The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-24
THE HOUR DRAWS NEAR.

THE HOUR DRAWS NEAR.
All Hope Gone, and the White House Oc-
cupants Keeping a Sad Watch.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 23.-10 p. M.-The long
hours of weary watching are almost over.
The life-tide that has been ebbing In the
darkened chamber of the executive man.
sion is nearly gone. The President stands
tonight beside what will shortly be tho
death bed of his wife. There has been no
hope for weeks. 1t has been only the ques-
ton of how long. Hoping in the face of
the inexorable. the President has believed
from day to day that this lite would be
spared to him. But he meets the blow as
he has met others, with courage and with
the resignation born of divire faith.
From day to DAY the patients strength has
gone from her. Since within a week it has
seemed as if the last breath had come. but
the marvellous vitality of q sturdy race as
serted itself, and life came back to the al
most lifeless body. To-day at noon the
physician thought that the end was almost
here. but the life-cord still held,
and when he came again at z
o'clock this evening there was change
that made him believe that the end might
still be postponed, but it was only aues-
tion of hours.
No one has tried to conceal the truth
from the President. The sick woman her.
self has known it for a long time. In fact
those who have been with her In these last
days believe that she knew it before the
rest; that the appreciation of her extremity
came to her before they would admit it
even to themselves. The doctor has told
her that rEe end was coming. From day to
day. as the slow hours were measured, she
has been conscious that any one of them
might be her last. yet she has cluns to life
with q strength which was little less than
wonderful.
INA COMA FOR TWO DAYS.
For two days. now. Mrs. Harrison has
been in state of coma. Sometimes she
has Ism in a drowsy stupor. sometimes she
has LAIN with eyes open, conscious, but
inert. She has spoken. but always
In answer to a question. She has
lacked the power to recall herself
from the half-consciousness in which she
lies. The President has bent over and sum-
moned her from her lethargy with spoken
word. She has been able to answer him.
but she has been little disturbed. All
nervous. and the PRESIDENT sat by her side
OF In the little dressing-roOm adjoining the
room in which she lies, wakeful and watch
ful.
1t was not until the early hours of the
morning that he gave place to Mrs DIM
mick at her earnest request. Then Mrs.
Dimmick and the professional nurse kept
up the vigil through the early morning
hours. Morning came. and with 1t such
slgns OF weakness that the doctor Was
ha IA NJ ;. N
administered stimulants and brought vi
tality back TO the unconscious form. Hag-
gard and weary. the President called the
members of his household abont him for
the simple morning service. Then be went
down TO eat few mouthfuls of breakfast
and hurried back tn the sick room. Only
the members of the family and the imme-
diate connections. the nurse and Mrs. New
conner were in tho house. No one left il TO-
day except DE-. Scott, Mrs. Harrlsons
father. He went to divine service at IL
o'clock. When he returned another crisis
had come and gone. AS the hour of midday
approached there were the signs of another
collapse.
THOUGHT TIE END HAD COME.
DR.. Gardner CAME again at noon. He ad-
minIstered stimulants, and as the signs of
returning life manifested themselves slo WY
he told the President that the end seemed
to be but few hours away, but again
the patient rallied and returned to somi-
consciousness, and the President at the
urgent request Of those who were with
him IN the sick-room. went down stairs to
the table for meager refreshments. He was
not away longer than five minutes. He did
not then leave the sick again until DIR.
Gardner returned, ut O'Clock. The ply
s.cian came again at o'clock. A little
strength had returned, much more than he
had expected, and when he left the execu-
Y ms m cin ha hat hn ,,iv q
not come for twenty-four hours, but the
watchers at the bedside believe that the
end will come before the dawn. In the
hours between o'clock and ;, when vital
ity is at It's lowest ebb, they think that the
patient will pass quietly away. The Pres
ideIit will be in the sick-room all night.
Mrs. Harrison's chambe is in the south
west portion of the building, separated
only by a small room. which in health she
used as a painting studio. from the corner
OF the building nearest the green houses
1t Is immediately over the state dining
room, and as far removed as possible from
the noises of the city and of the presIden-
tial mansion. Ir is lighted by two windows
which give an uninterrupted and beautiful
view OF the Potomac across Grand Army
Place. the scene of the late encampment.
Communicating with it on the east 10 the
Presidents room, which is the same room
that was occupied by Garfield and oil other
Presidents except Cleveland and Arthur,
who slept in the front of the building.
The Presidents daughter, Mrs. Mckee,
her husband. and their two children, his
son Russell and his wife, daughter of ex-
Senator Saunders. and their child: Mrs.
Dimmick, Mrs. Hnrrlson's niece; Mrs. New
conner. Mr.. Harrison's amt. and DR.. Scott.
Mrs. Harrison's venerable father no
ninety-four years cid. much of whose
strength Mrs. Harrison has possessed oc-
cnpy the remaining rooms an the residential
part of the mansion. aud all were at
times in the slek-Toom In the course