St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-14

ton of diseases, including congestion of
the lungs and dropsy.
AS soon as he could be moved with
safety be was brought to his home in
Washington, and all means known to
science and medicine were resorted to
for his benefit. Despite them, however,
there were slight but unmiStakabIe
symptoms of approaching dissolution.
Mental disturbances were added to other
troubles, and the patient failed to real
ize the seriousness of his condition. The
family were made aware weeks ago that
his death was only question of short
time, and that the efforts of his physi-
clans were directed solely to post
ponement of the inevitable, and to max
ing
His Last Hours
as comfortable and as free from pain as
possible Medical Director Philip S.
Wales, of the navy, has been his at
tending physician for about fifteen
years and during the last six months has
been at his bedside for two or three
hours out of every twenty-four. He
said this morning tEat Admiral Porter
suffered from strangulatiOn of the bow
els, twelve years ago, aud the malady
had weakening effect on his system,
but it was not until seven years later
that the disease, which carried him off
first, manifested himself. The adm-
rals condition has been such for the
past five years that he has been unable
to transact much public business. He
was retained Oh the active list or the
navy, however, and given the light
est and least responsible kinds
of duties. The department auth
critics have shown him meanwhile
scrupulous honor and respect and
treated his official utterances with due
Difference. His death this morning was
calm and peaceful. 1t came almost
entirely without warning. When DR..
Wales left HIM at IL o'clock last night,
his condition was about the same as it
had been for several weeks past and
there was 10 indications that medical
service would be needed before the
time for the doctors regular visit this
morning, about 8 O'Clock. The nature
of the admiraPs disease made it eX-
tremely dangerous for him to lie on his
back, SO that he was accustomed to rest
sitting up Oh large sofa, wlth-hlS back
and head
Supported by Pillows.
Nourishment was administered every
hour, and the admiral was awake at 6:4j
o'clock this morning and took his liour-
ishment as usual. He afterwards fell
ton whatever that the end was so near
at hand. At o'clock the admlrals son
William. who slept by his side, noticed
that there was change in his fathers
condition. He was breathing with diff
Guilty, and seemed to be choking. The
nurse felt his pulse and found it to he
fluttering feebly. The household was
at once aroused and DIR. Wales sent for.
The patients pulse grew fainter
and fainter, and at 8:15 o'clock
ceased to beat. At that hour he
gasped convulSiyely and expired with
out a word. He sat bolt upright, with
his son Richard holding one hand and
his daughter, Mrs. l.. Logan, the other.
There were also at his beside his son,
Lielt. Theodoric Porter, U. S. N, and
his son-ln-law, Lieut.. l.. c. Logan,
U. S. N, his nurse, James Mcdonald.
and his faithful man servant, William
Wilkes. His other sons, Capt. G. +.
Porter, u S. NJ. c., and Maj. d. E.
Porter, formerly of the army, and his
youngest daughter, Mrs. Charles Camp
bell, arrived soon after and joined the
sorrowing group which had gathered in
the chamber of
The Afflicted Widow,
Mrs. Porter, who is herself an invalid,
and was prevented by her own feeble
health from attending her husband in
his last hours. DR.. Wales reached the
house almost Immediately after being.
notified. and applied all the restoratives
. known to science, but to 10 effect, and
the doctor was compelled to admit that
the case was at last beyond human
skill. Word was at once sent to the
president and the secretary of the navy,
and the flags on the White house and on
all other public buildings were placed
at half mast. Secretary Tracey prompt
ly visited the family and conferred
with them in regard to the funeral
arrangements. 1t was settled that
the funeral should be marked with
the highest military honors. and that
the interment should be at the Airing
ton National cemetery. Admiral Porter
visited the cemetery about year ago III
company with several members of his
family and selected site for his grave
at point little ways northeast OF the
Arlington mansion. corresponding eX-
actly with the geays pf Gen. Sheridan,