The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-25

dent leaning over her, asked if she wished
for anything. With an old-time smile that
the approach of death only made more ten
der and trustful, she answered, low, but
very distinctly, mo, dear"
At one o'clock, as he left the house, DR..
Gardner said he did not think more than
five or six hours of life remained for Mrs.
Harrison. He said that most of the time
she was In sleepy. semi unconscious con-
dition, from which she occasionally rallied.
During these spells of wakefulness she REQ
ognized those around her and some times
responded feeblv, but clearly and intel
liRently to inquiries made. The
doctor said his efforts were de-
voted solely to making the patient as
comfortable as possible in her dying hours.
She could not take nourishment of any
lsind and frequent applications of stimu-
lating moature to her parched lips was the
only Treatment that afforded any relief.
The doctor returned about noon and found
the patient even weaker than before. almost
completely prostrated and unable longer to
speak or cough. Apparently she was con-
soious. There was little change during the
afternoon but every change WAS for the
wo Sc and the watchers were fearful that
death would ensue about sundown.
From four o'clock until we'll into the
evening the president and all members of
the family remained at Mrs. Harrison's
bedside. AS the day waned and the sun
the watchers became more and more in
tense. The shadows deepened, the sun
sank to rest, night came and yet the end
was not. The telegraph Instruments
in the earstern part of the building had
been steadily ticking all day bringing
from far and near inquiries from friends
of the family. But after six O'clock they
tioked faster and faster. Some one had
sent to Indianapolis bulletin announcing
Mrs. Har iaon's death. The premature re-
port spread rapidly over the oountrysafrom
west to east, and there began to flow in
upon the wire messages of coincidence ad-
dressed to the president. Mr.. Halford
| promptly authorized Il denial, but it did
not overtake the original story and mes
seges continued to arrive in numbers.
| just after six O'Clock Mrs. Harrison suf-
| fered another sinking spell and messages
were sent by Halford to the absent cabinet
| officers asking them to return to Wash
| iugton immediately, but the sick woman
still had sufficient reserve strength to rally
onca more end repulse the attack of the
dread visitor who hovered at the threshold.
Soon after nine o'clock the physician an
nouncsd that the patient might be expected
| TO live until midnight. Even this small
grain of comfort was received with graft
/ tude by the anxious and grief stricken hus-
band and family.
II could hardly be said that the patient
was unconscious during the evening hours
for che made some signs of understanding
the attempts made to relieve her last
moments by partially opening her paroh ed
lips to receive the stimulating fluid applied
to them from time to time, but not drol
could she swallow. and tho power of speech
had appai emily left forever. In addition
the physiean's experienced eye noted, ss
! the evening wore on, an increase in the
difficulty of breathing, which he regarded
| as an ominoua sign.
Hour after hour clipped away, each leav.
| ing the patient weaker in turn, yet NO grad
ual was the decline that il could not be said
positively at amy minute that she had ma
terially failed. The measure of the sbhine
tide was the respiration. whieh slowly sunk
from fifteen at pightfall to twelve at mia.
night. the physician had said that ii she
| lived over that hour she might survive
unsil daylight, 80 there wns visible
| air of relief when tho gong
sounded twelve. The hope insl ifed. how,
ever, wns only of short duration. About
| 1880 o'clock the physician disoet med n mo-
tieeahle weakness of the hearts action. fol-
| lowed almost immediately by slight de-
crease i'll respiration. He notified the