Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-02-17

JAMES g. BLAINE AS HE LOOKED IN 1854
James G. Blaine died at IL o'clock a few
mornings ago, at Washington, in the old
Seward mansion on Lafayette Square,
which has been the home Of the Blaine fam
lily since the beginning of the Harrison ad-
ninistrauion. The cause OF death was ex-
haustion of the heart, caused by chroaic
disease Of the kidneys and conseq lent
ureemic poisoning.
The end came silently. painessly. Ihere
were no last words, no scene at the Dedslde.
Doctor Johnston simply lifted his hand from
the patients wrist, rose slowly from MS
chair bowed to Mrs. Blaine and Withdrew.
The family were alone with their dead.
For three hours they had expected this.
At o'clock it was apparent that another
attack of heart failure was near. Inc family
were at breakfast. Mrs. Blaine and nurse
were at the bedside. The patients heaVy
breathing warned them. When Doctor
Johnston reached the house at O'Clock Mr..
Blaine was diving. The truth was whis-
pered to Mrs. Blaine. The patient was I'M
conscious. An hour later he opened his eyes
languidly. Mrs. Blaine asked whether he
suffered He shook his head feebly. Other
questions were asked, to which he nodded
replies. Then he fell into deep sleep At
II O'Clock he turned suddenly and gasped
twice.
When he passed away all the members of
his family were gathered ABOUT ms oedsloe:
Those present we're Mrs. Blaine, Miss Harriet
Blaine. James G. Blaine, Jr, Mrs. Walter
Damrosch. the eldest living daughter,
and Mrs. Blaine's sister, Miss Staysil Dodge,
better known by her literary nom de plume,
Gail Hamilton" Robert Blaine, brother
Of James G. Blaine. was not present
when death came, not having been
notified that a crisis had occurred
in time to arrive at the house
until all was over. He came with his wife
soon after IL o'clock and remained Ia the
house a few moments condollng with mem
bers of the family. Walter Damrosch, the
husband of the eldest daughter, and Mrs
Emmons Blaine were not in Washington.
The news of Mr.. Blaine's death spread like
wildfire, Crowds gathered on the corner
and visitors focked to the house. The
o'clock, and Immediately notified the n1em-
bers of the Cabinet by telegraph over the
depsrtment wires. A few minutes later he
started for the Blaine residence. The Presi-
dent remained but few minutes. He LETT
a message of sympathy for Mrs. Blame, say
ing that he could sincerely and thoroughly
appreciate the great loss which she had sus-
The visit of the President and Secretary
Foster was quickly followed by calls from
the Postmaster General, Secretaries Elklns,
Noble. Tracy and Rusk, and Attorney-Gen,
eral Miller each of whom remained only
few minutes They were quickly followed
by Senators, Representatives, members OF
the Diplomatic Corps and numbers OF others
of prominent rank in social and Official me-
Both Houses of Congress ad journed on the
announcement of Mr.. Blaine's death, an ex
traordinary mark of respect to one holding
no official station. Equally marked and ex-
ceptional was the action of the President in
issuing public proclamation announcing
the death of his ex-Secretary, and ordering
the Executive Departments OF the Govern
ment to be closed on the day OF his funeral
All the State Legislatures throug hout the
country that were in session adjourned out
of respect for Mr.. Blaine as soon as the news
of his death was announced, ami news came
from almost every city in the Union that
flags were at half mast.
The messages of coincidence and sympathy
received by the family came from men of
both political parties. Among the number
were messages from Governor Horace
Boies, of Iowa; Governor D. Russell Brown,
of Rhode Island; Governor Kuute Nelson, OF
Minnesota: Governor Roswell 2. Flower, of
New York: Governor Pattison, OF Pennsyl-
vania; Governor Crouuse, of Nebraska, and
Governor Henry Cleaves, OF Maine.
Grover Cleveland telegraphed as follows:
''His brilliant craftsmanship will always be
an inspiration to the Nation he has served
SO long and so we'll. Permit me to extend
my sympathy on the death of your dlstin-
guished husband"
The story of the dead mans long sickness
has been one of unusual endurance under a
wasting and necessarily fatal disease. The
tenacitv OF his fight against this hopeless
ailment surprised even his physicians, who
knew how enTeebled for two or three years
past his general health has been. He was
taken i'll in the spring of 1891 and was COM
PEELED to leave Washington for a long rest.
He went to his summer home at Bar
Harbor, Me-, where he remained until
October.
For several months he was seriously i'll
and his death was expected. Late in the
summer of that year, however, he began to
rally, and regained sufficient strength to re-
turn to Washington and resume his duties
about December 10. He had been driv-
ing during the day before, and
home, complained of feel
draught and went to bed. On Sunday, De-
cember Is. Mr.. Blaine suffered his first at
tack of heart failure. For three hours he
lowered near to death, and there were mo,
nents when the end seemed to have come.
After this it was long and a trying seige.
1t was fight day by day for every inch of
the ground. MIR. Blaine showed the most
amazing vitality.
Every thing known to the physicians was
tried TO prolong Mr.. Blaine's life The con-
sultation with DR.. LOOMS, the Bright's dis
ease specialist, settled the fact that it was
useless to do any thing of curative nature.
So system OF purely artificial stimulants
and nourishment was adopted and by this
means the patient was barely kept alive