The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-28
The outburst Of Grief is General
All Over the Country,
OFFICIAL NOTICE TAKEN BY FED
ERAL AND STATE Gov
ERNMENTS.

The Day at washington-Scenes About the
ing Mans Bed-Description of His
Monday and Willb Private-Messages
of Coincidence From Every Quarter.
WASHINGTON, January 27. = Mr..
Blaine's life ebbed away about IL
o'clock this morning. The late bulle-
tins of last night and early this morning
prepared the way for the final ending.
The physician last night at o'clock,
when he left the house, said that Mr..
Blaine was much weaker. Privately he
stated that he was very much weaker in
deed Yet there was no further demand
for physician until after 6 this morn
ing.
Mr.. Blaine lay during the night in the
same qniet or wholly unconscious state
which has been his chief condition for
five weeks. In the early morning there
were some signs of restlessness, but they
were not deemed sufficient by the nurse
to warrant summoning the physicians.
The latter did not arrive until am. DR..
johnson at once noticed that there had
been a very rapid loss of strength dur
ing the night. He so informed the fam
lily and told Mrs. Blaine that he did not
think the end would be long delayed
There we're gathered in the chamber Of
the dying man soon after 8 o'clock Mrs.
Blaine, Mrs. Damrosch, Miss Hattie
Blaine. James G. Blaine, Jr., Walter
Damrosch, the physicians, Johnston and
Hyatt, and the trained nurses. DR..
Johnston spoke quietly to the members
of the family and said that the one they
loved was very weak indeed, was grow
ing weaker and that he was beyond med
ical aid.
From 9 to II Mr.. Blaine spoke no word
and gave no sign; yet the physicians and
family are very confident that he was
conscious, although speechless, and that
he, with the rest, knew that the hour
had come. But. during his last two
hours on earth lie spoke no word and
gave no sign of consciousness or recog-
milton.
Mrs. Blaine and the other members of
the family who, during these long and
painful weeks have hoped so strongly
against hope, were convinced that the
conclusions of the physician were cor
rect, and that the marvellous battle of
their loved one for life was nearly over.
Mr.. Blaine's Last Look
The veil need not be lifted from the
scene in that death chamber when, for
two hours, the spirit of James G. Blaine
was preparing to it's flight. Finally, a
few minutes before II o'clock, Mr.
Blaine looked upon the sorrowing, anx-
ious faces about him as in loving con-
sciousness; and at five minutes past II
o'clock his eyes were closed forever
The end was quite painless and peace
full. The great life went out without
struggle. AS he died the sun was
streaming in at the south windows, usher
ing in day as beautiful and bright as
ever in spring.
The physicians performed their last
sad offices, and the family were left alone
with their illustrious dead.
The Final Relapse.
DIR. Johnston said soon after the death: /:
81 did not see Mr.. Blaine from about 10
o'clock last night until about 8 this
morning. Last,night he was very weak,
but this morning there was marked
change. A relapse was in progress when
I.arrived. 1t was more serious and dam
gerous than any that had preceded it,
Restoratives were applied, but there
was not the usual reaction. Nature was
exhausted The time for medicine was
over. There was nothing to do except
to await the end and to render death
painless if possible. There was no.
need to do anything. The end came
peacefully and without pain think
that Mr.. Blaine was conscious during the
two last hours of his life, but he did not
speak. His eyes were brighter than
they had been, and [ think his intellect
was clear. Towards the end he looked
upon the family, seemed to recognize
them and passed away.
History of His Illness.
Five weeks before this last attack Mr..
Blaine was stricken in the same manner
as now. His case was critical then, but
the public was not aware of his real con-
dition. He was, however, much stronger
than when seized this last time and bet
ter able to combat the disease. He
rallied and regained somewhat his
strength, though still very weak and
feeble man. For some years he had