The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-19
And 1t Was Only by the Administration of
Stimulants aud the Exertions Of Thcsein
Attendance that the End Was Stayed.
He Rallied in the Afternoon, and Last
Night His Condition Was Better.
Early This Morning the Doctors Reported that
Dissolution Was Not Expected for at
Least Twenty-Four Hours.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. All day long the
life of James G. Blaine has hung trembling
in the balance. For moro than an hour In
tho forenoon hope was abandoned and the
end was momentarily expected by ply
sicians family and friends. All simula-
ton was thrown aside in the apparent i'm
minent presence of death, and the sup
pressed facts OF his illness-thef long denied,
but now admitted, Bright's disease the oo-
casional intervals of delirlum. the long
hours when he has lain incapable of speech
or motion las it is now said was the case
when Cardinal Gibbons paid him his recent
friendly CALL; these and other distressing
features of his illness, all incidental to the
one overpowering organic trouble. Bright's
disease, aggravated as this has been of
late by a cold contracted while imprudent-
ly venturing out driving two weeks ago.
and by malariai fever. and confronted by
constitution impaired by nearly two
years of continual sickness-all these
things are now tacitly admitted.
The physicians assert that there'have not
been any hemorrhages. as has been assert
ed, but this is almost the only alarming
symptom which is now denied. The first
crisis was reached between 10 and 11o'clock
this morning. when o sinking spell set In.
In which the worst was feared. His family
&ere called around the bedside and his
bfiV sicisns sent messenger after messen-
ger to the nearest drug store with prescrip-
tlons requiring hasty attention.
The distinguished patient lay uncon.
scious and to all appearances dying. until
/ o'clock, when . slight rally set IN. His
pulse, which had almost ceased to beat
became again percep.lble and partial con.
seriousness was restored. At2 O'Clock his
physicians, Drs. Johnston and Hyatt, con-
sidered him so much improved as to render
their constant presence at the bedsid un-
necessary. While there had been no
change in his condition upon which hopes
of ultimate recovery could be based. the
immediate crisis had passed.
CREATED GREAT APPREHENSION.
At $50 O'Clock this afternoon q reporter
saw James G. Blaine. jr.. at the family
residence. He said that his fathers attack
this morning was very bad and created the
greatest apprehension. His condition be-
came 30 weak that it was feared, in view
of his enfeebled condition, recurrence
must involve the Rravest consequences.
Mrs Hale. wife of Senator Hale. of Name.
one of Mr.. Blaine's closest friends. was ut
and made q second call late In the after
noon. About 5 o'clock she left, and soon
after Senator Hale called. Mr.. Hale's
statement, as he left the house, as to Mr..
Blaine's condition, was that Mr.. Blaine
was then little more comfortable
than he had been earlier in the day,
but that his condition appeared to be
critical. 1T may be-" he said. "that he
will recover. but those who have an in ter
est In him have reason to be alarmed. In
fact. his condition is alarming. 1t is diff
cult to name the trouble. 1t is general
physical breaking mp. When he takes o
cold it brings on . consuming fever, and he
is not In a condition to withstand it. Be-
sides. there are the ordinary complications.
His mind is perfectly clear"
The house was lighted up early and all
the lower shutters closed. Drs. Hyatt and
w. w. Johnston, who were to meet at the
house for o consultation between and 8
o'clock. were sent for just before 8 O'Clock.
DR.. Hyatt was the first to arrive.
He reached the house about five
minutes after o'clock. and was followed
soon by DR.. Johnston. The fact that both
DR.. Johnston and DE-. Hyatt were summoned
gave rise to a rumor that the patient was
suffering from another attack of exhaus-
tion. This. however, proved to be an error.
and the statement was authoritatively
made at p. NJ. that nothing in the nature
of q relapse had occurred.
While the improvements in Mr.. Blaines
condition Is but slight, and not sufficient
TO afford any great amount of encourage
ment to his family aud friends, the reac.
tion has seemed to modify the feeling of
apprehension for the immediate future.
James G. Blaine. jr., and Walter Z. Dam
rosch, the ex-Secretary's son-in-law, walked
down the avenue this evening.
ILL FATE HANGS OVER THE MANSION.
Ali day representatives of the prese
patrollcd Madison place and carefully
watched the old red mansion which has
become celebrated for Its historical associ.
atoms and the fatality with which mis-
fortune has followed its occupants. From
the Sickles-Key tragedy, which occurred
more than q third of q century ago; from
the attempted assassination of Secretary
Seward during the last year of the civil
war. down to the present time. the pail OF
III fate has hung over the mansion. ID uring
the less than four years occupancy Of this
house by the Blaine family. Mra Cop
pinRer lMr. Blaine's daughterl. Walker
Blaine and Emmons Blaine, the Secretary
promising sons. have died.
A little after O'clock both doctors left
DIR, HHaff aAvinQ fhaf Mr. Blaina,a condi.