The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-15
GEN. SHERMAN'S
LAST HOURS.
Closing Scenes in The Life Of
the Great Soldier.
Tha Announcement Of His Death Received
With Universal SlTrOW.
EulogieS by President Harrison and Members
Of the Cabinst- Executive Orders.
Funeral Arrangements.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

NEW YORK, Feb. 14.-All night long Gen
eral Sherman vaYered between life and
death and continued to fight bravely his
hopeless battle. Early in the evening the
physicians knew the end was approaching
s,swly but surely. The swelling in the face
and neck disappeared, but with their sub.
sidence symptoms of erysipelas came, and a
development of the lung trouble. compli-
Gated with the return of long standing
asthma. Mucus began once more to accu-
mulate in the lungs, and the first signs of
passive pneumonia became apparent
CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.
At II 80 O'clock last night the dying SOL
der awoke, but merely to continue breath
ing required all his efforts. At midnight
sleep had come to the relief of the suffe ferer.
Att O'cloeF this morning the General was
still slumbering, ami there was no change in
his condition as far as could be determined
by the doctors, and the house was closed for
the night. At $50 there was no apparent
change. General Ewins's son SAID at 4:25
that he could detect no change, excepting
that the General respira tions wera ccnsid-
eTably increased, which caused anxiety
With the exception of heavy breathing at
$50 no change could be discerned One
hour later a decided change for the worse
seti7. Another hour and all the members
of the family were summoned. Death
seem d near the unconquered soldier, still
he Law suffering. but refusing to succumb.
Thus was pa sed the next few hours.
APPROACH OF DEATH.
At S:25 o'clock Senator Sherman tele-
had ha far 1r- Of D, ~.
brother was still alive, but only family
conscious. He apparently is without pain,
but lis breathing is lab9red aud his strength
diminishing"
AT this time the physicians were holding
consultation. When over, 1t was given out
that the Generals condition was hopeless :;
that tile end was rapidly approaching and
the bronchial trouble was making marked
progress.
When asked if there was the slightest ray
OF hope, one of the physicians replied:
Not the least hope remains. The General
cannot possibly survive the day" Soon
after the substance OF this answer was Of
hc;ally announced as the result of the con-
sultation
PROFOUND SURPRISE.
To the scores of anxious people awaiting
information this bulletin was a profound
surprise. While it was l1n1wn the General
49,. was very low, yet somehow the idea had
gotten abroad that he was going to pull
through.
At 80 DR.. Janeway, the consulting ply
sician, lett the house. There is decided
change for the worse" said the Doctor.
He will not live through the day. He at
present is very low" He may die at any
moment His strength is failing. What
seems to be the trouble this mOrning?" was
asked. "Erysipelas in the bronchial tubes"
was the reply.
TIE END.
During the forenoon, as the hours passed
by, every inquirer vino called at the Gen
erals house WAS told that all hope was
abandoned, and that the Generals relatives
and attendants were merely waiting for the
end and endeavOring 10 make his last hours
as free from suffering possible. Among
those who called were Cyrus W. Field and
Mrs. L. ). Grant As on the preceding days
since Il became known that General Sher-
man lay at deaths door, knots of people
gathered in the street near his home and
talked to each other in low tones of the dy
ing soldier.
At l 80 o'clock this afternoon a servant
came cut Of the house aud told the police on
guard the end had come, and that the Gen
eTal had at last surrendered.
PAINLESS DEATH.
From Secretary Barrett it was learned
that General Sherman remained uucon-
scious TO the last, dying with no visible
pain.
Four daughters were present at the bed
side, and his son, p. I. Sherman, Senator
Sherman ana also the attending physician.
Secretary Barrett and some other friends
were in room below. SoOu after . o'clock
Mr. Barrett went to the Western Union Of
nee and sent of a number of dispatches to
Washington, in which he announced the
hour of the death at 80 o'clock.
TIE RESULT ANNOUNCED.
The change in the appearance Of things
about General Sheraan's late residence
caused by his death was remarkable A
small crowd OF curious people had gathered
On the sidewalk opposite the house, and
gahed at the windows of the sick-chamher
with anxious and sympathetic eyes There
were faces at nearly every window in the
houses fronting and within range Of the
Sherman mansion. The sun had ceased TO
shine, ana the house Of sorrow stood in the
chill ana shadow, more gloomy than ever.
DREADED MESSAGE.
A sudden gust of wind tore the last bulletin
OF the patients condition from the door
where ii had been posted for public inspec-
tiOD. As it futtered away into the street
Iiveried servant pushed hurriedly through
the door and out on to the stoOp. He went
toward the officer on duty and whispered
something to him. The newspaper men
drew close Every one was eXpectant and
waiting for an Interpretation of the mes
sage. The policeman turned toward the re-
pOrters, but the servant as II the burden of
the news was too great to longer contain,
said III q snlOthered voice. "He is gone; lie
died at 80" Instantly the scene changed.
I ounR Ewing dashed out OF the house al
most before the HOTdS were spoken and
was running for the telegraph office. News
paper men joined in the rush. The faces
disappeared from the windows and the oc-
eupaGtS Of the houses hurried into the
street eager to get all and any Information
they could.
CLOSING SCENES.
The folio wing official statement of scenes
at the deathbed of General Sherman and
the arrangements for the funeral are given
out by Lieutenant Fitch:
General Sherman lay in bed from Friday
: morning until he died to-day without speak
ing word. de made an attempt 10 do so
several times but was unable TO utter a
sound other than hoarse gasps. He appar-
entity recognized those about him by the look
OF his eyes. His tongue was swollen aud
the jaws we're still some huuts before he
died. Signs of death were noticed half an
hour before he died in the icy cnldness of
his inger-tips. This coldness gradually ex-
tended to his hands and arms. He was un-
conscious for the last Two hours that lie was
alive.
AT THE BEDSIDE.
At the bedside were his son, p. T.
Sherman, his daughters. Rachel and Lizzie,
Lieutenant and Mrs. Fitch, Lieutenant and
Mrs. Thackara, Senator Johu Sherman,
Dr. Alexander and General Thomas Ewing.
The two daughters remained kneeling, one
at each side Of the bed, during the last
hours OF the life of their father. No
priest or clergyman was present, neither
We're any called. No pries. has entered the
hcuse since Father Taylor was called.
Death came 50 quietly that those at the bed
slde did not realize that the General was
. qcaa unlil Dr. Alexander said, "All is over"
Death came with one long sigh Suffoca-
tiUn, due to the lungs filing with mueus,
was Inc cause. Immediately after his
Ieath, Generals Howard and Slocum, who
were on the Generals staff, were sent for
SOLDIERS BURIAL.