The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-17
WADE HAMPTON VERY SICK.
FEARS THAT THE OLD WARRIORS
DAYS ARE FEW.

The General Nearly so Years of Ages
His Vitality Taxed by IA Distressing
Cold which Has settled on His
Lungs-The Wound which Fol-
lowed the AmputattOn of His Leg
During the war Has Never Healed.
Interesting "Reminiscences of His
Eventful Life.
Washington. March 16-Gen. Wads
Hampton the famous warrior and states
man, of South Carolina, is dangerously III
at his apartments In the Metropolitan ho-
tel and his recovery is regarded by some
of his friends as doubtful. His health
has been falling him for several months
past, and in addition he has suffered
greatly from the never healing wound
which followed the amputation Of his
right leg at the close of the war. His
vitality has been further taxed recently by
a distressing cold, which appears to nave
settled upon his lungs. The general is
nearly so years of age. and II is feared hs
has not sufficient recuperative power to
Withstand the latest attack upon his all
ready depleted system
Yesterday II was feared that he could
not survive the night and his daughter.
Miss Daisy Hampton. was telegraphed
for to come to Washington Immediately.
His daughter-in-law. Mrs Wade Hamp-
ton, Jr.. Is by his bedside, and his numer-
Gus friends and admirers In this city are
administering to him every possible COM
fort. This morning he rallied little and
took slight portions Of nourshment. HIS
friend and former colleague in the SEN
ate. Gen. M. C. Butler was at his bed
side yesterday and to-day.
While the wounded leg still gives him
great pain the principal trouble seems to
be In his lungs. and he Keeps up an inces-
SAINT coughing which his physician Is una
BILE to remove. His ripe old age. and his
physical inhrmites all combine TO discour-
age those who are watching by his bedside
Gen. Wade Hampton is one of the grand
est and most beloved sons of the Sunny
South. His record in the late civil war en-
deared him to his friends, and won ths
admiration OF his foes. He was the brav-
est and most successful cavalry officer in
the confederate army. and his personal
correspondence with Gen. Robert L. Lee
during that eventful period, shows that he
had the confidence and the close friendship
Of the great commander Of the southern
armies.
At the close OF the war. Gen. Hamptou
was called from retire ment and elected gov-
ernor OF the Palmetto state. during the
most trying days of reconstruction. His
administration Of that states affairs won
for him a promotion to the United States
Senate for a long term Of years. He was
one of the victims of Tillmanism, and he
was displaced In the Senate by Senator
Irby. who was at that time one of Sena-
tor Tillman's lieutenants.
After leaving the Senate, Gen. Hampton
was appointed commissioner of railroads
by President Cleveland, who was a warm
personal friend and admirer of the distin-
guished South Caroiinlan. An additional
bond Of sympathy between Mr.. Cleveland
and Gen. Hampton is that the latter Is a.
noted fisherman and on many occasions
had cast the fly In company with the ex-
President
Last year Gen. Hampton made an off,
cial visit TO California as commissioner of
railroads, and during the trip he made.
several fishing expeditions to the streams
In that region. His greatest catch was u
tarpon over six feet In length, a photo
graph Of which now ornaments his slclo
room.
Gen. Hampton has a large quantity OF
personal recollections and data bearing
upon the late war, which have never been
published About a year ago he was of
fered $4,000 by one OF the leading maga-
zines of the country to prepare a series
Of articles, the principal one OF which was
to describe the last charge Of the oonfed-
crate cavalry. In his leisure moments the
general has been arranging the material
for the articles, but up 20 the present time
he has not been able to forward any OF
the manuscript 10 the publisher. The data
includes personal correspondence with JEFF
ferson Davis. Robert Il. Lee, Alexander
II. Stephens and many of the most con.
spicuous figures In the confederacy.
Tonight Gen. Hampton was resting
more comfortably than he was at this tima
last night, but he Is still very feeble, and
those In attendance are fearful that thu
old warriors days are numbered.