The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-05

moistened the parche,. - suHerei
or counted the Pickering pulse-beats, or
marked the temperature.
At the bedside was the devoted wife, her
face haggar9 with the long and weary
vigil. She steadfastly refused 10 leave he-
husband, and the doctors transferred their
anxiety to her. She was sustained by
medicines, and when she rested it was on
the couch at her husbands side, snatching
brief moments of sleep.
In her ear the last words Of the dying
man were whispered rs her arm encirclcd
~ neck. shortly before that the gov.
ernor, looking from one side TO the other,
had In a weak voice begged them all not
TO be so anxious for him. II will be all
right in day or two" he said, with
wan smile.
But 1t was ordained otherwise. All the
family were in the house, but they did not
enter the sick room. Mrs. Greenhalge,
her mother, Mrs. Nesmith, and Miss Lila
Greenhalge, the governors sister, We're the
only ones who had unrestricted access.
During the carly morning hours the
governor seemed TO be sinking with fatal
rapidity. All the characteristics of the
deadly urSemic poisoning were strongly
marked. He gaspei for breath, and the
rapid heart-beats became SO faint that
the doctors had to listen closely to detect
the pulsations.
A Slight Rally.
There was slight rally later on. but it
was only slight. The strength faded away
imperceptbly, but surely. The patient
was quite unable to take nourishment
except through the medium OF hypodermio
injections. Steadily he sank, and that
indescribable change came over his face
which bade the watchers prepare for tho
knowledge that all was over.
Soon after o'clock an attack of dreaded
dyspnoea came on. The sufferer gasped
convulsively, and his right arm moved
spasmodically. The left side of his body
and the left limbs werc llfeless from the
paralysis The usual remedies were given,
but the effects were hardly noticeable.
An hour later another stroke of paraly.
sis came on. Tho patient lay like one
dead, except for the quivcring of limbs.
AT 1l:30 there was sinking spell with
n slight paralysis of the brain. 1t looked
like other attacks. but the physicians
knew differently. They knew it was the
end and summoned the family. The gov.
ernor fell into a slumber and never
awokc. He fell asleep and thus died,
passing into tho great beyond without
pain or suffering.
The immediate cause of death was from
poisoning of the system from ur@mia, oc.
casioned by Inflammation of the kidneys.
A Vacant Office.
Boston, March 5.-For the first time In
over 20 years the gubcrnatorial chair Is
vacant. During the sickness of Governor
Greenhalgc according to the constitutions.
Lieutenant Governor Wolcott was OH.
clally known rs "acting governor" The
constitution does not transmit the title of
governor TO the second officer of the state
In the event of the death Of the first officer.
Lieutenant Governor Wolcott today sent
a message to- the Legislature officially noti-
flying 1t OF the governors death, and i'm
mcdiately issued n public proclamation
announcing To the people Of the common.
wealth that there is vacancy In the office
of governor The lieutenant governor
then ceases to bc acting governor" but
becomes lieutenant governor and com.
mander-in-chief.
Governor Grcenhalge's last day mt the
state house was Friday. Feb. z. and thcn
hc remained in the executive chamber but
a few hours. He signed several acts,
which had been passed bv the legislature,
before leaving. At o'clock in the after
noon he went to Springfield, TO take part
I'm the dedication of the new state arinory
there. He came to Boston on Saturday,
Feb. g. but did not 90 to the state house.
This was the last time We left Lowell.
Governor Grccnhnlge's last official act
was his message 20 the Legislature On Feb.
~, announcing the death Of Ex-Governor
Robinson. On Feb. Do batch Of papers
were sent by n special messenger to Lowell
for the governors official signature.
These consisted OF % acts cf the legisla-
ture and five resolves. all Of which the
governor signed. although AZ commits
sions, dated Feb. ca, the last meeting Of
the ~xecutivc council. bear his signature.