The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-22
MR.. BLAINE is DYING.
his PHYSICIANS NO LONGER DENY HIS
CRITICAL CONDITION.
6fishts Disease in Its Worst Form Has Him
In Its Grip and in short Time the
Great Statesman Must Yield
to the Grim Harvester.

" hidiiio udS hung
trembling in the balance. For more
than an hour in the afternoon hopes
were abandoned and the end momen-
'arily expected by physicians, family
and friends, All stimulation was
thrown aside in the apparent immi-
nent presence of death and the sup
pressed fact that his illness, long
denied, was now admitted to be
brlght's disease. There are occasional
intervals of delirium, long hours when
he has lain incapable of speech or mo-
ton las it is now said was the case
when Cardinal GiSbon paid him a
recent friendly call) These and
other distressing features of
his illness are all incidental
to one empowering organic trouble
Bright's disease, aggravated as it has
been of late by a cold contracted
while imprudently venturing out
driving two weeks ago and by ma
larial fever, and confronted by con-
stitution impaired by nearly two years
of continual sickness-all these things
are now tacitly admitted.
Physicians assert that there has not
been any hemorrhages, as has been
asserted, but this is almost the only
alarming symptom which is now de-
MED. The first crisis was reached be
tween 10 and II O'clock this morning,
when a sinking spell set in, when the
worst was feared. The family were
called around the bed side and ply
slclans sent messenger after messenger
to the nearest drug store with pre-
scriptions requiring hasty attention.
The distinguished patient lay I'M
conscious and to all appearances dy-
ing until shortly before / O'Clock,
when a slight rally set in. His pulse,
which had almost ceased to beat, be
came again perceptible and partly
consciousness was restored.
At2 o'clock the physicians. Drs
johnson and Hyatt, considered him so
much improved as to render their con
slant presence at the bedside unneces-
sary. There had been no change upon
which hopes of recovery could be
BASED, but the immediate crisis had
passed.
At $50 p. IN. reporter saw James
Ct. Blaine, Jr,, at the family residence.
He said his fathers attack this morn
ing was very bad and created the
greatest apprehension. His condition
was so weak that it was feared that in
view of his enfeebled condition re-
currence must involve the gravest
consequences.
Mrs. Hale, wife of Senator Hale of
Maine, one of Blaine's closest friends,
was at the house several hours during
the day and made second call late in
the afternoon About 5 o'clock she
left and soon after Senator Hale
called. Hales statement as he left the
house as to Blaine's condition was that
Blaine seemed little more comforta
BILE than earlier in the day, but his
condition appeared to be critical.
The house was lighted up early and
the lower shutters were closed. Drs.
HYATT and Johnson, who were to
meet at the house for consultation be
tween Z and 8 o'clock, were sent for
Just before o'clock. DR.. Hyatt was
the first to arrive. He reached the
house about five minutes after and
was followed soon by DIR. johnson
The fact that both doctors were sum-
moned gave rise to a rumor that the
patient was suffering from another
attack of exhaustion. This, however,
proved to be an error and the state
nent was authoritatively made at z
o'clock that nothing 10 the nature of a
relapse had occurred. While the i'm
provement in Blaine's condition is but
Slight and not sufficient to afford any
great amount of encouragement to his
family and friends, the reaction has
seemed TO modify the feeling of appre-
hension of the immediate future.
James G. Blaine, Jr., and Walter E.
Damrosch, the ex.secretary's son-in-
law, walked down the avenue this
evening. :, ,
All day reporters have patrolled
Madison place and carefully watched
the old red mansion which has be-
come cele brated for its historical asso-
Citations and the fatality with which
misfortune has followed it's occupants
From the Sickles Reyes tragedy,
which occurred more than a third OF a
century ago, followed by the attempted
assassination of Secretary Seward
during the last year of the civil war,
down to the present time, pail OF
ill-fate has hung over the mansion.
During less than four years occupancy
of this house by the Blaine family,
Col. Coppinger, Walker Blaine and
Emmons Blaine, the secretary's prom
Using sons, have died.
A little after 6 o'clock both doctors
left, DIR. Hyatt saying Blaine's condl-
ton showed slight improvement over
the morning. They did not consider
il necessary to issue another bulletin.
DR.. HYATT said he thought there was
no doubt Blaine would live through
the night. but az the same time he is
nndon btedly critically ill and any com
nlications that may arise would doubt
loss cause a fatal termination OF his
illness.
A little after $50 o'clock James q.
Blaine Jr., came out and SAID TO a
reporter: 1--WE think father Is con
better than this morning.
He was dangerously ill during the
forenoon. During the afternoon how
ever he seems to have rallied some
what. The physicians have been here
this evening and we, now think ne will
live during the night, and hope for the
hest Still it must be said he is very
dangerously ILL.," These were the
strongest statements that have yet