Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1885 — THE NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

THE NEWS CONDENSED.

THE DYING SOLDIER. Gen. Grant’s Obstinate Battle ■with Death. New York dispatches of the morning of the Sth Inst report that Gem Grant had passed a restless ntaiit, but all things oensidered, was in no worse condition than he had been lor several days previous. The General rested peacefully Saturday night, the 4th, and took bis nourishment regularly. In the forenoon of Sunday he enjoyed the genial warmth of the sunshine sitting at hie window, and remarked that he suffered no unusual pain. Four physicians held a consultation in the afternoon, and after a thorough examination of his throat it was agreed that the local conditions were improved. The treatment of the past few days was commended, but on his departure from the house Dr. Shrady stated that the General grew no stronger, and the expression of other visitors ■was that there was no room for hope. During the early hours es the ev« ning the patient was in a cheerful frame of mind, and retired in a gather drowsy mood. He received his first month’s pay ns a retired General on Saturday, the 4th Inst. He devided the amount into piles of S2OO, and gave one to each of his four children and Mrs. Grant. He attached his signa-’ ture during the day to severs! steel engravings of himself. They were presented to nersonal friends. During, the night the GeiiWal had a singular dream, which he related to the doetors on the following morning. He thought he was off traveling somewhere and had but a single sachet He thought he was Very poor, only half-dressed, and without money. This worried him a good deal, although, as he said: "I thought I ought to be used to it by this." He felt himself altogether in a bad predicament, without money and without friends. He came to a fence and got over it very awkwardly, there being a stile on one side onlv. When he got over he found that he had left the sachet on the other side and that he could not get it unless he paid duty on every step of the stile as he went back. Then he thought be would go back home and borrow the monev of Mrs. Grant. He found she had only sl7 and that was not enough, and then he was very glad to wake up. The General said his sensations during the dream were very real, and that he had been much troubled with the annoying adventures which had happened to him. He could not explain what had led him to this train of thought Dr. Shrady left the house at 7:45. He said that Gen. Grant’s condition was almost a miracle. Just as he left, this conversation passed between him and hlapatl nt: “Good morning. General: you have had a splendid night” Yes, I feel'much refreshed.” “Now, General, the-way to make me happy is to stay that way until 2 p. m., and when I ask at that time how you are. you are to say better. ” “I do not wish to go against my conscience." “But I am sure you will be better. ’’ “1 will agree to be if you will keep up the same line of action. Tell Dr. Douglass to do so while you are gone." •'Certainly I will. Wo Intend to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” The General laughed at the familiar quotation, i The General-is himself fully aware of the fart that he is going to die, says a New York dispatch. Mr. Chaffee had a half hour’s interview with him Saturday. Gen. Grant was seated when the Senator entered, but immediately got up and walked across the room and back to his chair again. "This is hard." he said, wearily. “Yes, it is hard," said Senator Chaffee, “but I suppose it is what we must all come to." “It is not that; but it seems so useless to keep up the struggle," Gen. Grant replied. “But von are better to-day, are you not?" “Oh. I can’t tell I know I can’t live but a few days, and you know it, and the doctors know it. But every moment of life is a week of agony to me." “Some one c»m? in ft this moment," said Senator Chaffee to the reporter, “ and that was a signal for silence. He never says anything of that kind except to me, and only when we are alone. You must understand that the General is not complaining of his coming end. He has met that event long ago, and it is behind him. He wants to die. He has said so frequently Senator Chaffee said, further, that the General’s voice is firm in tone, but his articulation is difficult. He has never said to h s family that he knew he would die except on one occasion, when it was thought his end was near, and Mrs. Grant broke down. He waved her away, saying: ‘'■Don’t make me feel badly. I am going away now." “There has been a good deal of nonsense in the papers about Dr. Newman’s visits.’’ continued Senator Chaffee. “Gen. Grant does not believe that Dr. Newman’s prayers will save him. He asks the. Doctor to pray for the sake of not hurting the Doctor's feelings. He is indifferent on his own account to everything."