New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-13
SHERMAN'S LAST FIGHT.
HIS GALLANT STRUGGLE WITH ALMOST
CERTAIN DEATH.
AGAINST oEDEMA-OCCASIONAL DELIRIUM
IN WHICH THE OLD WARRIOR INSISTS
on LEAVING HIS BED-THE WEARY

WATCH LAST NIGHT
From a thoroughly trustworthy source. it was
ascertained AT a IN to-day that the physicians III
attendance on General Sherman entertained the
gravest fears regarding the result of his illness Inc
erysipelas had subsided, but what the doctors
had been vainly fighting was oedema, or dropsy
OF the lungs, which commonly results from the
disease. Unless the congestion can he
relieved pneumonia will inevitably set in The
Generals vitality was at the lowest
ebb. Under the conditions fatal
termination of his illness was all hut certain.
The intermittent deirium still continued, ana
General Sherman had several times insisted on
getting ont of bed. The doctors agreed, how
ever. that he would live for some hours
The weary watchers who had stood about the bed
of General Sherman, uncertain of the final result oil
the great mans sickness, had little hope late last
night. Yesterday was full Of alternate hopes and
fears. The marvellous will power exhibited by the
General in leaving his bed in the afternoon was one
Of the most surprising incidents of his illness
But the hope which his action cngendered was un-
fortunately short-lived and false The effort cost
him strength and left him weaker than he seemed
10 be in the earlier part of the day.
rs will be seen in the detailed account on
another page in The Tribune, the same interest was
taken in the condition Of the General throughout
the morning and afternoon on Wednesday, when
the first reports of his serious Illness were made
known 10 the public. Scores of people called at
the house 20 get the latest news in regard to the
patient. Telrarams were received from all parts
OF the country expressing interest and anxiety.
The Samc scenes were re-cnactcd during the even
ing.
At o'clock bulletin was issued saying that
the General was breathing heavily and TINT great
anxiety was entertained by the watchers at
his bedside General Ewing. who had spent the
greater part of the day near the sick man. left
the house a few minutes later. TO the inquiries
of tie reporters and citizens who gathered about
him be answered that he had given up all
hope that General sherman could live
through the night Ills symptoms had
grown suddenly worse and caused the drest APP
prchen>on among the members Of the family. His
lungs had filed mp evidently, although his breath
ing waS not extremely heavy. 1t showed how
ever. I'm General Ewinc's opinion little vitality.
He did not speak AT that hour when addressed
by tie watchers. although he at times acted in
"a manner that lcl them 10 think that he under
stood partially what was said. His left eye was
greatly inl1mcd and 50 swollen that it WAS al
most closed For that reason bandacc, covered
with an ointment. had been placed over his fore
head II had had. however, little effect upon the
condition of the swollen parts. There was no
evidence Of intense pain.
\ l"w minutes after General Ewing had left
The house DrS. Greene and Alexander decided
To bold another consultation with DR.. Janeway, at
o'clock, il General Shcrmal should be alive at
hat hour Tclcgrams Ven sent in the mean
time t. intimate friends Of the family calling
them T. tie bedside Of the dying man. When Mrs.
Col.atr-iIoyt lett The house M 80 O'Clock She
slid that her uncle sinking rap
idly aud could not live an hour But
with that wonderful vitality, General Sherman
rallied again about o'clock. The physicians
succeeded in administering little whiSkey and
milk - their patient. u noGrishmcnt which he had
been too weak 10 take al o'clock in the after
noon. The momcntory effect was encouraging, and
,hc General sat mp in bed few minutes later
and drank some water.
Tie family We're encouraged anj hopeful again
But. unfortunately, tie improvement was only
apparent and the faces about the bedside soon
again became sad and tcar-Stancd. Al 80
O'Clock J. VI. Barrett. the Generals private secrc-
tary. went 10 the telegraph Office at Scycnty-Scc-
ond-,t. and Columbus ave, with another buletn
His rcddcncd eyes and signs Of mental suffering
betrayed TIE contents of the bulletin before lie
read il 10 the reporters. II was signed by \. VI.
Ihackefa and read The Generals condition Is
very critical. He rs gradually growing weaker"
\ few minutes before o o'clock =. r. Sherman.
son of the General. to the drugstore near the
elevated station at seventy Sccoud-St., for
medicine 10 bc used in the slckroom \ few
minute, later Dr. Jancway arrived at the house
and held "a consultation with the other doctors.
The consultation lasted quarter of an hour and
at lis close senator sherman sent the following
bulletin to the telegraph Office: There is no
decided change. it General Sherman maintains
his present status for twentyfour hours. the stu
alton VIII be- hopeful
Thomas Ewin,. jr., who carried the bulletin,
said that tie General had been un-
conscious during part of the cycnns
aud that his breathing was laborcd. The noise
made in respiration was the only evidence that
the famous warrior was suffering pain. At 10
o'clock there was another surprising improvement
in the Generals condition With the aid of
General Ewing hc walked across the floor of the
bedroom to his chair. He remained there for
a mw minutes when he turned 10 his bed.
At 1880 O'Clock General Ewing left the
house. to which he had returned after
his first departure In answer 10 the reporters
he said The General. though still weak shows
signs of Improvement, and is resting comfortably.
The family feel some confidence that hc will
at least last through the night All that they
appIchcnd is "A relapse somewhere between and
> o'clock in the morning. Senator Sherman will
not go 10 Mr.. Iloyt's house tonight, but Will
remain with his brother. Some of the family
will probably retire 10 rest unless there Is a
decided change for the worse. bat General Shcr-
man viii be watched all night ny DR.. Alexander,
DR.. Green and his nurse.
At IL 40 p. N. Lieutenant Fitch, who had been
within the house for several hours went home.
General Sherman. he said, still maintained his
ground lie is Conscious hc added, "of all
that goes on around him. but is unable 10 utter
anything except word or two at intervals
His voice never rises above whisper. Nearly
all the family are asleep DIR. Alexander Is
alone keeping vigil. Unless alarming relapse
sets In no more bulletins will be sent out until
the morning"
In confirmation of the Lieutenants report, Mr. |