The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-15
THE DEATH OF
 WELLINGTON

It is a curious coincidence-perhaps more than coincidence-that three of the greatest military leaders of all time were subject to epileptic attacks Julius Caesar and Napoleon, as is well known, were victims of the dread diskase, and the Duke of Wellington, tha conqueror of Napoleon, was at tackled late in life and succumbed to the ailment when he was in his eighty fourth year.
 It was sixty-four years ago yesterday, Sept. IA, 1852, that Wellington breathed his last in Walmer Castle, one of the official residences bestow- ed upon him by grateful people. It was his habit to spend two months of each autumn in this ancient pile, one of the three castles built by Henry VIII. to defend the low coast near Walmer and DeaL Here the English hero spent most of his time. when not riding or walking, in his bed room, which served also as his libra ry and study. This little room, hav- ing only one window which looked toward the sea, was furnished in an extremely simple style. His iron mill itary bedstead was only three feet wide, and the mattress but three inches thick. He had one coverlet, but no blankets, and one small pill low. The Duke rose at six every morning and walked for a time on the ramparts of the castle, His walk ing day was apportioned with ,ne ur- most regularity, and his guests were compelled to fall in with his mode of life. Even the Queen and Prince Albert were required to adapt them selves to his schedule when visiting him fin the castle, The apartments given them were furnished as simply as the room occupied by the Duke, although it Is related that the old warrior made one concession by hav- ing a carpenter construct deal stand for the Princes room.
 The Duke rode and walked as usual on the day prior to his death. On the morning of SepteSnber IA, 1852, a servant went to call him at the cus- tomary hour of six, and, hearing a faint groan, entered the room and found his illustrious master i'll. The Duke requested that an apothecary, MT. Hulke of Deal, be summoned.
 That gentleman arrived between eight and nine, and found the aged Duke in
 an epileptic fit, similar to one from
 which he had suffered some years be- fore. The apothecary returned to Deal to prepare some medicines. In the meantime the epileptic symptoms grew wose, and the Dukes son, Lord Charles Wellesley. sent messa ges
 to London, summoning three famous physicians. Two were out of the city, and the third arrived too late. Dur |. ing the day the Duke suffered much and spoke occasionally, but his words were unintelligible, At four o'clock he breathed his last. One son, one daughter-in-law, an apothecary, 1 physician, and a few servants. were with him in his last hours on earth. The news of the hero's death plung- ed all England into mourning. The
 magnificent public funeral was one of the greatest tributes of its kind ever paid to a dead warriorA Of the death of Napoleon's conQueror Longfellow wrote:
 For in the night unseen, a single warrior,
 In somber harness mailed, Dreaded of man, and surnamed the Destroyer,
 The rampant wall had scaled. He passed into the chamber of the sleeper,
 The dark and silent room;
 And as he enter'd, darker grew and deeper The silence of the gloom.