Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-09
.BARNUNS LONG LIFE ENDED
The Famous Snowman Dead
at the Age of 81.
CAREER OF REMARKABLE SUCCESS
Some of His Notable Achieve
mentS.


BhrnGEPoRT, CoNN., April The great
Snowman, T. 7. liarnum, passed away at
Or o'clock this evening in the presence
of his grief-stricken family. During the
period Of Mr.. Barnms invalidism and
confinement to the house, which began n
weeks ago last Friday, there have been
frequent fluctuations i'll his condition.
from each of which he rallied, although
in each instance with a slightly lowered
vitality.
The change for the worse, which occur
red last night however was SO much more
pronounced than the previous attacks had
been that il convinced the attending phy-
more hours TO live. During his contine-
ment to the house he has been down stairs
only twice, although sitting UP much of
the time, and being cheerful and CONVEX
sationally inclined i'll his waking mo-
ments.
After the attack, which came upon him
shortly before midnight, Mr.. Barnum suf-
fered good dead Of pain. He seemed to
realize that he could not live much longer,
and spoke of the approaching end with
calmncss. During his illness the physi-
Clans have been careful about administer
ing morphine or selatiVe of any kind,
through a fear that they might produce
Interior i'll effects.
Last night MIR. Barnnm spoke Of this
and said, when all hope was gone, he
wished 10 be given sedativcs which would
allay his pain and make his death as peace
ful as possible. DIR. Hubbard promised
compliance with his wishes in this respect.
The first sedatiye WAS given at 1910 this
morning. Ii was understood that the
patient and his family to mean that the
end was near.
Mrs. Barnum remained Mt her husband S
side, throughout the night In alternate
spells Of DOING and in conversation, which
showed his brain 10 be us clear as ever MIR.
Barnum passed the hours until about 4
clock this morning, when he sank into a
lcthargyi which was condition of stupor
rather than that of natural sleep. To
rouse him from this state of unconscious
ness was difficult. A faint CLEAN of recog-
nition alone indicated that lie had knowl-
edge Of his surroundings or knew the
familiar and sympathetic faces grouped
about him. Thus matters went on until
about 10 o'clock this morning. He was
again aroused and his mental faculties ~.
peared to be brighter than at any time
during the several hours previous.
Previous to the arrival of several of the
relatives from New York, the Rev. Mr..
Fisher leaned over the dying man and
spoke TO him words of religious eonsola-
ton. Mr.. Barnum's eyes frightened as
the scriptural promises We're recalled to
llllli, ANA nv iiilI Ibllutu HIS nelu IN
assent. Shortly after II o'clock he took a
sedative from DR. Hubbard, and soon
afterwards sank into peaceful sleep.
Mrs Thompson, his daughter sat by the
bedside holding his hand in hers from the
time of her arrival in the sick room. She
could not hold back her tears, although
She struggled to compose herself. Mrs.
Barnum also endeavored to restrain her
feelings and present to her husband a
| cheerful countenance.
At $50 this afternoon Mr. Barnum sank
into q comatose condition, from which il
was evident that there would be little hope
Of his again returning to consciousness.
| When the end finally came it was peaceful
and to all appearances painless
The physicians say that Mr.. Bnrnum had
no organic disease whatever, the eufeeblcd
heart action, which had been apparent for
the past few months, being due TO n
gradual failure Of his general mental
powers, resulting from old age.
lll a general way, Mr.. Barnum has pre-
scribed directions for his funeral. lie
| wished It to be OF 4 private character and
| transformations. of show and parade he
said he had had enough during his life.
and his commitment to his last resting
place he wished devoid Of all ceremony
beyond the simplest tribute of affection
and respect,
He directed 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.
aud will be conducted by the Rev. L. Il,
Fisher, the Iniversalist pastor assisted Nv
| the Rev. Charles Ray Palmer of the North
Church. Mr.. Rarnum had an intense nor.
ror of embalming or of having his body
placed on ice after death. The remains
will, therefore, be kept in dark. caol
room in the house.
The body will then be enclosed in her
metically sealed metallic casket. This i in
exact accord with Mr.. Barnum's EXPRESSED
wishes. There will, no doubt, be an effort
made to induce the family to have the oh
Seqnlcs public; From present indications,
however, the family will probably strictly
adhere TO the wishes of the deceased.
SKETCH OF his LIFE.
Phineas Taylor Barnum, tie veteran
/ Snowman, was born at Bethel, Conn. Julv
9TH, 1910. His father was an innkeeper
ana country merchant, who died when his
son was only 10 years old, leaving no
property. From the age of Is the lad
looked out for himself, working ut various
businesses, part of the time being en-
ployed N brooklyn and New York. At
- ne returned to Bethel and opened n
country store, managing an agency for n
lottery chartered by the state for b,Iiliing
the Groton monument and putting hv q
little money, with which he 6nilt n lnryer
store At - he married, hut Ills store w So
l,ot successful, and a weekly ncws,nncr
tne Herald OF Freedom, likewise failed Nor
\ MS itee expression of opinions in this