Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-02-09
DEATH OF BLAINE.
BRIGHTEST MIND IN AMERICAS GALAXY
OF BRILLIANT MEN SUMMONED
To A HIGHER FIELD OF
ACTION.
After Long Illness He Passes Peacefully
Away at Washington.

eEd came peacefully, the eX-secretary
passing from a state of unconscious.
ness tc DEATH. His wife and children
were at the bedside. The news quickly
spread to the capitol and throughout
the city,. 1t was aseverywhere expected
but when the announcement came, the
impression was more profound than
any created by similar news since the
death of Abraham Lincoln.
James Gillespie Blaine's death, al.
though it removed from the world a
character. prominent in everything he
undertook, occasloned little surprise.
1t had been so long expected that the
announcement was fully anticipated.
1t was a foregone conclusion that his
battle with death would end in de-
feat, though the facts as to his illness
have from the first been studiously
concealed through official channels.
He was a sick man when he returned
to Washington tor the winter, and
death and its bereavements added
more and more to his ailment and he
had grown worse and continued on
his journey to the grave as fast as the
days could carry him. Science and
skill furnished him the weapons OF de
tense for a comparatively long time,
but death was the end of the fight.
He was doomed from the start and
to all intents he had been a dead man
for many days. His mind had been
almost blank for weeks, lucid mo-
ments having been few and far be-
tween, but his physical frame with
stood the ravages of wasting disease
till now.
From the cradle to the tomb Blaine's
sixty-three years havs been active.
All the trials and tribulations that
fall to the lot of a public man have
been his and have earned for him a
peaceful ending of a career which
closed when life's candle made it's last
flicker today. the death bed was
surrounded, as almost necessarily for
weeks, by those nearest and dearest
to him. In fact only the family and
those very closely associated with him,
have been permitted TO see or even
hear from him during his last days OF
life. Trained journalists, calling into
requisition every honest means at
their command, resorting to every
possible means within the line of legit:
innate journalism, kept a waiting eye
on every movement about the house
of the distinguished patient until he
breathed his last. Naturally there
was disposition on the part of fam.
| lily and physicians to conceal his con.
dition, but from time to time accurate
information was obtained and re-
ported. 1t is safe to say that few
any journalistic experiments since
Grants illness could furnish more
thorough example of watching and
waiting than this.
DIR. Johnston was summoned to the
bedside early this this morning, but
the fact was unknown until shortly
after, when in company with DR.
Hyatt, he left the house. Both were
unusually pale, and when accosted by
a reporter for the latest news there
was significant look in their faces
that answered the question. He il
away peacefully" The news spread
like wild fire. Crowds gathered on tn,
corner; visitors flocked to the house
Word was at once sent to President
Harrison, who, accompanied by Pri
vate Secretary Halford and DR.. Par
ker, at once walked over to the Blain
mansion, followed quickly by Post
master General Wanamaker. TIL
president showed marked signs of grief
The patient passed a restless night
This morning he was languid AM
weak, but nothing serious was note
until shortly before nine when a chang
for the worse occurred. Both th
; physicians were hastily summone
and remained at the bedsid till deatf
Blaine was conscious until a fe'
, moments before death and the en-
was so peaceful only the experience
eye of the physicians could perceiy
that that the great statesman ha
ljoined the majority.
DIR. Hyatt said Blaine's death wa
due 30 sheer exhaustion. He was I'll
. willing to make statement regardir
the exact disease until receiving tt
consent OF the family.
To a reporter DR.. johnson said;
was called to the Blaine residence 6
$50 this morning and found Blair
very much exhausted. He had grow
weaker during the early mornin
About $50 the nurse observed ths
o his breathing was more difficult ar
the pulse more feeble. DIR. Hyatt We
also sent for and arrived at 10. Aft
my arrival Mr.. Blaine continued
Il grow worse very rapidly, his pulse b
coming very feeble. At11 he was pc
fectly conscious and remained SO t
within few moments of his deaf
recognizing all those around him, al
o died without suffering"
Following the preidents visit in quit
succession came members of the cal
net. Then one after another in a CO
# stant stream the most prominent pc
~ pie in public life called and left wor'
ii ot coincidence. Returning from
visit to the house of death Preside
Harrison issued q proclamation