Africa
Death of Rev. Hervey Goodale
It becomes our mournful duty to announce the death of our
beloved brother Goodale. The letters which reached us by the
Liberia packet, dated March 31st, prepared us to apprehend the
event, as both the white brethren were then very ill. More recent
communications, dated May 6th and 9th, bring us the dreaded
intelligence that one of them has been removed. He died at Sama,
four or five days journey from Monrovia. The following is the
affecting allusion to this event, from brother Bowen, who, though
convalescent, was almost too feeble to write:-
“The first and most painful subject to which I allude, is the
death of our beloved brother Goodale. He was attacked of fever on
the 10th of March, but the disease appeared to yield readily to
medicine, and he was soon out of bed. We rejoiced to believe that
he was now safe; but he suffered two relapses, the third attack
being a complication of fever and dysentery. The latter was
checked after about three days, but the fever continued. About the
10th of April, on feeling his feet, I found them for the first time
becoming cold. This was a heart-rending discovery. I thought he
might live through the day. Next morning, I think it was, he began
to shew some aberration of mind, which continued to increase. He
spoke often of the poor heathen, and exhorted us not to falter.
Frequently he spoke as if he had been perfectly in his senses. On
Friday night we expected him to die, but he lay insensible till next
day about half-past two P. M., the 13th of April, when he breathed
his last. Surely no one can conceive the loneliness of our mud hut
in that sad hour. Our poor brother was buried without a coffin,
about twenty paces from the south-east gate of Sama. We wrapped
him in a shroud and a mat, and covered the vault with poles, leaves
and boards.”
It will be remembered that brother Goodale was first
designated to the Canton mission. Soon after his marriage, and
just before his expected embarkation, his wife suddenly sickened
and died. This prevented his departure, and he contemplated a few
months agency in Tennessee. On the way to his field, he remained
a few days in this city, and for the first time met brother Bowen.
His heart became deeply interested in the contemplated mission to
Central Africa. All the appeals which for a period of twelve
months had been made to secure a coadjutor to accompany brother
