The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-24
MRS. HARRISON DYING
The President and His Family
at the Deathbed.
DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE.
Forty-eight Hours the Limit to Which
the Patient Can Live-Rapid Prsg-
ress Of the Disease.

Mrs. Harrison is slowly sinking and it
was feared she would not live through the
night. There are signs that the end is
getting very near. At 2:40 a. m. every
thing was quiet at the White House, but
most of the members Of the family were
still sitting up.
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 23.-Mrs. Har-
rison is approaching her end. How long
it will be before death supervenes cannot
be told. 1t may be only a few hours or
possibly day or more, but that she can
not last much longer is certain. This has
been sad Sunday for the president, his
family and other faithful watchers at Mrs.
Harrison's bedside. DIR. Gardner, up to 10
O'Clock, paid six visits to the sick-room, in
the southwest corner of the presidents
home, and each time he could give no
word of encouragement to the anxious
family. The history of the day, as gath
cred from the reports of the doctor, is one
of the steady and rapid decline of the little
remaining strength of the patient, SO that
it seemed that the utmost limit of weak
ness possible with life had been reached.
The present change for the worse, which
was more alarming than any previous de-
cline, set in last night. The previous night
was restful one, but last night Mrs. Har-
rlson was uneasy and very restless. This
continued throughout the night, and as a
consequence she grew much worse. She
already is in most exhausted condition,
and further loss of strength made il ques-
tionable whether even her remarkable
vitality could bring about another rally.
DR.. Gardner this morning at O'Clock
found his patient so weak that he was
fearful that the end was near at hand. He
visited her ,gain soon and found that she
continued to grow steadily weak and could
scarcely move. Her condition was so
alarming that the doctor repeated his visit
within short time, and. finding all his
efforts to rally her unavailing and that
her strength continued to ebb away, he
made yet another call two hours later.
When DIR. Gardner left the house after
his 10 o'clock visit he said that Mrs. Har-
rison was resting quietly and he did not
think she would die tonight. There is
still evidence Of the patients wonderful
vitality. for the doctor said that although
she was weaker than when he last saw her,
she was stronger than he expected to find
her. Mrs. Harrison suffered from nervous
ness during the day and this helped to
bring about the exhaustion which is
fastening the decline that has been in
progress oil day. She sleeps about half an
hour at time, and takes but little nour-
ishment, consisting of peptonized beef
with stimulants. She is perfectly con-
scious.
Before leaving the house DR.. Gardner
notified the president and members of the
family of the exceedingly precarious con-
Aitinn IF Mro hut ba n
not call again during the night unless
summoned by in formation of a change in
her present condition. The president and
family, fearful of the worst, are sitting up
with the invalid.
Mrs. Harrison has pluck enough for half
dozen women, but even all the courage she
possessed, combined with her high sense of
duty, was not sufficient to insure her health
against the effects of the myriad demands Of the
American public.
Mrs. Harrison has presided over the White
House with gracious dignity that has won her
well deserved popularity. as Is testified by the
great anxiety OF the public concerning her
sickness ana by the Individual and collective
expressions OF sincere wishes for her speedy res
toration. She richly deserves all this. Follow
Ing, as she did, such popular young idol as
Mrs. Cleveland, she was naturally subjected TO
comparisons. But Mrs. Harrison realized the
situation, took it quietly, and without ostenta-
ton carved out for herself reputation that
will always be hers exclusively, the great
homemaker OF the nation. There have been
beauties like Dolly Madison, bright women like
Harr ct Lane, women like Mrs Garfield aud
Mrs Hayes, who laid their influence on the side
OF good ana reform, and popular women, like
Mrs Cleveland, but no Presidents wife until
Mrs. Harrison has worked with the determine
ton to make the executive mansion the house
and home OF the people.
Mrs. Harrison became the White House
chatelaiue, with the idea that when her hus-
band accepted the election to the highest Office
In the gift OF the people she, TOO, assumed GER
tam duty toward the nation, and when Mrs.
Harrison decides in which direction her duties
lie she never turns her face from il. The first
seasons were sad ones i'll official circles and
the White House was not open TO the pubic as
frequently as had been customary. Mrs. Harri-
sou improved the ;iDe by having the interior OF
the mansion put in order and made beautiful.
Inc domestic arrangements OF the house were
made Mt tor people To use, and Mrs Harrison
taxes pride IN pointing ont ali the little i'm
provemeuts. rs well Ms important and larger
ones, she has made.
Then she turned her artistic ability TO the
state apartment and not only were the decnra-
tors services employ bat Mrs. Harrison her
sell suggested Il SIGNS ana determined all the
details. When Il was completed the result was
that under Mrs. Harr.sun'r direction the " hite
House had attained such order and beauty as Il
never before possessed. Then, too. II was
American from one end to the other, and crs-
bielaatic OF the country
When al this Was completed the house was
thrown open 10 the peop4e. More paoI,Ie have
the " hilc House Il, the last lew var. N,
saw II IN ten previous years. Where formerly
Only lew were allowed 10 look at anything
L"t inc eA't room, the green, h.u~ ANA rel
rooms, Al MrS. Harrison advice. hav zen
more accessible - the great mss OF visitors.
Afs. Harrison would submit - IucpS Vt.i;.. uV.s
byTs-u rather than shuI oilt tho si-Et-sacr.
When J. came 10 issuing iHyi atoms -
hlte House receptions. ti.vrc was y aesire
al The raTt Of lew pr ~ icuf De,pic that Il
limit shunld be pat on t.v number os cars
Issued, bat Mrs. Harrison refu,cd L VAS i'm
Etsa Nie 10 It>'.lfN maze. ana So NHatC 10 one
to ieei sighted - the etr.i, were emit out as