Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-02-04

the latest news the significant look in
their faces answ red the question.
''lIe is dead" said DR.. Johnston, 'and
he passed away peacefully"
The doctors did not give the exact
time of the death, but it was observed
that about 10:45 the windows in the
room of the sick chamber were slightly
raised.
Crowds Gather at the House,
The news of Mr.. Blaine's death
spread like wildfire. Crowds gathered
pm the corner and visitors focked to the
house. DIR. Hamlin, who was passing
the house when the announcement of
the death was made. at once entered
and remained with the family for some
time.
Word was sent to the president i'm
nediately after the death. At 11:25
President Harrison, accompanied by
Private Secretary IIalford and T.. II.
Parker, walked over TO the Blaine man
sion. The president showed marked
signs of grief. Postmaster General Wan
amaker followed the footsteps of the
president.
The president and postmaster-gen.
eral were quickly followed by calls
from Secretaries Elkins, Noble and
Rusk and Attorney General Miller and
Secretary Tracy, each of whom re-
manned only few minutes and then
repaired to the white house.
Robert Blaine, the brother of the
dead statesman, who has been faithful
in his attendance at the house of the
dying man, called with his wife about
| 1850 o'clock and remained with the
family until 1880, when they left in
tears.
One after another in constant
stream the most prominent people in
official life have stopped at the house
and left words of coincidence with the
members of the stricken household.
In answer to the direct question,
"Did Mr.. Blaine die of Bright's dis
ease?" DIR. johnson said: "While there
has been during the last several months
evidence of chronic disease of the kid
neys, being form of what is com
monty known US Brights disease, yet this
was not the sole cause of death. There
were other complications which tended
Z, to exhaust him ard &c hasten the end.
| The relapses which he has had from
| time to time were due to heart exhaus-
tion, that is feebleness and irregularity
of the action of the heart, accompanied
by difficult breathing. During yester-
day nothing important occurred. Mr..
Blaine simply lay there in feeble con.
dition, taking but very little nour.
ishment. Indeed, he has taken
but very little nourishment
since his serious attack Of December
1S, and this has consisted wholly OF
milk. At no time has he had any diff.
Guilty with his stomach and he has been
able to digest whatever food was given
him. Throughout his long illness he
has been able to recognize the members
| of his family and the physicians. y
DIR. Johnston further said that
there had been really no hope of Mr..
Blaine's ultimate recovery since that
Sunday in December, but up to within
the last two or three wseks a strong
hope had been entertained that his life
might be prolonged, since that time,
however, there has been no hope.
| 1t was ascertaiued from the physi-
clans that there was nothing dramatic
| or sensational in Mr.. Blaine's last mo-
ments. There were no last words. He
simply faded away
| Mr.. Blaine passed a restless night
and this morning was languid and
weak, but nothing serious was noted
| till shortly before o o'clock, when a
change for the worse occurred. Both
physicians were hastily summoned and
remained at the bedside until death.
Mr.. Blaine was conscious until a few
moments before death and the end was
so quiet and peaceful that only the OK
perienced eye of the physicians could
see that the great statesman had joined
lhe majority.
DR.. Hyatt said that Mr. Blaine's