The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-15
The Las Hours.

The Las Hours.
BR1DeEPoRT, Conn, April The great
Snowman, P. I. Barnum, passed away at
6:22 o'clock this evening in the presence
of his grief-stricken family.
During the period OF Mr.. Barnum's in
validism and confinement To the house,
which began twenty-one weeks ago last
Friday, there have been frequent fuctua-
tions IN mis- condition, from each of which
he rallied, although in each instance
with a slightly lowered vitality. The
change for the worse, which occurred
last night, however, was so much more
pronounced than the previous attacks had
been that il convinced the attending ply
sicians that their patient had not many
more hours to live. During his confine-
ment in the house ne has been downstairs
only twice, although sitting up much Of
the time and being cheerful and con-
versationally inclined in bis waking mo-
ments.
After the attack. which came upon him
shortly before midnight, Mr. Barnum
suffered a good deal OF pain. tie seemed
TO realize that he could not live much
longer and spoke OF the approaching end
with calmness. During his illness the
physicians had been careful about ad-
ministering morphine or sedatives of any
kind through a fear that they might pro-
duce Interior i'll effect. Last night Mr..
Barnum spoke OF this and said when all
hope was gone he wished to be given soda
tiyes, which would aIlay mis- pain and
make his death as peaceful as possible.
DR.. Hubbard promised compliance with
his wishes in this respect. The first soda
tive was given at 10 10 o'clock this morn
ing. 1t was understood bv the patient
and his family TO mean that the end was
near. Mrs. Barnum remained at her hus.
bands side throughout the night In
alternate spells Of DOING and in converse
ton, which showed his brain to be as clear
as ever, Mr.. Barnum passed the hours
until o'clock this morning when
he sank into condition of
stupor rather than of natural sleep.
To rouse him from this state OF uncon-
sciousness was difficult. A faint CLEAN of
recognition alone indicated that he had
knowledge 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 ap-
peared to be brighter than at any time
during the several hours previous.
Among the sorrowinR group then in the
room were Mrs. Barnum, the Rev. L. b,
Fisher, pastor OF the universalist church
Mrs. ID. w. L. Thompson, his daughter;
Mrs. Clarke OF New York, granddaugh-
ter Miss May Read, his niece; Mrs. w. II.
Buchtel of New York, another daughter
Clinton II. Seely, his grandson and prin-
cipal heir; BENJAMIN Fish, Mrs. Barnum's
brother and treasurer of the Barnum *
Bailey shows DIR. Hubbard: Mrs. a /.
Rikeman, the hOusekeeper; G. b. Olcutt,
a trained nurse from Bellevue hospital.
who has been Mr.. Barnum's attendant
since his illness, and w. ID. Roberts, for
many years Mr. Barnum's faithful colored
valet.
The scene in the dying mans chamber
was deeply pathetic. Mr.. Barnum was
fully awake and conscious, although bis
nearly-exhausted physical powers made
it impossible for him TO talk The af1ec-
eyes TO the weeping attendants, were more
ton of himself all were in tears.
Previous 10 the arrival of several rela-
tiTes from New York, on the 10 o'clock
train, the Rev Mr.. Fisher bent over the
dying man and spoke to him words OF re-
igious consolation. Dir. Barnum's eyes
frightened as the scriptural promises
were recalled to him, and he nodded
his head in assent. Shortly after
IL he took sedative from DIR. Hubbard
and soon afterw lrd sank into peaceful
slumber. Mrs. Thompson, his daughter,
sat by the bedside, holding bis hand in
hers from the time of her arrival in the
sick-room. She could not hold back her
tears. although she strugg ed hard to CON-
pose herself. Mrs. Barnum also endeav-
ored to restrain her feelings and present
to her husband a cheerful countenance.
At $3.50 o'clock this afternoon Mr.. Bar
mum sank into q comatose condition, from