five steps
to great easy chair, into which he sank.
Il was the chair in which he was wont to
sit in the days Of his health He remained
seated a few moments, and chen allowed
himself TO be helped back TO the bed But
tho brief sitting up seemed TO have helped
him and to have relieved somewhat the
pressing upon his lungs
Extreme Unction Administered.
There was much wondering chat the ex-
treme unctiOn had been administered TO
Gen. Sherman, who was not known to be-
a Catholic When Mr. Thackara, his SON
in-law, was asked about it, he declined to
say anything about the matter Gen. Sher-
man was in a state of unoonsciousness
when the rite was administered
The church permits the amounting in
such cases If the sick man shall previously
have requested il and confessed and re-
ceiyed the Eucharist. Gen Sherman's
family are devout Catholics During the
TO improve, and the callers went away tell
ing that be had fighting chance, a bare
chance, a fair chance, and SO on. until
there were high hope in the minds of all
who were waiting. The doctors ceased to
issue bulletins, which was regarded as .
further good sign. At 4:30 a carriage drove
up 20 the door, and a footman took from
the hand Of woman who sat in IL IA great
bunch Of big red roses, full Of life and
yigor These were borne into the house,
leaving perfume in the air and suggest
ing that here was good omen
A Change for the Worse.
But it was soon announced that there
had been perceptible change for the
worse. Gen. Sherman was losing the
strength 70 throw of the mucus which
kept accumulating upon his lungs Drs.
Alexander and Greene told the family at &
O'Clock that he was nearer to death then
than he had been before He lay on the
bed in half cOmatose condition, but when
aroused he was able to answer inteIli-
gently, He showed no signs OF being in
pain and at times he seemed almost life
less. Much Of the time his eyes, which
were considerably inhamed, were bandaged
and moistened with an ointment When
the bandage was off his eyes were half
open, but there was little or no life in them.
At 1;30 o'clock he was able to take the
first Rourishment that had been given 20
him in several hours. IL consisted 0f whisky
and milk. Shortly afterward he drank
some distilled water, and this seemed TO
have a beneficial effect, for he threw of a
quantity Of mucus and there
was perceptible Improvements He sat
up in bed for a few moments at a time. as
sisted by his nurses, and this relieved his
breathing considerably.
Senator sherman's Hope.
Late last night Senator Sherman is
sued the following:
The physicians in consultation saw that tbera
IS no decided change. If Gen. sherman main
lains ms present status for twenty-four hours
he situation viii be hopful
JOHN SHERMAN.
AT O'Clock the members Of Gen. Sher-
mans family, with the exception OF his
laughter, Miss Rachel Sherman werw.
resting within easy call of the sick room.
DR.. Alexander, Private Secretary Barrett-
and Miss Rachel were at the generals bed
side. Miss Rachel absolutely refused to
leave the room, despite DIR. AIexander'n
that she would break down
4 she did not get some rest.
Rev. Thomas sherman, the generaI'a
eldest son, left Queenstown yesterday on
he Umbria for America.
A very pleasant entertainment entitled