Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-13


HIS DISEASE HAS BEEN PROGRESSING FOR FIVE
YEARS AND THE TENDENCY HAS BEEN STEADILY
DowNwARD-wHo WERE By HIS BEpsIpE-
GEN. sHERMAN's LAST VISIT.
Admiral D. Porter, commander-in-chief Of
the navy of the United States. died at
S:15 o'clock this morning ct his home in this
city, 1712 street northwest, Of heart disease.
His death has been expected for some months,
and, though the end came swiftly and suddenly,
with but a few seconds warning, it was not
such shock to the family it might have
been. Admiral Porter's disease was fatty de-
generation of the heart, from which there is
no known escape. Twelve years ago the ad-
miral had severe trouble with his stomach and
bowels, from which he emerged in a consider
ably weakened condition. with his Tissues i'm
paired and otherwise prepared for the en-
croachments OF the terrible maladv that later
on seized him in its relentless clutches
HIS FIRST WARNING.
Five years ago DR.. Philip s. Wales, medical
director, U.S.N, his family physician, made an
examination of the admiral. which resulted in
the discovery of symptoms that pointed inev-
itably to fault in the heart and arterial sys-
tenn. 1t was then that the old sailor received
his first warning of impending trouble, but,
optimist as be was and always has been, he
laughed and said to DR.. Wales: ''Nonsense! My
heart is as good as yours and betterr'
At no time during the progress of the dis
ease, which was all too marked for the comfort
of the keen-eyed surgeon who watched every
symptom, did the admiral give any sign that he
realized the gravity of the situation. Even M
to the last hours of his consciousness he ex-
hibited feeble hope that there was a cure in
store for him.
SYMPTOMS OF GENERAL FAILURE.
The symptoms of heart disease were accom-
panied by signs of general failure of the ad-
mirars condition. His memory became visibly
weakened, his strength was sapped and his
nerves seemed to lose their vitality. His ac-
tivity, however. diminished slowly though
s,;cly until last summer when he went to
jamestown, near Newport, to occupy his
cottage there. He then showed the effects of
the drains upon his vital force. He
experienced severe pain and slight
exertion caused agonies and frequent ex-
haustions. One Gay during the summer,
although he had been enjoined by DIR. Wales to
take no exercise beyond walking up and down
the portico Of the cottage. he wandered of up
the road to see a new reservoir that was
then building and he was gone SO long
that his daughter. Mrs. Logan, went
after him. She found him after some
search completely exhausted. and il was with
difficulty that the admiral was taken back to
the cottage. From that time on the case was
An alarming one, but. although the sons and
daughters have since then prepared for the
visitation of death that came this morning,
Mrs. Porter as well as the admiral have re-
fused to believe that there was no hope.
HIS ILLNESS LAST SUMNER.
DR.. Wales was hastily summoned to Newport
in September to attend the admiral, whose in
judicious walk to the reservoir had produced
hemorrhage and intense heart pains. and his
death was then regarded as imminent. In
a few days, however, the case was
temporarily conquered through the ad-
ministration Of powerful, medicines. and
the admiral, even then a dying man. was
brought back TO Washington with great care
Since September he has not left his house on l
street. and from time to time alarming rumors
that have been all too true have been cir.
culated here and elsewhere that the end
was at hand The feeble life fickered I'D
and down in irregular pulsations, and
the progress Of the case, though uneven, has
had but downward tendency. At the end of
each week and each month 1t was noted that
the admiral was jus. little more feeble than
before, and 30 it has gone. back and
forth. back and forth, but losing a
little ground at each movement until this
morning life gave up the struggle. 1t
Is said that at no time during the past five
months has the admiral been quite as Ill, to the
eye, as when the first severe attack occurred at
Newport after which he was removed to this
city. He has gradually lost his consciousness
Of things around him, and, though at times a
feeble spark of life would show itself in a brief
period of consciousness during which he would
recognize those around him and cali them by
name, gradually this state of semi-coma de-
veloped, until for the past week the only sign of
life has been q spasmodic breathing.
HE DIED on SOFA.
Owing to the nature of the disease it has
been necessary to keep the patient in an erect
position, and SO for the past FIVE months he has
either occupied a great arm chair in his bed
room or half lounged on cushioned sofa. II
was on the latter that he died, but had il not
been that a horizontal position would long ago
have proved fatal and that it had consequently
been avoided the admiral would probably have
been in bed when the last moment arrived.
FAITHFUL MEDICAL ATrExDANrs.
DR.. Wales has been in the habit of making
two visits day, one in the morning at about 8
o'clock, and another at night at IL. He has
been aided in his conduct of the case BY the
of DIR. Da Costa of Philadelphia, the celebrated
expert in heart disease, Drs. Mitchell. Hughes
and Mcclellan of Philadelphia Dr. Goddinp of
the Government Hospital for the Insane and
Surgeon Dallas Bates of the army. DIR. God
ding called two or three times a week. Dr. Da
Costa was called about three weeks ago at the
solicitation Of Mrs. Porter, who refused to be-
lieve in the utter hopelessness of the case. He
examined the admiral and proclaimed DR..
Wales diagnosis and treatment to have been
perfectly in accord with what he should have
done.
HIS LAST HOURS.
Last night when DR.. Wales called he found
his patient in the same unconscious state.
breathing heavily. but with no symptoms of
immediate dissolution. There was nothing to
alarm the physician. and he left without any
fears, although he knew, as he has known
was always imminent The admiral passed
the night quietly on the sofa, propped up by
pillows, and by his side rested his youngest
son, Mr.. Richard Porter, who has been his
fathers constant attendant since the first
danger.
This morning, at GAS, the patient was reused
sufficiently to enable the nurse to give him
some light nourishment. after which he seemed
to doze again. At 8 o'clock young Mr.. Porter
There was Q fiuttering Of the breath and the
pulse, and the admiral made . slight move
ment among the pillows. a.
WHEN DEATH CANE
Hastily sunimoning the nurse, Mr.. Porter
sent word to the rest Of the family that there
were signs Of death, while messenger went
quickly for DR.. Wales. Within few minutes
from the time that the first alarm was given
the admiral was dead. There was no struggle,
NO movement to indicate . CONSEQUENCES
simply cessation Of breath and quiet stop
ping Of the encountered heart Nj. Richard
Porter had hold Of one hand and his sister,
Mrs. Lieut. Logan. the other. There were in
the room at the time Lieut. Theodoric Porter
OF the navy, . son Of the admiral,
Lieut. l. C. Logan Of the army, the