Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-25

eye noticed, as the evening wore on an
increase in the difficulty of breathing.
which he regarded as an ominous sion
| Hour after hour slipped away. each
leaving the patient weaker in turn vet
so gradual was the decline, that it could
not be said positively at any minute that
she had materially failed. The measure
OF the ebbing tide was her respiration.
which slowly sunk from Is at nightfali
to IL at midnight. The physician had
said that If she tided over that hour she
might survive until daylight, SO there
was visible air of relief when the gong
sounded IL. The hope inspired, howev-
er, was only of shart duration.
THE END VERY NEAR.
About 1880 O'Clock the physician dis
cerned a noticeable weakness of the
hearts action, followed almost immedi-
atelY by slight decrease of the respira-
tlon. He notified the grief stricken fam
lily grouped around the couch that the
end appeared to be very near. This in
telligence had most depressing effect
upon the president, and he sustained
himself with the greatest difficulty.
DR.. Gardner, after narrowly examin-
ing the countenance and feeling the
pulse, sorrowfully announced that all in
dications justified the belief that the pa
tient could not survive more than half
an hour. This was AS O'Clock. The
minutes passed with frightful rapidity,
and half an hour passed. The almost
helpless form. however, still retained
the sacred spark. The resistance offered
by the constitution of the patient was
marvellous and surprising to the physi-
clan and all at the bedside. There was
no struggle, no exhibition of pain, but
simple passive resistance that was baf-
fling in its quiet intensity.
In few minutes DR. Gardner took up
the feeble hand, and felt the wrist. The
blood crept through the contracting
arteries, but how slowly! He shook his
head and said brief fifteen minutes
must surely finish the struggle. The ag-
itation of the family could no longer be
controlad, and realizing his utter help
lessness to longer cope with the formid-
able foe, and from the sacredness of
such grief as this, the devoted physi-
clan and friend bowed his head and
passed out of the door. Outride of the
threshold he took his station and
waited. 1t was not long. The minutes
flew like seconds, and suddenly there
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 the
loved features her eyes had dwelt upon.
Her breath was labored and very slow.
AS the hands of the clock crept towards
the next hour, 1t grew fainter yet and
less frequent, and as the time piece
marked the hour of l 40 O'Clock, there
was the interruption of feeble breath,
a resumption, and then stop, this
time to be eternal, and the life OF Car
oline Scott Harrison had gone out peace
fully and quietly and without pain.
| AT THE DEATH Bed
All of the family in Washington were
present at the death bed, except the
three little grandchildren and the ven
cradle DR.. Scott, father of Mrs. Harri-
son. They we're: President Harrison,
Mr.. and Mrs. Mckee, Mr.. and Mrs.
Russell Harrison, Lieutenant and Mrs.
Parker, Mrs. Dimmick and Mrs. New
conner. In addition, Mrs. Harrison's
faithful maid j Josephine, and Miss Davis,
trained nurse, were in the room.
THE PRESIDENTS GRIEF.
The members OF the family spent a
few minutes around the lifeless clay,
and let vail be drawn over their deep
grief. When they emerged. the presi-
dent retired Immediately to his own
room and closed his door. The other
members of the family, respecting his
evident wish, allowed him to remain
unmolested to contemplate his great be-
reavement, and commune with his
Maker.
THE QUIET OF THE GRAVE.
The last sad Offices fer 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 the
great white mansion.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The funeral arrangements have been
concluded as follows: Religious services
will be held in the White house
Wednesday morning, after which the
remains will be taken to Indianapolis,
where the internent will take place at
Grown Hill cemetery, Thursday.
CABINET OFFICERS RETURNING.
Secretary John w. Foster and Secre-
taries Rusk and Elkins telegraphed
Private Secretary Halford, in response
to message about Mrs. Harrison's con-
dition, that they will return to Wash
ington Immediately.