The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30

PHILADELPHIA, March 26.-Calmly and
peacefully, like a child asleep, Walt
Whitman passed away this evening. He
had been weaker than usual for some
days past, but for some reason the knowl-
edge of his condition did not become pub
lie property. He had a sinking
spell last night, but recovered some
what. Again at 4:30 this afternoon
he began TO sink. A messenger Was hur-
riedly sent for his physician, DIR. Alex
andel McAllister, who reached the dying
mans bedside a short while afterward.
The doctor found the aged poet in a dying
condition, and so informed those around
his bedside He asked the patient if
he suffered any pain and the whispered
answer was No" Twenty minutes be
fore his death he said to his attendant:
Wary, shift" were the last words uttered
by Mr.. Whitman. His breathing became
fainter and fainter. and at exactly AS
p. III. he passed away.
At the time of the aged poets death
his bedside in the humble little frame
cottage, where he passed the last few
years OF his life, was surrounded by
little group consisting OF Thomas Il.
Harmed of this city, a close friend;
Horace i. Traubet, his secre-
tary DIR. McAlIister and his housekeeper,
and faithful mail attendant. The news of
the death wac cabled to Lord Tennyson
and other friends in England; DR.. Buck of
Ontario his biographer and friends in this
country.
The sick man took very little nourish-
ment during the past three DAYS, an &C.
casiOnal sip OF milk punch being all that
he could be induced to swallow. This
morning he declined nourishment OF any
kind. saving TO his houSekeeper: Leave
me alone, Mary;I cannot eat" He had
at intervals since the illness
beginning Dec. L., last, which rendered
him bed-fast, expressed WEAKNESS of life
and Willingness TO die, and it is believed
that the old poet realized that death was
near and rejoiced accordingly. No ar
engagements have been made for the
funeral. Tomorrow q plaster cast OF the
dead features will be made.
Walt W hitman lett a carefully drawn
will. but it's contents will not be made
public until after the funeral ceremony.
The remains of the poet will be placed in
the recently completed tomb in Harleigh
cemetery in the outskirts of
city of Camden, a spot selected by Mr.
Whitman when he was enjoying his usual
health, and where he visited many times
during the construction OF the tomb. The
idea of the tomb was his own and one of
bis friends could not dissuade him from it.
He selected his own lot, which is in a
portion of the cemetery known as Wood
lawn, and the tomb is built in the side OF
the hill in grove. When asked why he
selected such a spot, he replied Il would
rather 60 in the woods"
The tomb is a substantial structure,
built OF massive rough granite block, some
of them weighing over seven tons. The
door is of granite, six inches thick. No
rods, bolts, or other fastenings are used
in the structure, the four corners
being held together by interlocking or
morticing the blocks of granite. The
only metal used is the heavy hinges on
which the door swings and the massive
brass lock that secures it. The tomb con-
tains receptacles for eight caskets or collins,
arranged IN two tiers. They were con-
structed of marble and will be sealed with
| polished marble slabs. The roof is also
of granite, the top piece containing simply
the name, "Walt Whitman" The
poets wish is that the remains
OF his mother, which are buried
| in Evergreen cemetery and those of his
father, buried in Brooklyn, shall be ex-
humed and deposited in the tomb. This
wish will be complied with by those to
whom he intrusted the request.