The news & observer., 1901-03-14


painless, there being a gradual sinking
until the end came, which was marked by
a single gasp for breath as life departed
from the body. The relatives, with few
exceptions. and several of his old and
tried friends, were at the former Presi-
dents bedside when he passed away.
The Generals condition was so bad
after restless night that the attending
physicians understood that the end could
not be far off, and all bulletins sent out
from the sick room were to this effect.
OF that the family and friends were pre-
pared when the final blow came. The
gradual failing of the remarkable
strength shown by the patient became
more noticeable in the afternoon and
few moments before the end there was
an apparent breakdown on the part or
the sufferer, as he surrendered to the
disease against which he had been so
bravely battling for so many hours. The
change was noticed by the physicians,
and the relatives and friends who had re-
tired from the sick room to the library
below, were quickly summoned and reach
ed the bedside of the General before he
passed away.
News of the death spread quickly
throughout the city, and several of the
more intimate friends at once hurried to
the Harrison residence. The word was
flashed from the bulletins of all the news
papers and thus communicated to the
people on their way home in the evening.
The announcement produced the greatest
sorrow. Within a few moments the flags
on all the public buildings and most Of
the downtown business blocks were hoist
ed at half mast and other outward mani
festations of mourning were made.
EX-President Benjamin Harrison was
born at North Bend. Ohio, August 90
1888. He was the son of John Scott
Harrison, who was third son Of Benja-
min Harrison signer of the Declaration
of independence. He was brought up
on his fathers farm. graduated at
Miami University 1852, and was admit
ted to the bar. Elected reporter of the
Indiana Supreme court, he assisted i'm
raising the Seventeen Regiment of In
diana Volunteers. OF which he was ap-
pointed colonel by Governor Morton,
1862
His gallantry induced General Hooker
to recommend to the Secretary of War
his promotion to brigadier general. In
the spring, 1865, he assumed command
of his brigade, and June Sth was mus
tered out of service, with the rank of
brevet brigadier general In 1876 he
ran for Governor Of Indiana. but was
defeated He was appointed a member
of the Mississippi River Commission
in 1879, was chairman of the Indiana
delegation in the national Republican
convention of $780, declined a Cabinet
appointment rendered by President Gar
field, and was elected United States Sen
ator for the term March 4, 1881, to March
3, 1887.
In 1884, he was delegate at large from
Indiana to the Republican national con-
vention, and in the convention of 1883
he received the Presidential nomination
on the eighth ballot In the ensuing
election he received a popular vote of
5441, 1923 and an electoral vote of 23S,
against a popular vote for Cleveland of
5536,524 and electoral of 1853. In June
1892 he was renominated by his party
but was defeated for reelection by Mr..
Cleveland. Since then he has busted
himself with the practice Of law. Re-
Gently he was appointed member Of
the international Arbitration Commits
sion by President Mckinley.
He went to Washington about a
month ago as member of the Presby-
terian committee which had under con-
sideration the proposition for revision
of the creed. OF late it was said his
relations with President Mckinley
were strained because he declared i'm
a magazine article that the Constitution
followed the flag, wherever it went,
thus controverting the position of the
Administration in regard to the Philip
pines and Porto Rico