[522] Towards the close of the eventful scene, Judge Hoar came into the room, when the Senator again called attention to the bill, whereupon Judge Hoar promised him that it should not be lost, at the same time kissing the Senator's hand. About ten minutes before his death, he called Judge Hoar and said: ‘Tell Emerson I love and revere him.’ The Judge answered, ‘I will tell Emerson you love and revere him, for he has told me you had the whitest soul he ever knew.’ During his great pain he would exclaim, ‘I am so tired; this can't last long.’ Among those who called was Frederick Douglass, but the Senator was then too far gone to recognize him. A little before 2 o'clock, Mr. Sumner apparently fell asleep; but he soon awoke and seemed better. His friends hoped a change for the better had taken place, but it soon became apparent he was rapidly sinking, while he was evidently suffering less pain. Towards the end, it is said, he was entirely conscious, and recognized all around him. At 2.50 o'clock, Dr. Lincoln had his hand on the Senator's pulse while George T. Downing was holding his other hand. Suddenly there was a convulsive movement of the muscular system, the Senator grasping the hand of Downing so powerfully that he almost crushed it. Then, with a sudden throwing up of his hands, the Senator expired just as the clock in his library struck three, though the correct time was about ten minutes earlier.
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