The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-06
The Aged Poets Last Hours.

db Lou A. Vi.
The Aged Poets Last Hours.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal
LONDON. Oct. 5.-The household at AID
worth were watching at the bedside of AL
fred Tennyson at 7:3O O'clock and wait
ing for his death. Sir Andrew Clark.
Dr.. Dabbs, Lady Tennyson. Hallam
Tennyson and an old family servant were
in the sick-chamber. Sir Andrew
Clark planned to return to Lon
don early in the evening, but he
dismissed his carriage and remained at
his patients bedside. Sir Andrew and Dr..
Dabbs sent word at thirty-five minutes
after 6 o'clock. this evening. to the report
ers waiting outside the Aldworth
gate. that Lord Tennyson was
dying slowly. psinlessly and con-
sciously. Messengers were dispatched
hurrledly over the Haslemere road to con-
vey the news to the offices of the London
dailies. Then the crowd of reporters wait
ed in silence for the next bulletin from the
bedside of tie dying poet.
At fifteen mute after z O'Clock Lady
Clark left the house and took q carriage to
be driven to London over the Hasle-
nero route. At the entrance of the
grounds she stopped TO answer the
inquiries of the reporters and the little
group Of men and women from HasIemere.
who had gone to watch out the night be-
fore the house of the dying man. She
said that all hope was gone. Tennyson's
mind was unclouded, and he knew that his
remaining hours OF life were few. He bad
talked TRANQUILITY of his death with his
wife and his SON Hallam. He seemed to
be perfectly happy and free from pain.
Lady Clark spoke with tears as she told Of
the scene at the bedside.
All hope of Iennyson's recovery was
abandoned between IL and ~ O'clock last
night. The bulletin at 5 o'clock this morn
ing said that no change in the
patients condition was apparent. At
8 O'Clock the gardener came out and fast
ened with a stout rope the rustic gate at
the front entrance to the grounds around
the house and tied q basket to
the latch. He explained that Tennyson
was very near death and the family wished
to secure perfect quiet by the exclusion of
all visitors from the grounds. The
basket was for the cards of
friends or admirers who might como
for the last news of the poets condition.
AT 9 o'clock a bulletin concerning the
course Of the disease during theNDight was
given to the reporters who waited
at the entrance. 1t stated that Ten
nysOn's condition had shown no marked
change since last night. He was extreme
ly weak. The bulletin was fastened TO the
rustic gate for the information of
persons who might como later. As the
morning advanced many men arrived at
Aldworth from London and joined the
watchers. Hour after hour passed without
news from the sick-cbamber. yet the
groups at the gate waited patiently.
At 2 o'clock a bulletin posted on the gate
announced that Tennyson was near his
end. He could last but a few hours
more. Between II and 2 O'clock many
persons called and left after dropping,
their cards into the basket. Hundreds of
faiaurarna mud laftara Of fnnniru
brought from the postofice. They
were from oil parts OF Great Brit
AIN and the continent. and the man
servant was kept busy receiving them at
the door. Toward evening most of the
watchers went TO Haslemere or London,
leaving only the reporters at the gate. At
nightfsll the windows of Aldworth, which
were left dark last evening. were
lighted, and the large bow window oppo-
site the terrace steps was thrown open.
Those outside thought the poet was dead,
but this impression was corrected by the
bulletin at 6:35 O'Clock.
DR.. Dsbbs says that T%ennyson's acute i'll
ness began on Sept. 81. He was chilled while
driving, and the severe cold which he then
caught developed rapidIG into Influenza.
Beng asked whether there was not a slight
chance of the poets recovery. DIR.
Dabbs replied decislvely: There is abso-
lutely no hope. Lord Tennyson has always
enjoyed a vigorous constitution. which
enables him to make a prolonged struggle
WITH uodtu. ne DaS Slept u kOOU Oo8l QuE-
ing these final hours. but only for short
periods. He is nOurished with beef tea,
brandy and milk"
On being questioned as to whether Lord
Tennyson appeared to know that his end
was near. DR.. Dabbs replied: Il cannot
say for certain. but i think he does"
Tennyson's illness has produced q re-
markable interest in his personality
among the people of rural districts. where
he has lived for twenty years almost unob-
served by them. ExceptProfesso Tyndall.
who lives at Hyndhead, and q few of the
poets Weather neighbors, the people
heretofore have paid little attention to
his coming and going. To-day. however,
the sim plest of his neighbors have
made p~ilRrimages to Aldworth to gather
meagre bits of formatiu of the poets
broken over her husbands dangerous
condition. She visited his bedside at a late
hour last night. She bears her deep sorrow
with admirable fOrtitude..
The Venezuelan Revolution.
NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-The steamship vene-
zuela, which arrived to-day from Laguay-
ia, brought the latest news from the Vene-
zuelan revolution. As affairs stand now,
the long struggle is nearing its end and
Will result in the overthrow of the govern
ment which has made such a persistent
fight. According to the reports, General
jim q = ~ JOtnCh
General Crespo. the reyolutionist leader,
at Valencia, Sunday. Sept. q. This, they
say. made General Crespo's force fully
5000 men. General Crespo has with him
two foreign generals. a German named
Waterman and an Italian named Rettalli.
He has twelve pieces of artillery. and has
possession of evcry city and stronghold
excepting Las Peques, Maricaibo and Car
acas. At Las Peques the Ievoiutionists
Will fight their decisive battle.
When the Venezuela arrived at Laguyara
there WIS some trouble about landing her.
| The customs authorities refused To- allow
the ship to lane unless she deposited her
register In the ustom-house. Captain
Hopkins refused TO give up his register,
but on the advice of Minister ScruRgs.
which had been previously gwen in writ
ing to Consul Hanna, he turned it over to
the American consul Then. with the cap
tain of the Spanish gun-boat on board.
and with the Spaniard's advice, Captain
| Hopkins pulled into tie breakwater.
The Spaniards then suggested that the
captain call Tor help from fhe American
men of war;. Asignal was run up, and
hardly bad IL got To the peak when n boat
| dropped into the water from tho Chicago
aud twenty-five marines tumbled into il.
The marines soon had possession af the
Venezuela's deck, hut Admiral Walker
would not allow the ship To begin dis
l charging carQo. Miniater Scruvva tala-