Douglas Fairbanks’ final last words were: “I’ve never felt better in my life!”
In later years, Whitworth turned his attention somewhat away from the metallic delicacies of high precision and more to the brutish world of weaponry, even though he was vexed that the hexagonally barreled Whitworth rifle that Queen Victoria had fired on that summer Monday in Wimbledon was never accepted for use by the British Army; its .45-caliber size was initially thought too small. He derived some pleasure, though, from hearing that the weapon, branded the Whitworth Sharpshooter in the United States, was much favored by Confederate troops during the American Civil War. (The Union army found his high-velocity guns ideal, but too costly.) His gun was most famously employed with lethal effect at the 1864 Battle of Spottsylvania. The Union general John Sedgwick, seeing the rebel troops in the far-off distance, famously rode in front of his men and loudly declared that “they couldn’t kill an elephant at this distance.” A single shot from a Whitworth gun then promptly rang out and the bullet hit him square in the head, killing him instantly.
James W. Rodgers was sentenced to death for the murder of Charles Merrifield in 1957. He chose to die by firing squad instead of hanging. When asked by prison officials and a chaplain if he had anything to say, Rodgers joked, “I done told you my last request . . . a bullet-proof vest.” After being led to the execution site, someone suggested he might want a coat because of the cold in which he responded, “Don’t worry, I’ll be where it’s warm soon.”
Gen. John Sedgwick was in a battle in the Civil War and his last words were, “They couldn’t kill an elephant at this distance.” Groucho Marx, ever the comedian, said, “This is no way to live!” A priest came to the bedside of the famous playwright, Wilson Mizner, and said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.” Mizner responded to the priest, “Why should I want to talk to you? I was just talking to your boss.”
Martyn Lloyd Jones, famous pastor and writer, said, “Don’t pray for healing; don’t hold me back from the glory.” DL Moody’s last words were, “Earth recedes, heaven opens before me! If this is death, it is sweet. God is calling me; I must go.”
While in his home, Jesse James climbed on a chair to dust a framed picture hanging on the wall. When he turned around, he was shot in the back of the head by Robert Ford, his former associate. “That picture is awfully dusty.”
Mr. Moody died on December 22, 1899. Some of his final words were “Earth is receding; heaven is approaching. This is my crowning day!”