The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-06-12
SIR JOHN MACDONALD.
CANADA MOURNs THE LOSS OF HER
GREAT PREMIER.
The End Was Peaceful, the Statesman
Dying Almost in Accordance with an
Oft t-Expresse Wish-Canada Mourning.

The End Was Peaceful, the Statesman
Dying Almost in Accordance with AZ
Oft-Expresse Wish-Canada Mourning
OTTAWA, June S.--Sir John Macdonald
died at 1918 Saturday night. He had beer
sinking rapidly since noon. Before
o'clock in the afternoon he became uncon
scous, and his death was mOmentarily ex
pected from that time until the end.
Toward that sick chamber at Earns
cliffe public thought had been directed for
the past ten days. and the sympathy of the
nation has gone out in a greater degree as
the picture presented grew darker and
more pathetic. From all parts of the
Dominion, and from the sovereign her.
self, came tender messages of coincidence
and anxious inquiries as to the aged
statesman's condition. To ali but one
answer could be given-the end might be
delayed, but was inevitable.
The beginning of the end came Friday
morning. The premier had slept the
| greater part of the night. and mis-
restlessnes had given place to quiet that
was significant. Throughout the day ohis
sOmnolence continued. The afternoon
bulletin from the physicians at the bed
side announced that the premier's strength
was rapidly diminishing, and then all hope
fed. AS the afternoon slowly waned
Profound Stiffness Reigned
at Earnscliffe. No sounds were permitted
to enter the sick room where the struggle
with death was going on.
The scene at Earnscliffe after nightfall
was impressive in it's solemnity There
were more lights in the window. but no
sound broke the stiffness of the night Up
to midnight anxious groups gathered upon
the lawn and spoke in whispers of the dy-
ing patients condition.
AT o'clock Friday evening Sir Johns
heart failed in its work, and he sank so
low that for some time he seemed to nave
ceased to live. He rallied feebly, and
fought his way back to the weakest hold
on life man could have. His stupendous
vitality was making grand struggle.
AT midnight the callers had all departed
and correspondents were left to watch the
night out alone. The hours wore slowly on.
The light of new day brought with it
nothing to relieve the anxious suspense
There was no change in the patients con-
dition A little more frail. a little more
slender, had grown the thread tbGt bound
the spirit to its earthly tabernacle That
was all.
The Premier Was Unconscious.
His limbs were numb, and there was moth
ing to mark that life was not extinct save
the feeble futterings of the pulse and the
almost imperceptible breathing. The fam
lily had been gathered about the beside all
night.
There was no bulletin from the physi- !
clans Saturday morning. Nothing could
be said beyond what had already been
given out. 1t was a matter of time, per-
haps moments, perhaps hours. The scenes
of the morning and the afternoon were but
counterparts of Friday The same hushed
stiffness, the same anxiety, the same sus-
pense.
At 2 o'clock the physicians concurred in
the opinion that the premier could not |
live until O'Clock, and again did they err. |
The action of the patients heart at times
during the evening was so feeble that Sir
John was believed to be dead. Once the
family gathered al the bedside under the
impression that the end had come. but it
proved to be another of the dreaded sink
ing spells which in succession had left the
aged statesman with less and less vitality
Not since o'clock Friday afternoon had
any substantial liquid nourishment passed
his lips
Death came to the aged premier almost
in accordance with his desire. He fire.
quently expressed
A Wish to Die Like Chatham,
who fell in an apopletic fit in the house of
lords on April Z. ITS, at the conclusion Of
q great speech on motion to acknowledge
the independence of the United States, and
was borne home to die few weeks after
ward. While the stroke came to Sir John
with less of dramatic effect it nevertheless
came when he was fulfilling his duties. for
be was working and discussing affairs up
to the moment that the blow fell
1t has been learned that Sir John had an
attack of what appeared to be paralysis \
week before the fatal stroke Only the
lay before the last attack Sir John Thomp-
son demonstrated with him. and asked
him to give up his arduous duties, and
,ake the portfolio of president of the coun-
I'll, which was vacant The premier re-
olied: "Ill let you know tomorrow what
will do" When that tomorrow came
The premier was in the midst of
A Struggle with the Grim Reaper.
It was very evident at 10 O'Clock Satur-
lay night that the end was near at hand
The household was summoned to the death
,hamber. Lady Macdonald stood by the
tide of her noble husband, and around her
gathered the members of the family Her
ace showed traces of weary watching and !
ong suspense. She bore up bravely. Bells
# the city were tolled to convey the intel
igence to the thousands who were
waiting this signal that the beloved
PREMIER was no more.
Lady Macdonald is now prostrated with {
,rief.
Death Came Peacefully c
It 1915 o'clock. The premier was conscious
o the last The pulse fluttered, the breath
anne shorter, then all was still.
The william Clark Thread Mill.
PROVIDENCE, June e.-Operations pre- !
,aratory to the erection Of the plant of the :
William Clark Thread company have !