Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-22
BLAINE'S END Is NEAR.
1T Is REPORTED THAT HE MAY
DIE ANY DAY.
His Family and Physicians Now Admit
That the Very Worst Is to Be Feared
and the Famous Statesman NAV Never
Leave His Bed Alive.

That the Very Worst Is to Be Feared
and the Famous Statesman MAY Never
Leave His Bed Alive.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-All day long Sun
day the life of James G. Blaine hung trem-
bling in the balance. For more than an
hour in the forenoon hope was abandoned,
and the end was momentarily expected by
physicians, family and friends. All simu-
lation was thrown aside in the apparent
imminent presence of death, and the sup
pressed facts of his illness-the long denied
but now admitted Bright's disease, the oc-
casional intervals of delirium, the long
hours when he lay incapable of speech
or motion-these and other distressing
features of his illness, all incidental to the
one overpowering organic trouble, were
admitted. His family were hastily called
round the bedside The distinguished pa
tient lay unconscious and to all appear
ances dying until 1 p. m, when a slight
rally set in. His pulse, which had almost
ceased to beat, became again perceptible
and partial consciousness was restored At
p. M his physicians, Drs. w. w. John
S'cii hht II bot, lllll 81 DuCI
improved as to render their constant pres
ence at the bedside unnecessary.
An Ill Fated Mansion.
All day representatives of the press pa
trolled Madison place and carefully watched
the old red mansion, which has become cele-
brated for its historical associations and
the fatality with which misfortune has fol-
lowed itg From tho Sick lac
Keys tragedy, which occurred more than a
third of century ago, followed by the at
tempted assassination of Secretary Seward
during the last year of the civil war, down
to the present time the pail of ill fate has
hung over the mansion.
During the less than four years. occu-
pancy of this house by the Blaine family
che ex-secretary's daughter, the wife of
Colonel Coppinger and Walker and EN-
mons Blaine, the ex-secretary's promising
sons, have died.
President Harrison, accompanied by his
private secretary, Mr.. Halford, walked over
from the White House to the ex-secretary's
residence in the evening to personally
inquire as to his condition, and ex-
pressed relief and qualification at being in
formed that there had been some abate-
ment of the more alarming symptoms. The
excitement throughout the city was in
tense as the news of Mr.. Blaine's condition
spread, and, Sunday though it was, the
newspapers issued extras, which found a
rapid sale.
MIR. Blaine's Heroism.
OF late Mr. Blaine's physical condition
has been such that he has at times given
way to despondency. While manifesting
no fear of death, Mr.. Blaine has often said
that he did not want to die. "In fact"
says an intimate friend of the family, "Mr
Blaine has fought death with sublime her.
oism. The world knows how ambitious he
was and also knows how much he accom-
plished in the pursuit of his ambition. And
yet he dies disappointed and, was about
to say, heartbroken man, but that would
perhaps be putting it too strong. once
heard him say that, after ALL ambition was
an ignis fatuus and that all the world was
hollow outside of ones family"
AT late hour Drs. Johnston and Hyatt
saw Mr.. Blaine and gave out for publica-
tion the following statement:
Mr.. Blaine seems to have rallied en-
tirely from his weakness of the morning.
and appears to be as well as at any
time within the past week. While it is not
possible to say what changes may take
place in his condition, he can be said to be
in no immediate danger"