, 1892-10-24
THE END AT HAND.
The Presidents Wife Slowly and
Surely Sinking,
AnxiOusiy waiting for the Dreaded
ResuIts.--The Physicians BuIIe-
tins.--Death Looked for at Any
mOmemt.

ttns.--Death Looked for at Any
Moment.
WAsHINeToE, October 24-Dr. Gardner
was summoned to the white house at 7
O'Clock this morning an hour earlier than
usual. He found the disease making rapid
progress and Mrs. Harrison slowly but
but surely nearing her end. He says Mrs.
Harrison is sinking rapidly and can hardly
survive the day, but will probably linger
till evening.
The night passed slowly for the grief
stricken watchers at the white house. The
patient was restless and nervous. with
small fluctuations in her condition that did
not range faro either side from the gen.
eral average of extreme depression and
exhaustion. The president and members
of the family had little repose, being
frequently in and out of the sick room
The terrible nervous strain on those who
watched. without hope, and in despairing
resignation was very apparent as the night
waned, and as the gray light of morning
spread over the earth, the vital forces Of
Mrs Harrison were at their lowest ebb.
The presidents anxiety became so acute
that he felt the need of some assurance, no
matter of what character from medical
authority. A messenger was dispatched
to the home of DR.. Gardner, and the ply
sician quickly responded, reaching the
White House at Z
At11;15 DR.. Gardner said Mrs. Harrison
was barely alive.
He found the patient in a condition to war
rant the gravest apprehensions, and was so
hopeless in his report that the president
desired him to remain in the White House
for time. DR.. Gardner accordingly re-
= = 4taa e..
At o'clock the struggle for life appeared
to be prolonged for some hours at least,
and the doctor left the White House, after
giving the family a small grain of comfort
to be found in the statement that Mrs. Har-
risOn might live until the sunlight began
to fade into the shadows of evening. The
invalid Is lying on her back, and whenever
she awakes from troubled or unsatisfac-
tory sleep she IS conscious. She could still
recognize the surroundings, and glance
Of recognition greeted the physician when
he entered the sick-room. The fatal cough
is present, but the naturally enfeebled
state of the invalid is not pronounced.
Early in the morning the revival in the
popular interest in Mrs. Harrison's condi-
tion became apparent, and many of the
bureau chiefs and other employees Of the
executive department went out of their
way to the whitehOuse grounds to ask for
information regarding the condition Of the
patient, and the watchman at the door
was kept busy answering questions. At
torney General Miller called early, and saw
Secretary Halford. Halford was himself
admitted to the sick room early in the day
and so he was prepared to describe the sit
uatiOn. One of his first acts was TO tele-
graph a statement Of the case to Secretary
Rusk, in Wisconsin, and Secretary Elkins
in West Virginia, and suggest their speedy
return to Washington. Othera absent mem
hers of the cabinet were not telpgraDhed
for, because they were expected to return
today or tomorrow.
WAsHINGToN, October 24.-2 p. m.-Mrs.
Harrison was weaker than an hour before
and IL now almost completely prOstrated.
She is unable speak, cough or swallow OF
take either stimulants or nourishment OF
any kind. The doctor considers her vital
| ity most remarkable.
At 4;15 p. m, Mrs. Harrison's condition
was UNCHANGED