Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-03-06

General w. I. Sherman, she last great
figure OF the Civil War, died of erysipelas a
few days ago, at his home in New York
City, after an illness of ten days. His death
was caused by the accumulation of mucus in
the lungs which he was unable to throw off.
There was no sign of death beyond a faint
grasp and stoppage Of the breath.
The end was painless, and the only persons
who noted the change were the physicians.
Around the deathbed were General Saer-
mans four daughters-Misses Liz. !e and
Rachel Sherman, Mrs. Thakara and
Mrs. Lieutenant Fitch-his son, P.
T. Sherman; his brother, Senator John
Sherman: Drs. Janeway, Green and
Alexander, and the nurse, Miss Price. Gen
eral o. 0. Howard, General Thomas Ewing,
General Henry w. Slocum and Mrs. Walter
Damrosch, daughter of Secretary Blaine,
were in the parlors. General Shermans
Bon, who is Catholic priest, did not arrive
from Europe in time TO witness his fathers
last fight.
General Sherman caught severe cold ten
days before his death, when he attended a
theatre party at the Casino in New York
City. On that occasion a special invitation
had been sent out to the military officers in
the city, and General Sherman sat in ONE OF
proscenium boxes with party Of friends.
He seemed to be then in the best Of health
and spirits and apparently enjoyed the per-
Torrance immensely. He returned to his
home Immediately after the performance,
and the next morning when he woke up no
found that he had taken a severe cold.
This gave him no anxiety at first, but
when on the following day the symptoms Of
erysipelas began to show themselves he sent
for DR.. Alexander.
On the third day he was worse, and, when
DR.. Janeway was called in his face and neck
were very much swollen and inhamed, and it
was realized that his condition was much
how, + OF cum
He continued to grow worse, and all his
family were summoned.
Four DAYS before his death the first intima-
ton of the serious nature Of his illness be-
came public, but there was no general alarm.
Next day the General was thought to be
dying, and extreme JUNCTION was administered
by Catholic priest, but the old soldier rallied
and became so much better that through all
of the day prior to his death his family and
friends were cheered and began to believe in
the possibility of ultimate recovery.
Hope was abandoned for the last time
Just at da ybreak on the day of his death.
From that hour till death came it was only
question of how long the almost exhausted
vitality could hold at bay the enemy.
The erysipelas which had seemed to with
draw returned with renewed force. The
inflammation became acute, and all during
the forenoon the sick mans lungs were being
slowly choked.
At /: 45 in the afternoon breathing began
to grow less and less frequent. The lungs
were gradually filling, and breathing was
becoming more and more difficult. The old
man had given up the struggle, and, uncon-
sciOus, was letting life pass from him.
All at once the breaths, which came now al
longer intervals, grew shorter. Dr. Alexander
glanced around, and then all eyes were fixed
upon the one form. It was like the turning
the General died. There was one shor,
breath like sigh, and there came upon hi
face that change which needs no interpreter
All saw that he was dead. But the nurse
leaning over, lifted his head and said in &
whisper:
He is dead"
Only the cracking of the fire was now te
be heard. The breathing had ceased, and
with it the life of the last American to bear
the high title of General passed. 1t was just
ten minutes of two o'clock.
Lieutenant Fitch made a semi-official
statement, giving the details of the scene at
the deathbed later in the afternoon.
''At IL O'clock" he said, 1.-The General lost
consciousness, and DR.. Alexander said that II
was the beginning Of the end. The Generals
head at the time rested high on pillow,
AS the moments flew by his breathing became
more difficult, and little by little the pillow
was lowered to ease him. At LEO O'Clock
the signs of approaching dissolution were
seen Tbs tips of the dying mans fingers
became icy cold. Slowly the cold feeling
spread through the hands and then up the
arms. The breathing became more ana
more difficult. The lungs were filling
with mucus, the doctor said, and the
dying had not the strength to
throw it off. He was being strangled to
death. The pillow was pressed lower and
lower, and finally it was taken away alto
gether. Only a few minutes afterward
there was no long sigh and the nurse said.
he is dead So peaceful had been the death
that even the watchers could hardly realize
it."
The undertaken completed the process OF
embalming the Generals body about {
o'clock, and then it was laid back on the bed
where he had died. The arms were folded
The only trace of the erysipelas that was
visible was slight swelling under the eyes.
embalming few of the parsons who called,
were permitted to look at the features