The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-01-09
BLAINE VERY NEAR
TO DISSOLUTION
The Ex-Secretary Likely Now
to Pass Away at Amy
Moment.
THREE SINKING SPELLS WITHIN
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS.

~ Eaoh Attack the Patient was
Thought to bo Dylng-The Physicians In
Constant Attendanco-Tho Most Pow
srful stlaulants Necessary To restore
the Action of the Heart Many Anxious
Callers Rev. DIR. Hamlin Sent For.
WAsHtNoToR, Jan. 9-James g. Blaine
Is nearer the gates of death than he has
been since his alarming relapse three
weeks ago. His condition then was so
critical that local newspaper startled
the city with an extra edition. which
newsboys shrieked beneath the very win
dows Of the sick sbatesman's home, and
which called forth an indignant protest
from the members Of his family.
1t seemed then as though ex-Secretary
Blaine were sinking into his last slumber
amid tumultuous excitement, which
surged to his very door, and echoes of
which might have beat upon his ears.
Mr.. Blaine is so near death that bull
letin announcing his end may be issued
while these words are being wired, and,
on the other hand, under the influence of
the most powerful drugs known to medi-
cal science, his soul may be kept within
his body for several hours.
The Blaine mansion has been every hour
Of the past month as much the center of
observation as though every mPueut
might be his last. Ever since early yes
terday every personal movement of the
members of bis family, every entrance
and exit of the physicians, Drs Johnston
and Hyatt, and every arrival and depar-
ture Of callers, who are friends Of the
family, has been vigilantly observed
IL was I a. m. when the presence Of both
physicians, and the evident alarm of the
family, made it plain that another and
perhaps the final crisis in Mr. Blaine's
illness had been reached.
Battle with the Destroyer.
Such was indeed the case All through
the early morning hours either one or
the other of the physicians labored over
Mr.. Blaine, whose rapid pulse, heightened
temperature, and fluttering heart
threatened immediate dissolution. In
deed, it is understood that only by the
administration of nitro 81 ycerine, com
bined with other most powerful stimu-
lants, was the action of the heart restored
to something like its normal regularity.
Toward morning the unconscious patient
breathed more naturally, and the mem
bers of his family ventured to snatch a
few hours needed sleep, while DR.. John
ston went to his own house, Dr. Hyatt
remaining in the sick chamber
At o'clock in the morning Mr..
Blaine's symptoms again became acutely
alarming, and, in response to telephone
message, DIR. Johnston hurriedly returned
to the Red House
Both physicians were almost continu-
I II l.. - Il. Il.
the entire forenoon, and the bulletin
which they issued at midday was con.
elusive evidence to all who read it that
the end was near.
DR.. Hyatt when he left the house for
& short period early in the evening" said
that Mr.. Blaine was "little BETTER and
that there was hope that he might be
kept alive ''for few hours" The other
| physician, DR.. Johnston, who has per-
sisted in saying every day that Mr.. Blaine
was improving, also admitted that Mr..
| Blaine was much worse and expressed nc
| hope of even his temporary recovery.
The distress of MIR. Blaine's own house
hold during these moments Of solicitous
watching may only be imagined. Only at
intervals would the physicians and the
trained nurse allow even Mrs. Blaine tC
enter the immediate presence Of the dying
man, although every one of the family
was within immediate call should crisis
occur. Miss Hattie and James G. Blaine
jr., received most of the callers who were
for the most part confined to the oldest
and most intimate friends of the family
in the city.
Rev. DIR. HamIin Summoned.
One caller at the Red House, who's,
visit excited much comment, was thu
Rev. DR.. Hamlin, pastor of the Presbyter
ian Church of the Covenant, where Mr.
Blaine has been an occasional attendant
DR.. Hamlin's call was in response, it il
understood, to message from Mrs
Blaine, who sent for the Presbyterian