The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-18
LBS N DEEP SLEEP
Last Hour of the Grand Old
Man is Near at Hand.
RECOGNIZES NO ONE NOW
His Death a Matter of a Few
Short Hours.
RECOGNIZES NO ONE NOW

London, May 1S-According to special
dispatch from Hawarden. received this
morning, Mr.. Gladstone is sinking rapidly.
The correspondent says:
He lies on a small iron bed. peacefully
sleeping away into the land OF shades
The family and others are all sitting
around him, or moving noiselessly in and
out It is q pathetic scene that Is being
enacted this gloomy night. Late last
evening all the servants Of the household
were admitted to tho sick room for final
farewell.
They found Mr. Gladstone lying on his
right side in deep sleep. as if dead. Each
in turn touched his right hand and left
the room tearfully.
Mr.. Dobie doubts that his patient was
conscious at any time on Tuesday, though
he said. Yes and Mo- nor does the phys
ician believe that Mr.. Gladstone recog-
nizes anyone. Nevertheless he is suffer-
ing pain whatever but just lay with his
head facing the light. his eyes closed, his
hands some times outside the counterpane
and sometimes hiden beneath
His grand face bears a most peaceful
and beautiful look A few days ago the
deeply-bitten wrinkles that so long mark
ed It were 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 morn
ing afforded the first information 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. was suddenly manned by staff 10
work the special instruments, which had
been silenced since they were fitted UP last
Saturday in readiness for the emergency.
During the day on every hand were heard
general expressions of deep regret among
the working people, at Hawarden and
Sandy Croft, another little village situated
below at the foot Of the gentle slope.
8 a. m.-Dr. Herbert Harberson arrived
at O'Clock this morning. The rain has
continued to fall at intervals throughout
the night. Villagers have been coming
singly and in groups of two or three, en-
tering the castle gates to glance silently
a the rain-beaten scrap of paper which
is the latest bulletin and then as silently
returning to the gate, not a hundred
yards away, and disappearing into the
darkness. only to return later. At this
hour many are collected 10 gaze in I'M
broken silence at the castle lights.
Mr.. Haberson has just retired. from
which it is inferred that nothing in the
nature ola MISUNDERSTANDING isexpected.
His physicians think that Mr.. Gladstone
will never speak again. At this hour he
IS in deep sleep, while the members of the
family are keeping up the final vigil be-
side the dying statesman.
THE EARLIER BULLETINS.
London, May l7.-Mr. Henry Gladstone
took a special train from this city to Ha-
warden this afternoon, due to disquieting
news received frem Hawarden. He said
before he left London that he feared his
father was rapidly sinking.
Hawarden, May 17.-Mr. Gladstone did
not rest well last night. His sleep was
broken and he was somewhat exhausted
this morning. The patient, however, was
not suffering.
Mr. Gladstone's physician said this
afternoon: The end is now near. MI
Gladstone has taken little nourishment
lie hreathes heavily for a few minutes,
and then his breathing is hardly percept-
ible Mrs. Gladstone is with her dying
husband She and others Of the family
do not leave the room for more than a
few minutes a a time :"
$40 p. ma bulletin issued at $40 p
m. said: There has been a serious fail
ure of Mr.. Gladstones strength during the
past six hours. His pulse is with diff
ficulty perceptibe at the wrists and the
eXtremities are cold"
4:SO p m.-When offered medicine at
4:SO p. m, Mr.. Gladstone exclaimed: mo
no" Apart from this he has seldom
spoken, except to commence a prayer. He
IS practically unconscious
p. m.-An official bulletin Just ISSUED
says: Mr.. Gladstone has taken serious
turn for the worse. His death may be ex-
pected in twenty-four hours"