The record-union., 1892-10-25
Special to the REcoRD-Ux1ox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Mrs. Harrison
is no more. At l:40 this (Tuesday) morn
ing came the end. For the second time
in the history OF the White House Pres
ident's wife has died within its walls.
Mrs. Harrison met her death with the
patience and resig nation of a devout
Christian, and her last days Were com
paratively free from pain. For twenty
four hours the President and family have
been almost constantly at her bedside
awaiting the end. Sunday night was
without special incident, but late and
early, so frequently, he could have slept
but little, if at all-the President was in
and out of the sick chamber, and was
never easy for any length Of time.
Yesterday was clear and crisp and cool,
and perhaps the inspiring sunshine and
dryness Of the atmosphere somewhat
helped the invalid, and acted as a stimu-
lant. Whenever she awoke from her
troubled and unsatisfactory sleep she was
conscious. She could still recognize her
surroundings, and glance of recognition
greeted the physician when he entered
the sick room.
III. bafGueG was at the patent ) D6u-
side nearly the entire forenoon. He went
away two or three times TO attend to other
professional duties, but at no one time
was he absent more than half an hour
When asked about her condition he
frankly admitted that death was very
near, and that remarkable as Mrs. Harri-
sons vitality was, he did not see how
she could live more than few hours.
Mrs. Harrison at noon was still con-
scious. a little before that the President,
leaning over her, asked if she wished for
anything. With an o1d-time smile, that
the approach OF her death only made the
more tender and trusttul, she answered
low but very distinctly, NO, dear"
At l O'clock, as he left the house, DIR.
Gardner said he did not think more than
five or six hours of life remained for
Mrs Harrison. lie said that most of the
time she was in q sleepy, semi-uncOn-
sciOus condition, from which she Occa-
sionally rallied. During these spells Of
WaketuIneSS she recognized those around
her, and sometimes responded teebly, but
clearly and intelligently, to inquiries
made. The doctor said his efforts were
devoted solely TO making the patient as
comfortable as possible in her dying
hours She could not take nourishlnent
Of any kind, and frequent applications Of
stimulating moisture to her parched lips
was the only treatment that afforded any
relief
The doctor returned about noon. and
found the patient even weaker than be-
fore, almost compile, ely PROSTATE and un-
able longer to sueak or cough. Appar-
emily she was conscious. There was little
change during the afternoon, but every
change was Tor the worse, and the
watchers were fearful death would ensue
about sundown.
Many messages of coincidence were re-
ceived at the White House duriug the
-
evening the President and all member
remained constantly at Mrs. Harrison's
bedside. AS the day waned and the sun
sank behind the western hills the anx-
iety OF the watchers became more and
more intense. The shadows deepened.
the sun sank to rest, the night came, and
vet the end was not. The telegraph
instruments in the eastern part Of the
building were steadily ticking all day,
bringing from far and near inquiries
from friends of the family.
Just after o'clock Mrs. Harrison suf-
fered another sinking spell, and mes
sages were sent by Halford to the Cabinet
officers asking them 10 return TO Wash
ington Immediately. But the SEX woman
had still sufficient reserve strength to
rally once more and repulse the attack of
the dread visitor who 'hovered at the
threshold.
soon after o'clock the physician an
uOUltti Lltab tilG tldl4tlIb ull&Nb De GN-
pected to live until midnight. Even this
small grain of comfort was received with
gratitude by the anxious and grief
stricken husband and family.
1t could hardly be said that the patient
was unconscious during the evening
hours, Tor she betrayed some signs OF un-
derstandiug when attempts were made 10
relieve her last moments, by partially
opening her parched lips to receive the
stimulating fluid applied to them, from
time to time. But not a drop could she
swallow. and her power of speech had
apparently left her frame forever in
addition, the PHYSICIANS experienced eve
noticed as the evening wore en- an in
crease in the diHculty of her breathing
which he regarded as an omiuous sign.
Hour after hour slipped away, each
leaving the patient weaker in turn, vet so
gradual was the decline that il could not
be SAID positively at any minute she had
materially failed. The measure Of the
ebblng tide was respiration. which slowly
sunk trom fifteen ut nightiall TO twelve at
midnight. The physician had said if she
tided over that hour she might survive
until daylight, so there was a visible air
OF relief when the gong sounded u.
The hope inspired, however, was onlv
of short duration. About 1880 O'Clock
the physician dlscerned a noticeable
weakness Of the hearts action, followed
almost Immediately by slight decrease
of respiration. lie notified the grief
stricken family grouped around the
couch that the end appeared yerv near.
This intelligence had a most depressiucr
effect upon the President, but he sus-
tanned himself with the greatest difficulty.
Dr. Gardner, after narrowly examining
her c0untenauce and feeling her pulse.
sorrowfuily announced that all indica-
lions justified the belief that tEe patient
could not survive more than half an hoar,
This was Il quarter TO O'Clock. The min
utes passed with frightful rapidly, and
the half hour passed. The almost help
less form, however, still retained the sa-
cred spark.
The resistance offered by the constitu-
ton OF the patient was marvellous and
surprising to the physician and al at the
peuslde. There was 30 struggle, no eN-
hlbition Of pain, but simple passive re-
slstence that was bathing in its quiet in
tonsity.
In few minutes DR.. Gardner again
TOOK up the feeble hand and felt the
wrist. Blood crept through tic contract
ing arteries, eut how slowlyi He shook
ms head and sud Il brief istean minutes
lnust surely finish the struggle. Tie
agitation OF the family coGld no longer be
controlled, and realizing his utter helm
lessness TO longer cope with the formiI-
able zoe, and from consideration for the
sacredness OF such grief as this, the de-
voted physician and friend bowed his
head ana passed out of the door. Outside
Of the threshold he took his station and
waited. 1t WIS not long The minutes
Aew Like seconds, ana suddenly there