The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-18
NEAR HIS END
MIR. GLADSTONE SINKING VERY RAP
IDLY THIS MORNING.
Lying ON n Small Iron Bed in His Ha-
warden Home Peacefully Passing
Into the Land of Shades.
SCENES ABOUT THE CASTLE
MECCA YESTERDAY OF HUNDREDS
OF SYMPATHETIC VILLAGERS.
Members of the Family Keeping the
Final Vigil Beside the Bed of
the Dying Statesman.
%-
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN'S BOMB
SECRETARY'S SPEECH.
re-,
Duke of Cambridge Reported to Have
Stated that France Must Get Out
of BrOussa, Africa.
Members of the Family Keeping the
Final Vigil Beside the Bed of
the Dying Statesman.
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN'S BOMB
ALL EUROPE STILL DISCUSSING THE
SECRETARY'S SPEECH.
Duke of Cambridge Reported to Have
Stated that France Must Get Out
of BrOussa, Africa.

LIONDON, May lc.-ACcOTulnS 10 a SpeCldl
dispatch from Hawarden received this morn
ing, Mr.. Gladstone is sinking rapidly. The
correspondent says: He lies on a small iron
bed, peacefully sleeping away into the land
of shades His death chamber faces south,
overlooking the south terrace. The family
and others are all sitting around him or
moving noiselessly in and out. 1t is a
pathetic scene that is being enacted this
gloomy night.
"Mr. Dobie doubts that his patient was
conscious at any time on Tuesday, though
he said yes and mo-; nor does the physician
believe that Mr.. Gladstone recognized any
one. Nevertheless he suffered no pain what
ever, but just lay with his head facing the
light, his eyes closed his hands sometimes
outside the counterpart and sometimes hid
den beneath. His grand face bears a most
peaceful and beautiful look. A few days
ago the deeply-bitten wrinkles that so long
marked it were almost gone; but now.
strangely enough, they seem strong and
deep as ever. He looks, too, in wonderfully
good color.
A bulletin at o'clock Tuesday morning
afforded the first intimation of the serious
condition of the patient. For some hours no
additional information became public, but
there were indications that crisis had been
reached The little village postofice, from
which the telegraph wires run, sudden
ly manned by staff to work the special
instruments, which had been silenced since
they were fitted up last Saturday in read
mess for the emergency. During the day
wherever one went, one would hear general
expressions of deep regret among the work.
ing people, at Hawarden, Sandy Croft, an
other little village situated below at the foot
of the gentle slope, and in Chester. Cottag.
ers, porters, signal men, laborers, shopkeep
ers and lodge keepers met during the day,
all asking How is the old gentleman" in
sympathetic tones which no one could mis-.
take. 1.-THE moment you enter the castle you
seem acutely to feel the presence of death,
in the hush and solemn quiet which prevails
Beside the members of the family, Mr.
Gladstone is constantly being attended by
DR.. Bliss and the two nurses who have been
with him since bis retpT~ to Hawarden."
a. m.-Dr. Herbert Habershon arrived
continued to fall at intervals throughout
the night. Villagers have been coming
singly and in groups of two or three, enter
ing the castle gates to glance silently at
the latest bulletin and then as silently re-
turning to the gate, not hundred yards
away, and disappearing into the darkness,
only to return later. AT this hour many
are collected to gaze in unbroken silence
at the castle lights. DR.. Habershon has
just retired, from which it is inferred that
nothing in the nature of an immediate col
lapse is expected. His physicians think that
Mr.. Gladstone will never speak again. AT
this hour he is in deep Sleep while the mem
bers of the family are keeping up the final
vigil beside the dying statesman.
One of the attending physicians said last
evening; 1T is strange fact that when
addressed in English Mr.. Gladstone MUIR
murs a few words in French and sometimes
seems to be trying to pray in French He
has had very serious attacks of the heart
since yesterday evening, and there has been
an altogether very rapid failure. He lies
partly unconscious, is delirious and has
xxho to
breathing. He is no longer in pain"