The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-10-27

ated floors and dropped their voices INTO
whispers when they spoke-cven though Tar
out of ear shot OF the stricken woman who
lay quietly with resignation awaiting the
last call. The shadows deepened, the sun
sank in the west, night came ana IN Ihe
south, the new moon showed herselI III the
sky, and yet the end was not vet The phy-
sician's calls We're more frequent ana Whell-
ever he came from the sick chamber ne
brought the same rep0ft--that the patlent
was as near death as she could be anu lye:
So the employees In the business section OF
the house whose work was done, anu VINO
might have gone home fingered IN the
Absolute detection were pictured on each
countenance. The telegraph instruments III
the eastern part of the building e nau Dean osa |.
steadily ticking all day bringing from afar
and near inquiries from friends of the fam-
lily. But after @ o'clock they ticket FASTER
and faster, and Executive Clerk Montg9 II
ery who is charged with the manlpuiatloh
of the wires, was kept very busy
The reason for the sudden increase in their
activity was found in the fact that some
one had sent to Indianapolis bulletin an
nouncing Mrs. Harrlson's death. The pre-
mature report spread rapidly, and there be-
gan to flow in upon the wires messages OF
/ coincidence addressed to the president. Mr..
Halford promptly authorized a prompt de,
nial, but 1t did not overtake the original
story, and the messages continued to ar
rive in numbers. Just after . O'Clock Mrs:
Harrison suffered another sinking spell, and
messages were sent by Mr. Halford to the
absent cabinet officers asking them to re-
turn to Washington immediately. But the
sick woman still had the strength to rally
once more, and to repulSe the attack or the
dread visitor who lowered at the thresh-
hold.
Wash in answer to numerous kilograms,
that J. q. Scott, Mrs Harrison's brother,
had passed through that place on his way
to Washington. DIR. Gardner had made
eight calls during the day, and when he
came on the last he sent his carriage home
and made preparations to stay until the the
nu1 nft ~ announced
that the patient might be expected to live
until midnight. Even this small grain OF
comfort was received with gratitude by the
anxious and grief stricken family and nus
At the supper hour the meal was spread
upon the table and one by one the watch
ers snatched few moments to take a hasty
repast. 1t could hardly be said that the pa
tient was unconscious during the evening
of attempts to relieve her last moments by
partially opening her parched lips to re-
ceive the stimulating food applied to them;
But not a drop could she swallow. and
speech had apparently left her forever
Then came increased difficulty in breathing,
which was regarded as bad sign
ing were Secretaries Tracy and Noble, who
have just returned from Chicago, Attorney
General Miller, Assistant Secretary Grant,
Assistant Secretary and Mrs. soley, Chief
Justice Fuller, Justice Harlan, Gen. and
Mrs. Breckenridge and Third Auditor Hart,
members of the diplomatic corps, ana the
President Harrison and his wife have at
tended Hour after hour slipped away,
each leaving the patient weaker in turn,
yet so gradual was the decline that lt coulq
not be said at any minute that she had
materially failed. The physician said II
she tided over midnight she might possible
survive until daylight.
Frequent glances were cast at the cloef
which was steadily ticking away the life
time of the invalid, and there was a visible
air of relief when the gong sounded II, SIC
one critical point was supposed to have DenI
passed. The hope inspired by the doctors
last statement was only of short duration
About 1890 oclOcy, while he sat by Mrs
Harrison's side with his fingers lightly
pressed to her pulse his practiced hand dis
covered a noticeable weakness of the hearts
action folloued almost Immediately by {
slight decrease Of prespiration. He notified
the grief-stricken family group around Tia
couch appeared to be very near ana that un
less she soon rallied from the stupor il
which was now drifting she could scarcely
live half an hour longer. This intelligence
had q most depressing effect upon the presi
dent, who had been in constant attendaEc'
upon his afflicted wife for oyer nine hours
and he sustained himself with the creates
difficulties '' -
If it were possible to adj to the gravity
| of the situation of the family gathering
| those results were attained when Dr. Gard
nar after q narrow examination and feel
| ing the pulse of the dying woman, al
nonnced that all indications justified tn,
| belief that she could not survive more thai
half an hoHE.- This was at 81 aIlarter to ]
| O'clock. The minutes passed with frightfl
| rapidity and the half hour passed. Tht
helpless form, however, still retained th'
| life spark.
The resistance offered by the constitution
| of the patient was surprising to the physi
| clan and all at the bedside. There was NJ
struggle. no exhibition of pain, but a sim
| ple passive resistance that was battling IL
| its quiet intensity. In few minutes DR.
| Gardner again took up the feeble hand an(
| felt the wrist The blood still crept through
| the contracting arteries, hnt hO, how slow
| ly. He shook his head and said that {
! brief fifteen minutes must surely finish th'
| struggle. The agitation of the family coul(
no longer be controlled. and realizing hi:
! utter helplessEess to longer cope with hel
| formidable foe, and from consideration foI
| the sacredness Of such grief as this, the de
| voted physician and friend bowed his heat
| and passed out .w-
Outside of the door he waited. 1t was no
long time. The minutes flew like seconds
| and suddenly there was an expression O
| heart-Sticken woe and the end had come
| The president was beside his dying wife
| as he had been for nine hours continually
| and his was the last of the loved features
| her eyes had dWelt upon. Her breath wa
| labOred and very slow.
| As the hands of the clock srept toward tn,
| next hour it grew fainter vet and less fre
| ment and as the time-piece marked th
| hour of 40 o'clock there was an interrup
tion of the feeble breath a resumption ant
| then n stop. this time to be eternal, and tn
| life of Caroline Scott Harrison had gone on
| peacefully and quietly and without pain.