Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-27


and grief-stricken husband and family.
1t could hardly be said that the patient
was unconscious during the evening
hours, for she betrayed some signs of
understanding the attempts made to
relieve her last moments by partially
opening her parched lips to receive the
stimulating fluid applied to them from
time to them. But not a drop could she
swallow, and the power of speech had
apparently left her frame forever. IL
addition, the physicians experienced
eye noted, as the evening wore on, an
increase in the difficulty of breathing,
which was regarded as an OminOuS
sign. Hour after hour slipped away,
each leaving the patient weaker in turn,
yet so gradual was the decline that it
could lot be said positively at any
minute she had materially failed.
The measure of the ebbing tide was
the respiration which slowly sunk
from 10 at nightfall tC u at midnight.
The physicians had said that if she
tided over that hour she might survive
until daylight. So there was a visible
air of relief when the gong sounded
y. The hope inspired, however, was
only Of short duration. At 1870 the
physician discovered a notice9 BILE weak
I eSS of the hearts action followed al
most Immediately by slight decrease
in respiration. Ee notified the grief
stricken family grouped around the
couch that the end appeared very near.
This intelligence had a most depressing
effect upon the president, and he srls-
tanned himself with the greatSt diff
Guilty. Dr. Gardner after narrowly eX
aiming the cOuntenance and feeling
the pulse sOrrWfully announced that
all indications justified the belief that
the patient could not survive more than
half an hour.
This was q quarter to one o'clock
The minutes passed with frightful rap
idlty and half an hour passed. The al
most helpless form, however, still re-
tanned the sacred spark. The resis-
lance offered by the constitution of the
patient was marvellous and surprising
to the physician and all at the bedside.
There was no struggle, no exhibition
OF pain, but simple, passive resistance
that was battling in quiet intensity
In a few minutes DR.. Gardner again
took up the feeble hand and felt the
wrist. Blood still crept through the
contracting arteries but oh! how slow
ly. He shook his head and said a
brief fifteen minutes must surely end
the struggle.
The agitation of the family could no
longer be controlled, and realizing his
utter helplGaSneSs to longer cope with
the formidable foe, and from considera-
ton of the SacredneSS of such grief as
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 1t was not
long. The minutes flew like seconds.
and suddenly there was an expression
of heart-Stricken woe and the end had
come.
The president was beside his dying
wife, as he had been for nine hours con-
tinuously, and his was the last of loved
features her eyes had dWelt upon. Her
breath was labored and very slow. AS
the hands of the clock crept toward
the next hour, it grew fainter yet, and
less frequent, and as the thne-piece
marked the hour OF 1:4O o'clock there
was an interruption of the feeble
breath, Il resumption, and then Il stop,
this time to be eternal, and the life IF
Caroline Scott Harrison! had gone out
peacefully and quietly and without
pain.
All of the family in Washington were
present at the death except her three
little grandchildren and the venerable
DR.. Scott, father of Mrs. Harrison.
They were President Harrison Mr.. and
Mrs. Mckee, Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Hal-
riSOn, Lieutenant and Mrs. Parker, Mrs
DimmOck and Mrs. Newcomer. IN adj
ditiOn Mrs. HarriSOn'S faithful maid.
Josephine and Miss Davis, the trained
nurse, were in the room. The mem
berS of the family spent a few minutes
around the lifeless clay and let the veil
be drawn over their deep grief.
When they emerged the president
retired Immediately to his own room
and closed his door The other mem
bers of the family respecting his evident
wish, allowed him to remain unmOlested
to contemplate his bereavement and
commune with his maker.
The last sad Offices for the dead were
performed by the nurse, Miss Davis,
who composed the remains for the un-
dertaker. The lights were dimmed
and the quiet of the grave lay upon tie
great white mansion.
The funeral services will be held
Wedna sday at the white house and the
remains taken to Indianapolis for in
terment.
Mrs Harrison, though herself appar-
entity the embodiment of WOmanly
strength and robust health, inherited
on her mothers side the disease which
has laid her low. The first appearance
OF the inSidiOus disease in her own case
dates back to an attack of the grippe
two years ago. Soon after her return
to Washington as wife of the president.
it began to be noticed that she was not
apparently as strong physically or as
able to meet her social duties as she
had shown herself during her husbands
term as senator. In spite of the help
she received from Mrs Mckee and Mrs. !
Russell Harrison in carrying out the
duties of her arduous position, it was
noticed that, although She had formerly
been a very fair walker, she seldom set
foot to the ground, and from being one
of the most marked of church gOerS she
was seldom seen at the Church of the
Covenant, except in the sunniest wealth
er. The winter of 1S9O-91 she had the