St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-19
Alarming Symptoms in the
Case Of Mr.. Blaine During
the Sabbath. J
For a Few Seconds at One
Time He Seemed About to
Pass Away.
By Giving Him Cordials and
Rubbing His EXtremitieS
He Is Revived.
A Friend Says He Is Dying
a Disappointed, Heart
broken Man.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1S.-All day long
the life of James &. Blaine has hung
trembling in the balance. For more
than an hour in the afternoon hope was
abandoned and the end was momentar-
lily expected by physicians, family and
friends. All stimulation was thrown
aside in the apparent imminent pres
ence of death and the suppressed facts
of his illness-the long denied. but now
admitted Bright's disease, the occa-
sional intervals of delir ium, the long
hours when he has lain incapable Of
speech or motion Gas 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 it has been of late by
cold contracted while imprudently
venturipg out driving two weeks ago.
and by malarial 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
asserted, but this is almost the only
alarming symptom which is now denied.
The first crisis was reached between 10
and II O'Clock this morning, when
sinking spell set in, and the worst was
feared. His family were called around
the bedside, and his physicians sent
messenger after messenger to the near
est drug store with prescriptions requlr-
ing hasty attention. The distinguished
patient lay unconscious, and
To ALI Appearances Dying.
until shortly before l O'clock, when a
slight rally set in. His pulse, which had
almost ceased to beat. became again
perceptible, and partial consciousness
was restored. At o'clock his physi
clans, Drs. W. w. Johnston and Hyatt.
considered him so much improved as to
render their constant presence at the
bedside unnecessary, while there had
been no change in his condition upon
which hopes of ultimate recovery could
be based but the immediate crisis had
passed. At $50 o'clock this afternoon
reporter saw James G. Blaine Jr. at the
family residence. He said that his
fathers attack this morning was verV
bad and created the graveSt apprehen-
sion. His condition became so weak
that it was feared that in view of his
enfeebled condition recurrence must
involve
The Gravest Consequences.
Mrs. Hale, wife of Senator Hale, of
Maine, one of Mr.. Blaine's closest
friends, was at the house for several
hours during the day and made second
call late in the afternoon. 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 seemed
a little more comfortable than he had
been earlier in the day, but that his
condition appeared to be critical.
sit may be" he said, THAT he will re-
cover, but those who have an interest
i'm him have reason to be alarmed. In
fact, his condition is alarming. 1t is
difficult to name the trouble. 1t is
general physical breaking-up. When
he takes cold it brings on consum-
ing fever, and he is not in condition
to withstand it. Besides there are the
ordinary complications. His mind is
perfectly clear"
The house was lighted UP early and
all the lower shutters closed. Doctors
Hyatt and w. j. job nson, who were to
meet at the house
For a Consultation
between and O'Clock, were sent for
Just before o'clock. Dr.. Hyatt reached
the. house five minutes after 3, and was
fosowed soon by DIR. Johnston. The
fat that both DIR. Johnston and DR..
HIATT were summoned gave rise to
rumor that the patient was suffering
from another attack of exhaustion.
This, however, proved to be an error,
and the statement was authoritatiyely
made at p. m. that nothing In the
nature of relapse had occurred.
While the improvement in Mr..
Blaine's condition Is but slight, and
net sufficient to afford any great
amount of encouragement to his family
and friends, the reaction has seemed to
modify the feeling of apprehension of
the immediate future. James q. Blaine
Jr., and Walter E. Damrosch, the ex-
Secretary's son-in-law, walked down
the avenue this evening. All day rep
resentatives of the press ha G patrolled
Madison place, and careful watched
the old red mansion, which as become
celebrated for its historical associations
and the fatality with which misfortune
has followed its occupants. From the
SickIes-Keys tragedy, which occurred
more than third of century ago, fol-
losed by
The Attempted Assassina ton
of Secretary Seward during the last
year of the Civil war, down to the pres
ent time, the pail of ill-fate has hung
over the mansion. During the less
than four years occupancy of this
house by the Blaine family, his
daughter, the wife of Col. Cop
pinger, Walker Blaine and Emmons
Blaine, the secretary's promising sons,
have died. a little after 6 O'Clock both
doctors left, DR.. Hyatt saying that Mr.
Blaiie's condition showed a slight i'm
proyement over the morning. They
did not consider it necessary to issue
another bulletin. DR.. Hyatt said that
he thnnght there was no doubt that Mr.