Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-05-28
Mr.. Gresham Dead.

Mr.. Gresham Dead.
DIED AT 1:12 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.
HIS DEATH WAS ENTIRELY UNEx-
PECTED.
Secretary of State Gresham died at l ~
o'clock this (Tuesday) morning, of pleu-
risy and acute pneumonia. No death
could be more calm or more peaceful.
For two hours preceding dissolution
there had been no indication either of a
pulse or heartbeat. He lay during
that time with his head resting on the
arms of his daughter, Mrs. Andrews,
while his devoted wife sat by his side,
his hands clasped in hers, his face so
turned that his last conscious gaze should
rest upon her.
And SO the minutes dragged slowly on
until the end came. He was conscious
to the last He suffered much during
the preceding As hours, after pneumonia
symptoms were complicated with his dis
ease, and was only comparatively relieved
by frequent hypodermic infectious. But
as the end approached his suffering dis
appeared and he died as quietly as q
child sinking to slumber in the arms of
its mother.
Arrangements for the funeral will be
made after Otto Gresham, son of the Sec
retary, arrives in Washington this morn
ing from Chicago.
THE LAST HOURS.
Secretary Gresham passed a compare
lively easy day, but at about o'clock,
such sudden collapse overcame him
that his physician, DR.. Johnson, who had
been constantly in attendance throughout
the night and day, became very much
alarmed and as almost last resort be-
gan Immediately to administer hypoder-
mic doses of whiskey.
To night there were present at the bed
side of the prostrate man Mrs. Gresham,
his son-in-law, Mr.. Andrews, and Mrs.
Andrews, his daughter.
During the day the sick chamber was
carefully guarded from all intrusion and
stringent orders were issued to the hotel
attaches on no account to let the family
be annoyed by the presentation of cards
or queries of any kind from visitors.
The sudden failure of the distinguished
patient, after he had been pronounced as
not in a critical condition in the forenoon,
was a great surprise. Information of
the dangerous situation was not COM
municated to the President until some
time after the collapse appeared, mas
much as it was first thought that prompt
application of proper remedies might
lessen the indications of approaching
death.
His condition had been much more Sc
rious since Saturday last than anybody
thought Since the pneumonia symp-
toms appeared, injections of nitro glycer-
inc ind strychnine have been admins.
tered freely, and after the sudden change
for the worse normal saline injections,
aggregating several quarts, were given.
During the day the Secretary lay in a
stupor, which was the foundation for the
report that he was "resting easily" As
soon as the physician, however, realized
that the end was approaching, the heroic
measures usual IN such cases were adopt
ed
Notwithstanding their efforts the pa
tient sank rapidly. The physicians in
attendance were Drs. w. w. johnson
and dPrentiss of Washington, the latter hav.
ing been called into the case within the
past few days. DR.. VanRensselaer was
also called in during the evening,
PHYSICIANS STATEMENT.
At 10 o'clock, DR.. Prentiss, acting for
himself and his colleague, DR.. Johnson,
prepared a brief statement of the secre-
tary's condition which closed with the
declaration that his case was practically
hopeless. The statement was as follows:
MIR. Greshams illness has been an
acute pleurisy, with effusion, beginning
on May 1st. From May 18th his cOndi-
ton was entirely favorable, and his
speedy recovery was confidently expect
ed On May 25th symptoms of relapse
appeared, due to the development of
acute pneumonia. His present alarming
condition is due to weakness of the
hearts action, and there seems to be lit
tie or no hope of mis- recovery"
Mrs. Gresham has scarcely left her
husbands room since his illness began
month ago. She has been plucky and
courageous and has been hopeful until
the last that the secretary's life world be
spared. When she realized the apparent
impOssbility of his recovery, she mani
tested her emotion repeatedly, but bore
it as bravely as her exhausted condition
would permit.
The secretary, who had been conscious
during his entire illness, seemed to have
more concern for his wife than himself.
He realized that the end was approach
ing, but his constant suggestion, made in
feeble whispers to his daughter was:
Look out for your mother; give her all
your attention; don't worry about me-"
The news of Secretary Gresham's re-
lapse did not become known until
o'clock, when his niece, Mrs. Fuller, the
wife of Captain Fuller of the army, was
sent for. 1t spread rapidly, and by s
o'clock scores of persons prominent in
public life, had called to express their
sympathy. Among the early callers
were Secretary and Mrs. Lamont.
Mr.. Thurber, the presidents private
secretary, arrived at an early hour and
was requested to notify the president
that the secretary was rapidly sinking.
He did so and later announced that the
president was detained at Woodley by
illness. He desired to come to the city
as soon as the information of the secre-
tary's condition was made known to
him, but refrained from doing SO at the
advice of his physician.
i l.