The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-19
The Condition OF the Ex-Secretary
Yesterday Caused Gravest
Of Fears.
A Sinking Spell Brought Out the
True Facts About His
Illnoss.
The Doctors Said mt Night He Had Rallied
and Was In No Imm IN ediute
Danger of Dying.


life Of James q. Blaine hung trembling in
the balance. For more than an honr In the
forenoon hope was abandoned and the end
was momentarily expected by the physi-
clans. the family and friends. All simula-
ton was thrown aside in the apparent inn
minent presence of death, and tho sup
pressed facts Of the Illness long denied,
are now admitted-Bright's disease, occa-
sional intervals Of delirum for long hours
when be laid incapable of speech or motion,
as 10 now said to have been the case when
Cardinal Gibbons paid him recent
friendly call. These and other distressing
features of the illness are all incidental to
one overpowerinR organic trouble. Bright'a
disease, aggravated us it has been of late.
by n cold contracted while imprudently
ventu ing out driving two weeks ago. and
by malarial fever, and confronted by Il
constitution impaired by nearly two years
of continual sickness. All these things are
now tacitly admitted. The physicians aver
that there have not beer any hemofrhaRes.
az asserted. but this is almost the only
alarming symptom which is now denied.
The first crisis was reached between 10
and II O'Clock this morning, when a sinking
spell set in which was the worst thing feared.
The family were called around the bedside,
and the physicians sent messenger after
messenger to the nearest drug store with
prescriptions requiring hasty attention.
The distinguished patient lay unconscious
and to all appearances dying, until shortly
before one O'clock, when slight rally act
in. The pulse, which had almost ceased to
beat. became again perceptible. and partial
consciousness was restored. At two O'Clock
the physicians. Drs. w. w. Johnston and
Hyatt, considered the patient 30 much i'm
proved as to render their constant presence
at the bedside unnecessary. While there
had been no change In his condition upon
| which hopes of ultimate recovery could be
based. the immediate crisis had pasted.
| At 2:30 O'Clock this afternoon James G..
Blaine, Jr., was seen Mt the family resi-
| dence. He said his fathers attack this
morning was very bad. and created the
grayest apprehension. His condition was
SO weak it was feared in view of his en-
feebled condition, that recurrence must
involve the greatest consequences.
| The statement was authotitatiVely made
at seven .. m. that nothing in the nature OF
relapse had occurred. While the i'm
provement in Mr.. Blaine's condition was
but slight, and not sufficient TO afford any
great amount of encouragement to his
family and friends, the reaction seemed to
modify the feeling ut apprehension for the
immediate future. DR.. Hyatt said that he
thought there was no doubt Blaine would
live through the night, but ut the same time
he was undoubtedly critically i'll. Any
complications that might arise would doubt.
| less cause fatal to mination to the illness
A little later James G.. Blaine, Jr., said
I'VE think father is considerably better
| nbn nhps ipfu "a
been here this evening, and we now think
he will live during the night and we hope
for the best still it must be said he is
very dangerously ill.,"
President Harrison, accompanied by Pri-
vate Secretary Halford, this evening per-
and pressed relief and qualification at
the abatement Of the more alarming
| symptoms.
From an intimate friend of the Blaines
it was learned that it was only when be
was suddenly seized with the sinking spell
this morning. which threatened for some
minutes to terminate in heart failure. that
his family fully realized how near he was
to death. For Il few seconds he seemed to
| be in extremis and the watchers bent anx-
iously over him. The emaciated face OF
the dying statesman was as white as mar
BILE and the features sadly drawn. Al
| times he scarcely seemed to breathe and al
others gasped for breath. The physician,
who was hastily summoned, piled him with
| stimulative cordials, trained nurses chafed
his extremities. and it was only after work
ing over the patient for upwards OF thirty
minutes and the application OF every art
known to the medical profession that Mr..
Blaine slowly revived. But a battle with
death found him extremely weak, weaker
than at any time when suffering relapse.
He was too weak even to whisper and
made no sign of recognition. The family
gathered around his bedside, all in tears
except Mrs. Blaine. She maintained hel
outward composure throughout the trying
scene and calmly gave esuch directions to the
attendants IA were necessary. Her will power
in fact was heatt-breaking and is described
az something pathetic and marvellous.