The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1892-10-28
DEATH OF MRS. HARRISON.


Tho President's Wife Expires Early Tues
day Morning.
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison died at the White
House At 40 o'clock Tuesday morning.
For the second time in the history OF the
White House, presidents wife has died
within Its walls. Mrs. Harrison met death
with the patience and resignation Of a deveut
Christian and her last days were compare
tlvely free from pain.
For twenty-four hours the President and
family had been almost constantly at her bed.
side, awaiting the end Sunday night the
President slept but little, II at all. He was
frequently In and out Of tho sick chamber,
and never away for any length Of time.
At O'Clock Monday morning 1t appeared
that tho struggle for life was to be prolonged
for some hours at least, and the doctor left
the White House, after giving tho family the
small grain Of comfort to be found in the
statement that Mrs. Harrison might live until
the sunlight began to fade Into the shadows
OF evening. The day was clear and crisp and
cool and perhaps the inspiring sunshine and
the dryness Of the atmosphere had somew hat
helped the invalid as stimulant She was
lying on her back and whenever she awoke
from her troubled and unsatisfactory sleep
she was conscious. She could still recognize
her surroundings and glance OF recognition
greeted the physician when he entered the
sick room Monday morning. The fatal cough
was present. but naturally In the cnfceblcd
state OF the Invalid II was not pronounced.
Mrs, Harrison at noon time was still con-
scious. little before that the President,
leaning over her, asked II she wished any.
thing. With the old.timc smile that the ap-
proach of death only made more tender and
truntful, she answered very dstlnctivcly,
"So, DEAR
From O'Clock until we'll In the evening the
President and all the members OF the family
remained increasingly at Mrs. Harrison's bed
side
II 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 time. But not drop could she swal-
low, and the power Of speech had apparently
left her frame forever In addition, the pa
tent experienced, as the evening wore on, n
difficulty IN breathing.
The resistance offered by the constitution
OF the patient was surprising to the physicians
and all At the bedside. There was no strug-
gle, no exhibition OF pain, but simple. pas
siye resistance that was beautiful In Its
quictude. DIR. Gardner took up the feeble
hand and felt the wrist. The blood still crept
through the contracting arteries, but oh, how
slowly. He shook his head and said that n
brief fifteen minutes must finish the struggle.
The agitation Of the family could no longer
be controlled, and realizing his utter helpless
ness to longer cope with her formidable foe,
and from consideration for the sacrcdness of
such grief as this, the physician and friend
bowed himself and passed out OF the room.
Outside of the threshold he took his station
and waited. 1t was not long time. The
minutes flew like seconds and suddenly there
was an expression OF hcart-strickcu voc and
the end had come. The President was beside
his dying wife, as he had been for nine hours
continuously, and his was the last of the
loved features her eyes had dwelt upon. Her
breath was laborcd and very slow rs the
hands OF the clock crept towards the next
hour II grew fainter and less frequcn, and as
the time piece marked the hour Of l 40 o'clock
there was an interruption Of the feeble breath,
resumption and then a stop, this time to be
the last, and life had gone out peacefully and
quietly and without pain.
The funeral arrangements were completed
ms follows; Religious services will he held at
the White House Wednesday morning, from
whence the remains will be taken to the CEN.
ctcry Of Crown Hill Thursday.