Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-06
ALL HOPE is GONE
To the Friends and Watchers
at Tennyson's Gate.
he WILL DIE BEFORE MORNING
Was the Latest Of the Sad News Received
by Gable Last Night From the
Old World.

LONDON, Oct. 5.-The household at
Aldyortn are watching At the bedside
OF Alfred Tennyson ana waiting for
hla death. Sir Andrew Clark returned
TO London early In the evening, but he
has dismissed his carriage AMI will re-
main with bis patient until the last
Sir Andrew Clark and DR.. Dabos sent
word At IS minutes after o'clock TINS
evening to the reporters waiting out
side tins Aidworth gate that Tepnyson
was dying slowly, painlessly and con-
sclously. Messengers were dispatched
hurrlediy over the HSzelmere
road to convey the news TO the
Offices of the London dailles.
Then the crowd of reporters waited III
silence for the next bulletin from the
edside OF the dying poet. A. 7:l5
Lady Clark left the house and took q
carriage TO be- driven TO London over
the Hazelmore 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
Hazelmors who had gone TO watch out
man. She said that ali hope WAS gone.
Hts Mind Uncloudsd.
Tennyson's mind was unclouded and
he knew that his remaining hours OF
life were few. He had talked tran
gully of his death with his wife and
ms son Hollsm. He seemed to be per-
fectly happy and free from pain.
Lady Clark spoke with tears as she
told of the scene at the bedside. All
hope of Tennyson's recovery was sban-
donec between ii and II 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 fastened
with stout rope the rustic
gate at the front entrance to
the grounds around the house,
and tied basket TO the latch. He ex-
planned 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 admir-
ers who might come for the last news
of the poets condition. At O'Clock a
bulletin concerning the course Of the
disease during the night was given to
the reporters. who waited at the en-
trance. 1t stated that Tennyson's con-
ditlOn had shown no marked
change since last evening, and
he was extremely weak. The bull
letin was fastened to the rustic
gate for the information of
persons who might come later, and as
the morning advanced many men ar
rived at Aldworth from London and
joined the watchers.
Patiently WAITING News
Hour after hour passed. without news
from the eicK chamber. yet the people
Mt the gate waited patiently. At IL
o'clock Sir Andrew Clark and Lady
Clark arrived in carriage from Lon
don. He had come for another con-
sultatiou with DR.. Dabbs, although all
knew that his mission must prove fruit
less. At o'clock q bulletin posted on
the gato announced that Tennyson
was near his end and could last but a
few hours.
Between II and 2 O'Clock many
people came and went. Hundreds of
kilograms and letters of inquiry, con-
dolence and sympathy were brought
from Hazelmore. They came by scores
from all parts of Great Britain and the
continent, and the man servant wss
kept busy receiving and delivering
then at the door. At $3.50 O'Clock
another bulletin told the silent crowd
that Tsnnyson was sinking rapidly and
would die before midnight. Toward
evening most OF the watchers went to
Hazelmore or London. leaving only
the reporters at the gate.
At nighttali the windows of AID
worth, when were LETT dark last even
ing. were lighted. aud the large bow
window, opposite the terrace steps was
thrown open. Those outside thought
that the poet was dead but the impress
son was corrected by the bulletin at
6:35.
DR.. Dabbs says that Tennyson's acute
illness began on Sept. u. He was
chilled while driving and the severe
cold which he then caught developed
rapidly into influenza. Tennyson's Ill.
nees has developed a remarkable inter
est IN his personality among the
people of the rural districts
where ne has lived for twenty years,
almost unobserved by them. Except
Prof. Tyndsll, who lives AT Handhead.
and few of the poets wealthiest neigh
bors, the people heretofore have paid
little attention to hrs coming and gong.
Today. however, the simplest of his
neighbors have made prilgrimsges 10
Aldworth TO gather mesgre bits of in
formation OF the poets last hours.