The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-25
{ THE MORNING NEWS.
I EsTABLIsHED 1880. INooRPoRATED 1888.
]. II. ESTILL, President
MRS. HARRISON NO MORE
THE ANGEL OF DEATa CALLS HER
HOME EARLY THIS MORNING.


The Last Day and Night One of Inces-
sant But Hopeless Watching on the
Part of the President and HIS
Femily-The Story of the Progress
of the Dread Disease.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, $3.50 A. MFRS.
Harrison is no more. AT l:40 O'CLOCK this
morning came the end. For the second
time in the history Of the white house a
Presidents wife has died within its walls.
Mrs. Harrison met death with the
patience and resignation Of a de-
voue Christian, and her last days
were comparatively free from pain.
For twenty-four hours the President and
his family had been almost constantly at
her bedside awaiting the end. Last night
was without special incident, but late and
early, so frequently that he could have slept
but little, if at all, the President was in and
out of the sick chamber, and was never
away for any length Of time.
now THE LAST DAY PASSED.
Last night passed slowly for the
grief-stricken watchers at the white
house. The patient was restless aud
nervous, with small fluctuations that
did not range far on either side from the
general average of extreme depression and
exhaustion. A trained nurse was constantly
ut hand, and the President and members of
his family had but little repose. being fire.
quently i'll and out Of the sick room, or in
communication with 1t. The terrible nerv-
ouB strain on those who watch without hope
and in desrairing resignation, was very ap-
parent. As the night waned and the gray
light OF Monday morning spread over the
earth, and the vital force Of Mrs. Harri-
son was at the lowest ebb, the Presidents
anxiety became so acute that he felt the
need of some assurance, no matter
Of what character, from medical
authority. So a messenger was dispatched
to the home of DR.. Gardner and the ply
sician quickly responded, reaching the
white house at O'Clock. So hopeless was
his report that the President desired HIM to
remain in tue white house for time. DR..
Gardner accordingly remained and break
tasted with tho family.
A FAVORABLE ATMOSPHERE.
The day was clear and crisp and cool. and
perhaps the inspiring sunshine and the dry
ness OF the atmosphere had somewhat helped
the invalid and acted as stimulant. She
as 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 She physician when he
entered the sick room this morning. The
fatal cough was present but naturally in
the enfeebled state of the invalid it WAS not
pronounced.
Early in the morning there was revival
IN the popular interest iu Mrs. Harrisons
condition. Many of the bureau chiefs and
other employees of the executive depart
ments went out Of their way to enter the
white house grounds and ask for informa-
tion regarding the condition Of the patient
and the watchmen at the door were kept
busy answering questions. Nearly all the
members OF the diplomatic corps called ct
the white house during the forenoon to in
quire after Mrs. Harrison, and to leave a
message OF sympathy for the President and
bis family. A great many Of Mrs. Harri-
sons personal friends also called, but the
family in their deep grief asked
TO be excused from seeing any
one. An execution wes made,
however, in the case Of Mrs. Parker, wife
Of Maj. Parker of the army, who hls been
o constant visitor ever since Mrs. Harri-
sons return to Washington.
AN INExCUsABLz LACK OF FEELING.
Notwithstanding the publicity given to
the fact that Mrs. Harrison was near tc
death, there was the usual rush to the house
# curious sight-5eers, for whose thought
less conduct the only excuse to be offered is
that they are strangers in the city. Al
though the house was closed to them they
did not appear to realize the fact until they
entered the portico and were confronted al
the door of the main entrance with two
signs conspicuously placed, each bearing the
single word "clos.d."
DR.. Gardner was at the patients bedside
nearly the entire forenoon. He went away
two or three times to attend to other pro
fessional duties but at no one time was he
absent more than half an hour. He frankly
admitted to the newspaper men who
thronged about him whenever he appeared
outside the mansion that the time of Mrs
harrtson's death was only a question
OF few hours, and that his
Efforts were devoted solely to making
ms patient as comfortable as possible in her
dying hours. She was slowly passing away
be said, and although the end might come
at any minute, it was possible that she
might linger for hours, yet he explained
that she was in the last stages of the dis
ease and was no longer able to take nourish-
ment OF any kind. Frequent applications of
stimulating moisture TO her parched lips
seemed to be the only treatment thai
afforded her the slightest relief
although she was in a state
OF extreme exhaustion and drowsiness the
physician said she had not yet passed into
the comatose condition which usually pre-
cedes death in such cases. She still retained
consciousness and when awake seemed Il
realize what was passing on around her
Inc doctor again referred to the remark
able vitality displayed by the patient and
SAID she had already survived a greater
number Of critical conditions than any
other patient he had ever attended. To
day is the first day that the white house hal
been wholly closed to the public since Mrs
Harrison was taken sick.
Mrs. Harrison suffered an alarming sink
ing spell shortly after o'clock, from which
she rallied, however. The doctor dismissed
hls carriage at s o'clock and said he would
remain at the white house until the enc
came. AT 9:30 o'clock he expressed tn,
opinion that the patient would live unit
4 midnight.
THE LAST HOUR.
4 II It we're possible to add to the gravity o.
the situation and to stimulate the agonizeC
Il apprehension of the sorrowiDg family gath
ued about the scarcely animated form o
q the beloved wife aud mother, those result
n were attained when DIR. Gardner, after mar
towly examining the countenance and feel
tug the pulse OF the dying woman, sorrow
iuIy announced that all anticipation
justified the belief that she could not survive
more than half an hour. This was at II:
o'clock. Minutes passed with frightfu
tapidity and the half hour passed. Thr
almost pulseless form, however
sui retained the sacred spark
me resistance offered by the constitution of
tne patient was marvellous and surprising
70 the Dhyefoian and all at the bedside