The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-09
HE HAS BUT FEW HOURS TO LIVE
The Relapses on Sunday Morning Car
ried Him to Verge of the Grave.
strong Stimulants Revived tho Flick
erinS Spark OF Life and Brought
Him Back to Consciousness-Crow
of People Surround the Mansion.

WASHINGTON CRY. Jan. S.-TSpecial. -
AT L O'Clock this, Sunday, morning the
watchers around the bedside of James e.
Elaine were frightened by the marked
change for the worse which was apparent
IN the countenance of the patient. The
family physician was hastily summoned
ana when he arrived he promptly admin
lstered large doses of digitaiis to stimulate
the action OF the heart, which at that time
was beating SO feebly that the pulsations
through the arteries wero scarcely no
uceable. The digitalis alone prevented
the demise OF the statesman be-
fore noon today, but the sufferer
has not been left alone for moment since
O'Clock last night. The doctors divided
the day up into watches, and as soon as
one left for rest or refreshment another
was at hand TO take his place. Blaine is
dying. and the duration of his life is to be
measured by hours rather than DAYS. For
the hrst time his family are willing TO adj
nit that hope has been abandoned and
that the end IS very near.
Once again the Blaine mansion was sur
rounded by a crowd of anxious watchers,
as large as 1t was three weeks ago tonight.
when the news was spread broadcast
throughout the city that Blaine was on
his deathbed. He has not been thoroughly
healthy for years, and the peculiarly weak
condition of his digestive organs has
caused him to collapse with almost every
attack OF Indigestion, yet the Won
deriul vitality OF the man has
aided him IN pulling himself to-
gether time after time when he seemed to
be in precarious condition. Three weeks
ago, when the serious nature of his mall
ady first became known. his vitality came
to MS assistance again, and once more he
rallied from his attack and again he was
dragged from the grave, but while he has
been reported rs slightly better" or ''con-
dltion unchanged, =" or 'about the same"
his vital forces have been steadily diminish
ing and today it was only through doses
of drugs strong enough TO kill q healthy
man that the spark of life was retained
within his body. MIR. Blaine" said one
of the doctors this evening, '.is diving. He
may live for some hours. bat | don't think
ii possible that he can survive 1t is prob
able, however. at this time that he may
live until morning, but it is scarcely pos
siDle shafas-sAn survive tgenty-four
hours"
Notwithstanding the hopeful views
which the family and attending physicians
by direction from time to time have given
out Tor publication, no expectations of
Bialne's ultimate recovery were enter
tanned by any one in position to acquire
knowledge of the real facts of his case.
Many more or less wel.-founded assertions
OF failing and dangerous reiapses have
found publicity, but none were officially
admitted until last night, when the physi-
clans admitted that Blaine was worse and
much weaker. Even this admission was
qualified by the announcement that no
immediate danger was anticipated. At
noon the physicians authorized tho follow
ing statement:
Yesterday Blaine lost strength, but last night
his weakness became more decided for a few
hours and he seemed in danger OF speedy terrni-
nation. Since morning, however, he is some-
what stronger. ana at the present moment
shows more decided evidences OF ra lying Bat
no great hope can be felt unless the improve
mens shall become more marked than at pres
ent. The present symptoms are connected with
an iETegu ar and feeble action OF the heart
The doctors bulletin, alarming as il was.
left many facts TO be supplied by outside
inquiries. At about midnight his condl-
ton became so alarming that the trained
nurse had DR.. Johnston aroused and hur-
riedly summoned. Johnston arrived at |
o'clock and found Blaine sinking rapidly,
and he worked over him for some time be-
fore signs OF any recovery became evident.
His condition was so alarming that the
family fearfuly looked Tor the end
before dawn. and remained awake and
within Immediate call of his bedside all
night. The powerful heart restoratives
n tast "a it- aFt,I -,
rallying and making more steady the fee
tie and uttul pusations of the heart, SO
that by the time church goers passed the
family residence BIaine's condition was a
shade better. He was still, however. so
weak and prostrated that the doctors did
not dare leave him for some time, fearing
another attack, and that the final sum
mons might come at any moment Toa
reporter who intercepted DR.. Johnston on
his way to- breakfast he said Blaine
was In really dangerous condi-
ton. At that time he was so low that
there was cause for apprehension of the
worst, and the probabilities were in the
direction OF the patients falling instead Of
ralIying. DR.. Johnston returned shortly
before 10 O'Clock and soon afterward DIR,
Hyatt emerged. lie said Blaine had raj
lied somewhat since early morning aud
that his system responded more freely
than heretofore 20 the remedies alminis-
tered. They revived him to some extent
and the action Of his heart was better.
1T vas ascertained that Blaine had three
distinct relapses during the night. At
.. m, when he was first seized with heart
failure, his physicians really thought the
end had come, but by the AID Of stimu-
lants, chatting and the usual accessories.
he rallied. He soon after, however, re-
.apsed into stupor. Suddenly, at 5
o'clock this morning he opened his eyes,
which were as clear as ever. and seeing
the physicians. he exclaimed: "DDctor, [
am glad you came" The tones OF
his voice were remarkably clear
and strong for man almost
in ex.remis. Five minutes later he
sank again into a stupor and
thirty minutes later he had another at
tack OF heart failure. Strange 70 relate, he
again rallied. only % be seized third
time three hours later. Towards evening
Blaine rallied slightly from the attack If
the doctors administering nitrO-g. ycerine
- stimulate the action OF the heart y hlch
il is believed. was a most clogged by
ur1mic poisoning. After the noon hour
Blaine gradually Tell INTO q selni-stupor
h4s sleep becoming more restiui - il con-
tiaQed, and at CLOCK Or. Johnston sad