The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-13

q few evenings ago. His en- was peaceful,
and he was conscious until the last. The
aged bard had been struggling with death
since December IL, when he was taken down
with pneumonia. His death was looked for
daily. His vitality was 80 great that he
rallied from the attack, slthougl his
physicians said he was very weak and
liable to expire at any time. Five days be-
fore his death a change was noticed in
Whitman's condition. and for the last three
days he took no nourishment at all. About
4 o'clock in the afternoon his attendants
noticed he was growing worse, and DR.. Al
exander McAllister was sent for. He saw
The poet was dying and remained until the
end. The other persons by his bedside were
Mrs. Mary Davis, his housekseper; War
.ren Fritzinger. his nurse; and Thomas B.
Harmed and Horace Traube]. two warm
friends. DR.. McAllister asked Whitman II
he was in pain, and the dying poet answered:
ssNo." Whitman's last words were 70
quest to his nurse to shift him in bed. Then,
reaching for his handkerchief. respira-
ton ceased, although gh his heart beat for ton
minutes afterward. Artist Aitken made
plaster cast Of Whitman's face. It was de-
cided that Whitman should be buried in
Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, where he sup.
wears ago. He died q poor man, his only
possessions being his house, library and copy.
rights. Whitman disposed Of these by will
three months ago, leaving his property TO
those who nursed him in his last illness.
Life and Literary Productions.
Walter. or Walt Whitman, was born at
West Hills, Long Island, N. z, May 81,
1919. bis rather, whose name he bore, was
a farmer: and the boy, the eldest OF the
family. was brought up with slight knowl-
edge of even the few refnements obtainablo
in the country sixty years ago:
he was strong and sturdy, good
rider and swimmer, fond OF outdoor exer-
else, and impatient Of all the amenities OF
life, What book education he had he re.
csived in the public schools OF New York and
Brooklyn. It was not much, for when only
sixteen he was back in the country, teach.
Inc Others and learning from them rather
than from books.
After a year or so OF teaching he became
q carpenter for q time; then he learned
nrintiIlg, working at the case in New York
Eity and Brooklyn, and editing papers in
New Orleans and in HuntinytGn, Long
Islam. In 1878, with his brother Jefferson
whitman, he went on q long pedestrian tour
of the country. working his way
along by doing carpenters Jobs, tramp
ing It. one might almost say: For two years
the brothers wandered about down tne onio
aud Mississippi Rivers in Louisiana and
Texas during the Mexican War, along the
lakes, into Canads, and down the Hudson
back to Long Island, where Walt Whitman
betook himself once more to the printers
On to 1855 he had been known, 80 far a.
he was known, simply as carpenter printer
of no especial steadiness. In 1856, however,
appeared his first and most famous book.
"Gsaves of Grass" volume OF rhapsodical
poems, always without rhyme. generally
without rhythm, dealing. especially, with the
interests involved In America LIE
and progress Of the time.
The first edition Of this book Whitman sst
mn and printed himself, and for thirty years
he has beon revising and adding to the book.
At the beginning Of tho war Whitman
was living in New York City; but his
brother George was wounded at Fredericks-
burg in 1852, and the post went to tho front
TO nurse him. BE remained with the army
until the cloee Of the war afterward giving
his experiences in two volumes Drum
Tapsn 1855, and Memoranda During the
War; hS67l. His most conventional poem
is in "Drum Taps'-"Captain, Ny Cap
tain,n in memory OF Lincoln.
In 1864 he had been compelled 70 give up
for time his work as nurse. because Oh
fever caught in the hospital camps among
the sick From the effects OF this FEVER
Whitman never recovered fully, though he
returned to his nursing as soon as he was ahie
to be about. ~
A. the close Of the war he obtained clerk
shin in the Interior Department, from which
=. was dismissed when his superior officer
Iosrned that be was the author OF
aTaayes of Grass" BE obtained clerk
shin in the Attorney Generals o6lce, how
ever which he kept until 1874. In February,
1878. he bad stroke Of paralysis, resulting
from his fever Of 1884 and the exposures OF
bis army life. and went to Camden, n. =.
mother died suddenly in his presence. The
shock caused Q relapse, and he was In
csnacitated for any work for many months.
on his recovery he resigned his clerkshiP
and settled in Camden, where ne resloeo
VIZ before this, while In Washington, he pub
l;shed HPassage to India" (l67Ol, After
All. Not to Create Only" aS7ll, "As
Strong Bird on Pinions Free" us72, and Q
volume Of prose essays. Democratic yistaS
nS7O. repubIished In 1873 and 1883. IN 1901
a new edition Of Leaves OF erass was
published in Boston, to the sale OF which the
MASSACHUSETTS, authorities objected. on the
ground Of immortality. In 1888 Whitman
published specimen Days and Collect 'ona 10
fSS5 November Boughs," and In 1850
''Sands at Seventy"
In the latter year he had another stroke OF
paralysis. 1t crippled him almost entirely,
and on his SEVENTEEN birthday his frienos
gave to him pony carriage and pony. ana
the sssood gray poet" drove himself ABOUT
Camden, enjoying the outdoor life he naa
eiways loved. His inirm,ty was physical.
not mental, however, and wiShin rev
months he has published farewell voiumeoi
poems, .Good-By, My Fancy. ,..
or late years the bitter attacks on ;.and Ma,.;
man have ceased, and he has been admit1eo
to be indeed q poet. ~.
whitman was dependent entirely on tne
sale of his books, and while never ricn' q.
late years has been absolutely poor. ne
steadily refused to accept charity, however.
whitman was described by the adulrer.
who gave him the title by which he ID most
widely known, that Of 1.-THE good gray
noetn as tall and stalwart, bis
face rosy, and scanned with kindly
wrinkles: with heavy-lidded, frm blue
ewes, and with short thick beard, and thin.
" flowing hair. or late years his hair and
Ecard have been almost snowy white.
He never was married. 1t was said that
a disappointment in early life WAS the cause.