Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-08-08
WHERE GENERAL GRANT DIED.

A Description of Mount McGregor
and the Drexel Cottage in which
He Breathed His Last-A NeWaHa-
vener,s Visit to the Historic Spot.
SARATOGA, Aug. Gone of the most In
teresting and beautiful points of interest
in or around this pleasant and fashionable
inland summer resort is Mount McGregor,
the scene of the last illness and death OF
the late ex-president General U. 3. Grant. |
Located on the summit of this mountain Is |
the Drexel cottage, where General Grant |
breathed his last, and which up TO the
present time has boon visited by thousands
of persons from all over the world. An
air Of funereal solemnity pervadeB the very
atmosphere Of tho cottage, and tho visitor,
who perhaps up TO the time Of his reaching
tho portals has been full Of life and ex-
uberanoe at once becomes serious and in
voluntarily on entering the cottage removes
his hat and becomes ~ thoughtful and
sober as though about to enter into the
actual chamber Of death. For the benefit
of some who have never visited this sacred
and historic spot and who may be interest
cd In II l send you the following brief
sketch of the mountain and the COTTAGE:
This mountain, situated about ten miles
north of Saratoga and 300 feet above the
level OF the sea, has gradually become q
fsvorite resort for strangers visiting the
| great watering place, and the Mount Nc
Oregon railroad, which connects the two,
il one of the most remarkable achieve
msnts OF civil engineering of the present
time, running as II does to the top Of
Mount Mcdregor, eleven hundred feet
above Saratoga Springs, and with grade
in some places as high as two hundred and
forty-siI feet to the mile. The trip up
and back makes one of tho pleasantest out
of Saratoga.
From the summit of the mountain Is OBJ
tanned a magnificent view of the Hudson
river valley; with the Green mountains to
the east, the Adirondacks to the north and
the Catskills to the south.
!, The Drexel cottage, in which General
Grant died, is open to the public, and
makes tho visit to Mount McGregor of his
toric interest to all.
This cottage was built by Duncan Mao
Oregon many years ago. 1t formerly stood
, where the hotel now stands. 1t was pur-
chased by the late Joseph W. Drexel of
New York in the early summer of 1885.
, 1t is now owned and cared for by the
Grand Army of the Republic. having been
given to that organization by Mr.. Drexel.
, 1t was furnished as the visitor now sees it,
, by Mr.. Drexels orders, for the accommo-
:. dation of General Grant and his family.
a General Grant arrived here June IS, 1885.
= On entering the cottage from the front,
a or eastern door, the visitor finds himself
y in the reception room. It was here that
! General Grant died. The bed he occupied
the last few hours of his life, and on
which he died, his favorite chair in the
opposite corner, the clock on the maptel
stopped by Colonel Fred Grant at the mo-
ment of his fathers death, are among the
chief objects of interest in this room. The
, furniture is the same and in substantially
the same position as at the time of the
< generals death. He died at sos q. m.
I July %, 1885.
I With the exception of the table service
1 portion of which was removed, the fur
niture of this room is the same as at the
!, time of General Grants occupancy of the
u cottage.
Passing from the reception room the Wis
!, !. itor enters General Grants private room roo.
,, or what is usually known as the "sicl
. room" Among the objects of chief inter
y est in this room are the two chairs il
which General Grant passed the greater
portion Of his time, the fans used by him
his candle and lamp, the shears witt
which he trimmed his light, and the tum
I. bier from which he drank. In the large
1t case to the right is portion of his ward
It robe, also the medical appliances used b.
A. him and his physicians. In the smalle
"a case are his pencil and pads, two mes
>, sages to friends, and the pen with which
- he did his last writing.
1t is quite we'll known that, owing t.
the nature of the illness with which h
suffered, General Grant was unable to lii
down for several months before his death
Il He slept in the two chairs in this room
sitting in one and resting his feet in tn
le other. On the evening of July %, 1886
c he was taken to the bed in the adjoinin!
"a room where he died.
In the room adjoining the "sick room
l. are the floral pieces. These tributes wer
al the offerings of friends. The large piec
y -"Gstes Ajar'-was presented by MI
1t and Mrs. Leland Stanford of California
n the pillow by the Grand Army post t
'e which General Grant belonged; the smal
y cross, with heart and anchor attached, b.
Mrs. Amos Bissel of Denver, Colorado.
This room was used by General Grant
secretary as an Office. A.