The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-02-19
HIS SUFFERING ENDED.
ADMIR- AL DAVID D. PORTER EX-
PRES PEACEFULLY.

Heart Troubles of Long Duration the
Cause-Surrounded by His Family and
Friends-His Services to the Nation
He Came from Naval Stock.
Washington dispatch.
Admiral David d. Porter, the ranking
naval officer of the United States, long
comrnander-in-chiefo of the United States
navy, died at his home in this city at
8:15 this morning of fatty degeneration
of the heart His death would not have
been surprise had it occurred at any
time within a year He has been seri-
ously i'll for many months, yet at the
last the end came swiftly and suddenly,
with but a few minutes of warning.
Twelve years ago the Admiral had Sc
we're stomach trouble which greatly
weakened his system, and from which he
never recovered. Five years ago DR..
Wales, then Surgeon General of the
United States navy, made an examine
ton, and told the old sailor that there
were symptoms which pointed TO the fall
ure of the action of the heart. Admiral
Porter was an optimist. He laughed, and
said to Dr. Wales: Nonsense, my heart
is as good as yours and better" But
even to the last hours of his conscious
ness Admiral Porter exhibited q feeble
hope that there was a cure in store for
him. Last summer he began to show
marked signs of rapid decline. His men,
DRY became visibly weaker, his strength
was Slapped, and his nerves seemed
to lose their vitality. From the drain
which was manifest upon his vital re-
sources then he never fully recovered.
He was brought to Washington from his
summer home at jamestown, near New
port. almost dying man, and at times
during the winter had been in state or
semi-coma. For the. past five months,
in consequence of the nature of his dis
ease, it had been necessary TO keep the
patient in an upright position, and for
that time he had either occupied a
great armchair in his bedroom or
had half-lounged upon cushion on
the sofa. It was not until eight O clock
this morning that young Mr. Porter no.
ticed startling change come over his
father. There was a fiuttering OF the
breath and pulse, slight movement of
the body, and in fifteen minutes the end
had come There was no struggle, there
was no movement to indicate conscious
ness. The encountered heart had stopped.
Mr. Richard Porter, at the time of death,
held one hand of the Admiral, and his
sister, Mrs Lieutenant Logan, the other.
There were in the room at the time, be-
sides Lieutenant Theodore Porter, OF
the navy, son of the Admiral, Lieu
tenant L. G. Logan, of the army;
the nurse, James Mcdonald, a Scotch
man; and William Wilkes, a colored
servant who has been with the Admiral
for TWENTY-FIVE years Mrs. Porter, who
was i'll in bed, overcome by the long at
tentions to her husband, and who had
never abandoned hope Of his recovery,
was not summoned to the death bed,
although she was in the adjoining room.
The interment will take place in Airing
ton in a lot selected by the Admiral
about one year ago. He then drove
there, accompanied by one of his sons
and his daughter, Mrs. Logan. and
pointed to lot near to that occupied by
the remains of Gen. Sheridan, down the
eastern terrace, overlooking the PotO-
mac and the capital. He said: "Drive
stake there, for there is where my body
shall rest"
For weeks Admiral Porter had not
been permitted to see his friends. Not
very long ago General Sherman called
and left a message of sympathy. He
said to Admiral Porter's daughter: II
would rather not see Porter unless /
could see him as he always was when 7
have met him. [ will be the next one,
and perhaps may go before Porter does.
Anyhow, it's nothing to die, and it is just
as natural as it is to be born"
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