The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-02-21
benefit. Des
tttpnl, however.

there were slight but unmistak-
able symptoms of approaching
dissolution. Mental disturbances
were added to other troubles, and
he failed to realize the seriousness Q
his condition. The family were mad,
aware weeks ago that his death was only
question of a snort time, and that the
efforts of his physicians were direct
ed solely to p0stponement OF the
inevitable, and TO making his last hours
as comfortable and as free from pain ao
possible
Medical Director Philip 8. Wales.
of the Navy, has been his
attending physician for about
fifteen wears, and The last SIX months
has been at his bedside for two or three
hours out Of evcry tWenty-fOur. He
said this morning that Admiral Porter
suffered frcm strangta aaton Of tie bow
els, twelve years ago, and the malady
la ! q W MrakGuing eivct On lis system
but il was not until seven years
Letter 1lat the disease which
carried him of first manifested
itself The AdmiraI's condition
had been such for the past five years
that lie had been unable to tranSa Il
much public business. lie was retained
on the active list of the navy, however,
and given the lightcst ana least res pom
sible kinds OF duties The department
authorities have shown him meanwhile
scrupuious honor and respect, and
treated all his official uttcrapCes with
due Difference.
Ills death this morning was calm and
peaceful. Ii came almost entirely with
out warning. When ilr. Wales eIt him
at ii o'clock last night his condition
was about the same a. It had been tor
ceveral weeks past, and there Was no
indication that medical services would
be needed before tie time Tor the doc
tor regular visit tA!s morning about
Q O'Clock. The nature of the Ad-
miraI disease made it extremely
dangerous Tor him 10 lie on his back, 80
that he was accustomed Il rests sitting
up on q large sofa, with bis back and
head supl orttd by pillows. Nourish-
ment wa- administered every hour. and
the Admiral was awake a. G.i1 G clock
this morning and took his nourishment
as usual He afterwards fell into a
light sleep. and gave no indication what
ever that the end was 50 near at hand.
At : clock the Adm;ra's son, Rich
ard, who slept by his side, noticed that
there was a change n his father $ con-
dition. He Was breathing with difficult
ty and seemed to be choking. The
nurse lelt his pulse and found it 10 he
futtering teebly The household WAS
at once aroused, and DR.. Wales sent for.
The patients pulse grew fainter and
fainter, and al SIS O'Clock ceased Il
beat At that hour he gasped con-
vulsively and expired without q word
He sat bolt upright, with his son, kch'
ard. holding one hand ana his daugh.
ter, Mrs. L. C. Logan, tie other. There
were also at his bedside his son, Lieut.
Theodore Porter, I. ). y, and his son.
in-law, Lieut. L. c. Ign, I
:. n: his nurse, James Mcdonald
and his faithful man servant, William
Wilkes. His other sons, Capt. Z. +
Porter. {. ;. NJ. C., AID MAJ. ,. T. Por'
ter, formerly OF the army. and h.:
Youngest daughter. Mrs. Charles Camp
bell. arrived soon alter, and joined the
sorrowing grpup which had gathered II
j the chamber of Il.e afflicted widow
F Mrs. Porter, who is herseii an invalid
1 and was prevented by her own feeble
/ health rom atteEd.ng her husband Dur
:. ing bis last hours.