Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-19

through the night At the same time
he v undoubtedly critically Ill, and
any complications that may arise would
doubtless cause . fatal termination 10
hls lines.
The Family 1alh.
A little after $50 o'clock James G.
Blame, Jr., came out and said to the
reporters: I'VE think that father -
considsFsbly better than he was this
morning He WAS Dangerously Ill dur
the forenoon. During the afternoon.
however. he seems to have rallied
somewhat. The phyacians have been
hero this evening. They think that he
vail 1--we through the night and We
hope for the beat. Still it must be said
that he 70 very dangerously Ill"
These we're the strongest statsments
that had yet been made BY the family
or the ply scians ~ TO the condition OF
the ex-secretsry. President Harrison,
accompanied by his private secretary,
Ehjah Hoiford, walked over from the
white house TO the ex-secretary's res
idsnce this evening TO personally in
quirs os to bis condition. and expressed
relief and qualification at being in-
formed that there had been some abate-
meut Of the more alarming symptoms.
From IN intimate friend of the fam
ily il 10 learned that 1t Was only when
Mr.. Blame WAS suddenly seized with
me sinking spell this morning, which
threatened for some minutes to termi-
nate IN heart failure, that his family
fully realized how near he WAS to death.
For few seconds he seemed to be IN
extrcmis and deathly pallor crept
over nim. Tne facs of the dying states
man Was white as marble and his fea-
tures sadly drawn. Attimes he scarcely
seemed to breathe ard at others gasped
for breath.
Mr. Riaine's Courage.
The physicians. who had been hastily
summoned, were in the meantime not
idle; they Piled him with stimulative
cordials. the trained nurses chafed his
extremities. and il was only after
working over the patient for upwards
OF thirty minutes and the application
OF every art known TO the medical pro-
fession that Mr.. Blaine SLOWLY revived.
But the battle with death found him
extremely weak, weaker than at any
time when suffering relapse. he was
too weak even TO whisper and lay with
no sgn of recognition in his malt closed
eyes.
The family gathered around the bed
side and were all IN tears except Mrs.
Blaine. She maintained outward CON-
posure throughout the trying scene and
calmly gave such directions to the at
tendants ss we're necessary. Rer will
power, when in fact her heart was
breaking, Is described as something
pathetic and marvellous. Whatever
may have been Mrs. Blaine's suspicious
or knowledge OF her husbands condi-
ton through all of the intervening
months of mis- illness, she has gwen no
outward sign that would indicate that
she did not believe in his future recov-
cry. II has been her cheerfulness un-
der most distressing circumstances that
has soothed her husbands despond-
ency.
Ms Fight for Life
or late Mr.. Blsine's physical condi-
tions nave been such that he has at
times given way to dependency.
While asnifesting no fear. OF death.
Mr.. Blaine has often said he did not
want TO die.
"In fact" says an intimate friend of
tho family, "Mr. Blame has fought
death with sublime heroism. The
world knows now ambitious he was
aud also knows how much he accomp-
llshed IN the pursuit of his ambition.
And yet he dies disappointed, and
was about TO say, a heartbroken man.
But that would perhaps be putting it
too strong. ] once heard him say that
after ail ambition was an ignis fatus
and that all the world Was hollow out
side of ones family.
''Then he would quote these lines by
n. r. Willis:
''what Is ambition?
:" Ills glorious cheat. The angels OF light
Walk not so dazzlingIy the sapphire walls of
heaven"
"Mr. Blaine has lived about sixty-two
years. but when YOU appreciate what
ne has passed through, he has lived
beyond three score and ten.
Blaine and clay.
He has been compared in his public
life with Mr.. Clay. There is close re-
semblance between Mr.. Blaine and that
great tribune of the people. Clay was
magnetic. so is Blame; each were pow
erfui before the people and prepared u
genial fellowship that bound men tn
them with hooks of steel. Both had
III 8thosttOh w bo ptCotbtHt 0bA i11cus
am inclined to believe, however. that
Mr.. Blaine's public career will stand
higher in the esteem of future genera
tions than that of Mr.. Clay. Botr were
remarkable men and have left their
lasting impress upon the times IN
which they llved."
At 9:30 o'clock tonight reporter for
the United Press had an interview with
MIR. Blaine's attending physicians, DIR.
+. W. Johnston and Frank Hyatt
Speaking for them both, DIR. Johnston
said;
"Mr. Blaine is distinctly better to-
night than he Was last night. and much
better than he was this morning."
"what was the nature of the attack
To-Day, doctor7'
"It was failure OF his heart to per-
form its functions satisfactorily"
His trouble was not in his heart,"
Was asked.
Mr.. Biatns's Bisesse
"No, 1T is not. but in the general
weakness. from which Mr. Blaine is
suffering, all the organs are affected
and the heart makes manifest the
whole system. Mr.. Blaine's condition
has been such. that when he takes cold
ss be did ten days or two weeks ago,
fever followed. causing n deterioration
OF the system. For some days prior to.
and including yesterday, however, he
was recovering from the effects of the
cold and fever and last night he was
entirely free from fever. his pulse