The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1892-10-25
To SLUMBER FOREVER
A NATION MOURNS ITS LOSS
After Half a Century OF Life, Gem
tly Passes Away the Spirit
From Its Earthly
Mold.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Mrs. Harrison 10
no moro. At LAO o'clock tins morning
caine tho end. For tho second timc In
the history Of the white house presidents
wife died within its walls. Mrs. Harrison
met death with the patience and resigna-
tton OF devout Christian, and hor last
days were comparatively free from pain.
For "A hours the president and family
have been almost constantly at the bed
side. awaiting tho end. Last night was
without especial inc cident, but late and
early, SO frequently he could have slept
but little IL Mt oil, The president was in
and out of tho sick chamber and was
never easy for any length of time.
To-day was clear and crisp and cool and
perhaps inspiring; the sunshine and dry
ness OF atmosphere somewhat helped the
invalid and acted as stimulant. When
ever she woke from the troubled and un-
satisfactory sleep, she was conscious. She
could still recognize her surroundings and
glance OF recognition greeted the phys
ician when he entered the sick room this
| morning.
Attorney General Miller called early
and saw Mr.. Haiford; so did Mr.. De
Strive, Russian minister; Minister Grip
OF Sweden; Rev. DR. Hamlin, family pas
| tor; Assistant Secretary Grant, and In
dian Commissioners Morgan. DIR. Gard
| ner was Mt the patients bedside nearly
the entire forenoon. He went away
two or three times to attend to other
duties, but mt no one time was he
absent more than half an hour. When
asked about her condition he frankly adj
mitted that death was very near and that,
remarkable as Mrs. Harrison's vitality
| was, he did not see how she could live
more than few hours. Mrs. Harrison at
noon was still conscious. Little before
that hour the president. leaning over her,
asked il she wished for anything. With
her old-time smile that the approach of
death only made more tender and trus.ful,
she answered low but very distinctly, ''No,
dear"
Al I 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. Tho doctor returned about
noon and found his patient even weaker
than before, almost completely pros
trated md unable longer to speak or
cough. Apparently she wns conscious.
There was little change during the after
noon, but every change was for the worse
and the watchers were fearful that death
would ensue about sundown.
Many messages of coincidence were re-
ceived at the white house during the day.
From o'clock until well into tho evening,
the president and all members Of the fam.
lily remained ut Mrs. Harrison's bedside.
As the day waned and the sun sank be-
hind the western hills, the anxiety of the
watchers became moro and more intense.
Shadows deepened. the sun sank to rest,
night came and yet the end was not.
The telegraph instruments in tho
eastern part of the building were steadily
ticking all day, bringing from far and
near inquiries from friends of the family.
but after O'Clock they licked faster aud
faster. Some one had sent to Indianapo-
lis a bulletin announcing Mrs. Harrison's
death. The premature report spread
rapidly over the country from West to
East and there began to flow
in on the wire messages of con-
dolcncc addressed to the president,
Halford promptly authorized denial, but
it did not overtake the original story and
messages continued to arrive in num-
bers.
Just after 9 o'clock Mrs. Harrison suf.
fercd another sinking spell and messages
were sent to Halford to absent the cabinet
officers. asking them 10 return to WASH
ingion Immediately, but the sick woman
still had sufficient reserve strength to
rally once more and repulse the attack Of
the dread visitor, who lowered ut the
threshold.
Soon after 0 o'clock physicians an
nounced the patient might be expected to
live until midnight. Even this small grain
OF comfort was received with gratitude by
the anxious and grief stricken husband
and family. Hour after hour passed. each
leaving her weaker in turn, yet so gradual
was the decline that II could not be said
positively at any minute she had mn.
terially failed.
About II 80 o'clock the physician dis
cerned n noticeable weakness in the
hearts action, followed almost immedi.
ately by slight decrease of respiration.
He notified tho grief-strickcn family
grouped around the couch that the end ap-
peared very near. The intelligence had q
most distressing effect on tho president
and he sustained himself with the
greatest difficulty. DIR. Gardner, after
narrowly examining the countenance.
and, feeling the pulse. sorrowfully an.
nounced all indications justified the belle
that tho patient could not survive moro
than half an hour. This was at 12:i5
o'clock. In q few minutes DIR. Gardner
again took up the feeble hand and cit
the wrist. The blood still crcpt through
the contracting arteries. but how slowly T!
He shook his head and said q brief Is
minutes must finish the struggle. The
agitation of family could no longer be con.
| trolled and realizing his utter hclplessness
to longer cope with the formidable foe
and from consideration for the sacredness
of such grief rs this, the devoted physician
and friend bowed his head and passed
out of the door. Outside of the threshold
he took his station and waited. Ii was
not long. Minutes flew like seconds and
suddenly there was an expression of
hcart-stricken woe and all was over.
The president was beside his dying wife
as he has been for nine hours continually.
and his was the last Of loved features her
eyes dwelt upon. Her breath was labore.l
and very slow, as the hands of
the clock crcpt toward the next
! hour it grew fainter yet and