St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-25
MRS. HARRISON DEAD.
Death Invades the Executive
Mansion at. 1:40 This
Morning.
After Months Of Suffering the
Presidents Wife Passes
Into Eternity.
Her Death-Bed Surro unded
by the Ones Most Dear
to Her.
Noble and Womanly Was Her
Life From Cradle to
Grave.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Mrs. Harri-
son is no more. At 40 a. IN. came the
end. For the second time in the history
of the White house presidents wife
has died within its walls. Mrs. Harri-
son met death with the patience and
resignation of devout Christian, and
her last days were comparatively free
from pain.
For twenty-four hours the family had
been in almost constant attendance at
her bedside. Last night was without
special incident, but the president was
never away for any length of time.
The night passed slowly for the grief
stricken watchers. The patient was
restless and nervous. with small f1uctu-
ations in condition that did not range
far on either side from the general aver
age of extreme depression and ex-
haustion. The
Terrible Nervous Strain
ON those who watched without hope and
i'll despairing resignation is very appar-
ent. AS the gray light of Monday
morning spread over the earth the vital
force of Mrs. Harrison was at the low
est ebb, and the presidents anxiety
became so acute that he felt the
need of some assurance, no matter
of what character, from medical author
ity. So a messenger was dispatched to
the hoTe of DR.. Gardner, and the physi-
clan quickly responded, reaching the
White house at z o'clock. He
to warrant the gravesJ apprehenslons,
and so hopeless was his report
that the president desired him to remain
in the White house for a time. Dr..
Gardiner accordingly remained and
breakfasted with the family. At 9
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 after giving the family the ..
Small Grain of Comfort
to be found in the statement that Mrs.
Harrison might live until daylight be-
gun to fade into the shadows of even
ing.
The day was clear and crisp
and cool, and the dryness of the
atmosphere had somewhat helped
the invalid and acted as stimu-
liant. She was lying ON her back and
whenever she awoke from her troubled
and unsatisfactory sleep she was con-
scious. She could still recognize her
surroundings, and glance of recogni-
tion granted the physician when he en-
tered the sick room this morning. The
fatal cough was present, but naturally
in the enfeebed state or the invalid
was not pronounced.
Early in the morning there was a re-
vival in the popular interest in Mrs.
Harris0n's condition. Many of the
bureau chiefs and other officials went
out of their way to enter the White
house and ask for information regard
ing the condition of the patient. and
the watchmen at the door were kept
busy answering questions. Attorney
Halford. Mr.. Halford himself had been
admitted 20
The Sick Room
early in the day so that he was pre-
pared to describe the situation. One of
his first acts was to telegraph state
ment of the case to Secretary Rusk, who
now i'll West Virginia, and suggest
their speedy return to Washington.
The other absent members of the
cabinet were not telegraphed for
because they wer expected to re-
turn during today and tomorrow.
The clerks were at their desks at the
White house during the day, but it was
plainly evident that here all was gloom.
DR.. Gardiner sat at the bedside near
all the forenoon. He went away sew
eral times to attend to other professional
duties, but was never absent long. He
admitted that death was very near, and
that, remarkable as Mrs. Harrison's
vitality was, he did not see how she
could live more than few hours.
Mrs. Harrison at nOontime was still
conscious. A little before that the pres
ident, leaning over her, asked if she
wished for anything. With the old
time smile that the approach of death
only made more tender and trustful,
she answered, low, but very distinctly,
No, dear"
At o'clock, as he left the house, DIR.
Gardner said that he did not think that
more than five or six hours of life re-
manned for Mrs. Harrison. He said that
most of the time she was in a sleepy,
Semi-COnscidus Condition
from which she frequently aroused.
The doctor said that his-effortS were de-
voted solely TO making his patient as
comfortable as possible in her dying
hours. She could not take nourishment
of any kind. and frequent applica.
tions of a stimulating moisture
to her parched lips was the only treat
ment that afforded any relief. The
doctor returned to his patient about
noon and found her even weaker
than before, almost completely
and unable longer to
speak OF cough. Apparently she was
conscious. There was little change
during the afternoon, but every change
was for the worse. and the watchers
were fearful that death would ensue
about sundown.
Secretaries John w. Foster, Rusk and
Elkins telegraphed to the president in
response to his message about Mrs. Har-
rlson's condition, that they would re-
turn to Washington Immediately. A
number of messages OF coincidence
were also received. From 4
o'clock Until we'll in the evening
the president and all the members of
the family remained INCREASINGLY at
Mrs. Harrisonss Bedside.
AS the day waned and the unclouded
SUN sank behind the Western hills,
casting rapidly lengthening shadows,
the anxiety of the watchers became
more and more intense.