The morning call., 1892-12-19
Blaine's Life Hanging by a
Thread.
THE MASK THROWN ASIDE.
In the Face of Great Danger the Family
Admit the Seriousness of the
Stateman'S Illness.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL

hour In the forenoon hope was abapd ed
and the end was momentarily expected by
the physicians, family and friends All
stimulation was thrown aside In the appar-
ent imminent presence OF death, and the
suppressed facts Of the ilIness-loug denied
but now admitted-his suffering Of Brlght's
disease. occasional intervals of delirium,
long hours when he lay Incapable of
speech or motion, as is now said, was the
case when Cardinal Gibbons paid him his
recent friendly ealI-these and other dis
tressing features of the illness, all Incl
dental 10 the one oycrpowering organic
trouble, Brights disease, aggravated as it
has been of late by the cold contracted
while i'm prudently venturing out driving
TWO weeks ago and by malaIial fever and
constitution impaired by nearly two years
OF continual sickness-all these things are
row tacitly admitted. The physicians
assert that there have not been any hemor-
rhsges, as asserted, but this is almost the
only alarming symptom which is now de-
MED.
The first crisis was reached between 10
and II O'clock this morning, when sinking
spell set in from which the worst was
feared. The family was called around the
bedside and the physicians sent messenger
after messenger to the nearest drugstore
with prescriptions requiring hasty atten.
tion. The distinguished patient lay uncon-
scious and TO all appearances dying until
shortly before l O'Clock, when a slight rally
set in. The pulse which had almost ceased
TO beat. became again perceptibls and par
tial consciousness was restored.
At 2 O'clock the physicians, Drs. ". W.
Johnston and Hyatt, considered the patient
so much i'm proved as 10 render their con-
az ha had do
While there had been no change upon which
hopes Of his ultimate recovery could be
based the immediate crisis had passed.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon a reporter
saw James G. Blaine Jr.. at the family resi-
dence. He said his fathers attack this
morning was very serious and created the
gTsvest apprehension. His condition be-
came so weak that it was feared, In view of
his enfeebled condition, that recurrence
must Involve the gravest consequence.
About O'clock Senator Hale called. He
said as he left the house later that Blaine
seemed little more comfortable than
earlier in the day. but that his condition
appeared critical.
The statement was authoritatively made
at P. NJ. that nothing in the nature of a
relapse had occurred. While the improve
ment in Mr.. Blaine's condition was but
slight, and not sufficient TO afford any great
amount OF encouragement to the family and
friends. the reaction seemed TO modify the
feeling OF apprehension for the immediate
future. DIR. Hyatt said that he thought
there was no doubt that Blaine would live
through the night, but at the same time he
WAS undoubtedly critically III, and any
complications that may arise would doubt
less cause fatal termination to the illness.
little later James g. Blaine Jr said 10
The reporters: We think father consider
ably better than this morning. The phys-
clans have been here this evening, and we
now think he will live through the night,
and we hope for the best. Stil it must be
said, he Is very dangerously ILL.,"
President Harrison, accompanied by Pri-
vate Secretary HalfoTd, this evening per-
scnaly inquired as TO Blaine's condition.
and expressed relief and qualification at the
abatement of the more alarming symptoms.
The excitement throughout the city was
Intense as the news Of Blaine's condition
spread. and, though 1t was Sunday, the
newspapers issued extras, which found
rapid sale.
From an intimate friend Of the family it
Is learned that it was only when Blaine was
suddenly seized with the sinking spell this
morning, which threatened for some min
t.
family fully realized how near he was to
death. For few seconds he seemed to be
in extremis, and the watchers bent anx-
iously over him. The emaeiated face OF the
dying statesman was white as marble and
the features were sadly drawn. AT times
he scarcely seemed to breathe and at others
be gasped for breath.
The physicians who were hastily sum-
mcned piled him With stimulatiye cordials.
trained nurses chaffed his extTemities, and It
was only after work ing over the patient for
upward OF thirty minutes, and by the ap-
plication of every art known to the medical
profession. that Mr. Blaine slowly revived
But the battle with death found him ex.
tremely weak-weaker than at any time in
his long illness.
when suffering the relapse he was too
weak even TO whisper and made no sign of
recognition. The family gathered around
the bedside were all In tears except Mrs.
Blaine. She maintained an outward COM
posure throughout the trying scene and
calmly gave such directions to the attend
ants as were necessary. Her will-power in
face OF the heart-breaking ordeal 10 de-
seriDed as something pathetic and mar
velous.
TEE CALL correspondent saw DR.. John
stop, one OF Mr.. Blaine's physicians, at II
o'clock tonight Dr. Johnston was very
guarded In his statements. He said that. as
rule. he was willing TO talk of the condi-
tttn OF tbs patients under his treatment
but begged to be excused from speaking of
hr. Blsine's illness, lntimating that as strict
secrecy as possible was eDjoined by Mrs.
Blaine.
Being pressed for an answer as to whether
hr. Blaine would survive the night, the
doctor said it was probable, though, OF
course, nothing could be said with any GER
taintY. He preferred not to say whether In
bis opinion Mr.. Blaine would ever recover,
but II was clear from the manner in which
DR.. Johnston spoke that he considered the
condition Of his patient hopeless.
You apprehend no danger Of dissolu-
ton then2'
mo; on the other hand, If be maintains
bis present ability to take nourishment
and regains sufficient strength to overcome
or obyiate future attacks like that of to-day,
there Is nothing In the disease that should
carry him off,"
Drs. Johnston and Hyatt saw Blaine
sgain and gave out the following statement:
MI. Blaine seems TO have rallied entirely
from the weakness Of this morning and
appears to be as well as he has been at any
time within the past week. While il is not
possible to say what changes may take
place IN his condition. he can be said to be
In no immediate danger"
Mrs. Blaine was out driving for a short
while this afternoon, and this circumstance
created the impression that her husband
was not as dangerously i'll as had been re-
ported, but at no time was she more than
four or five blocks from the Blaine mansion.
and her drive was OF snort duration. Mrs.
Blaine went out at the urgent reques. Of