Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-24
TO-DAY's TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
Mrs. Harrison.

Mrs. Harrison.
WAsHINGroS, Oct. 2l.-The night
passed slowly at the White House.
Mrs. Harrison was restless and ner-
vous with small fluctuations i'll condi-
ton that did not range far on either
side from the general average OF eX-
IRENE depression and exhaustion. The
nurse was constantly at hand and the
President and members OF the family
had little repose, being frequently III
and out of the sick room or in commu-
nication with ii. The terrible nervous
strain on those who watch without
hope was very apparent. As the night
waned and the gray light of Monday
morning spread over the earth the VI
tai force of Mrs. Harrison was at the
lowest ebb. and 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 physician
quickly responded, reaching the White
House ut I o'clock. He found the pa
tent in condition to warrant the
gravest apprehensions, and so hopeless
was his report that the President de-
sired him to remain in the White
House for Il time. AT nine o'clock it
appeared that the struggle for life was
to be prolonged for some hours at least,
and the doctor left the White House,
stating that Mrs. Harrison might live
until the sunlight began to fade into
the shadows Of evening. She was ~
ipg ON her back and whenever she
woke from her troubled ami unsatis-
factory sleep she was conscious. She
could still recognize her surroundings
aud glance of recognition greeted the
physician when he entered the sick
room this morning. The fatal cough
was present but naturally in the en-
feeLled state of the invalid it was not
pronounced.
Mr.. Halford himself had been admit
ted to the sick-room early in the day
so that he was prepared to descibe the
situation. One Of his first acts was to
telegraph statement of the case to
Secretary Rusk, who is in Wisconsin,
aud Secretary Elkins, now in West
Virginia, and suggest their speedy re-
turn to Washington. The other absent
members of the Cabinet were not tele-
graphcd for because they are expected
TO return during to-day and tomorrow.
DR.. Gardner made another visit to
the White Hoyse at 11:l5 o'clock, and
on leaving, informed the newspaper
men that Mrs. Harrison was barely
alive. DR.. Gardner frankly admitted
lnll the tlllle Vi I1IS. lIdI ISOiI . ASue'i
was only question ola few hours and
that his efforts were devoted solely to
making his patient as comfortable as
possible in her dying hours.
DR.. Gardner saw Mrs. Harrison again
at , o'clock this afternoon and found
that she was even weaker than when
he visited her about an hour before.
She is now almost completely pros
rated and is no longer able to speak,
to cough or to swallow, and therefore,
is unable to take either stimulant or
nourishment of any kind. The doc
tor again referred to the remarkable
vitality displayed by the patient and
s. id she had already survived greater
number of critical conditions than any
other patient he had ever attended.
At halfpast four Mrs. Harrison was
still alive.