Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-09
IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
Blaine Again Passes Into
the Dark Valley
No Hope Now Entertained for
His Recovery.
He Barely Managed to Pull Through
Saturday Night.
His Condition Throughout Sunday was
Extremely Critical-A Presbyterian
Preacher Called In to Pray
atsHis Bedside.

BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.-The news that
James &. Blaine had once mere passed
into the valley of the shadow of death,
and that even those most sanguine in
anticipation were holding no hope Of
his recovery, became known in Wash
ington early this morning. Notwith-
standing the hopeful views which the
family and attending physicians, by
direction. have from time to time given
out fer publication, no expectation of
Blaine's ultimate recovery is entertained
by any one in position to acquire
knowledge of the real facts OF lis case.
Many more or less we'll founded asser-
tions of failing and dangerous relapses
found publicity, but none were officially
admitted until last night, When. the
physicians admitted that he was worse
and much weaker. Even this admission
was qualified by the announcement that
no immediate danger was anticipated.
CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.
The case, however, changed, and from
the hour of O'Clock this morning one
or the other physician remained in con-
stant attendance at the bedside. At
noon the physicians authorized the fol-
lowing statement:
yesterday Blaine lost strength, but
last night his weakness became more
decided for few hours, and he seemed
in danger of a speedy termination.
Since morning, however, he is some-
what stronger, and at the present mo-
ment shows more decided evidence of
rallying. But no great hope can be felt
unless the improvement shall become
more marked than at present. The
present symptoms are connected with
irregular and feeble action OF the
heart"
TANNING THE DYING EMBKRs.
The doctorsf bulletin, alarming aa it
was, left many facts to be supplied by
outside inquiries. At about midnight
his condition became SO alarming that
the trained nurse had DR.. Johnston
aroused and hastily summoned. DIR.
Johnston arrived at o'clock,
and found that Blaine was sink
ing rapidly, and he worked over him
for some time before signs OF any recov-
cry became evident. His condition was
80 alarming that the family tearfully
looked for the end before dawn and re-
mained awake and within immediate
call of his bedside all night. The pow
erful heart restoratives applied by the
doctors were successful in rallying and
making more steady the feeble and fitful
pulsations of his heart, 30 that by the
time church goers passed the family
residence Blaine's condition was shade
better. He was still, however, 80 weak
and Frustrated that the doctors did not
dare to leave him, at the came time
fearing that another attack and the
final summons might come at any mo-
ment.
THE FINAL SUMMONS IMMINENT.
To reporter who intercepted DR..
Johnston on his way to breakfast, he
said Blaine was in a really dangerous
condition. At that time he was so low
that there was cause for apprehension
of the worst and probabilities in the
direction of the patient failing instead
of rallying.
DR.. Johnston returned shortly before
10 O'Clock, and soon afterward DIR.
Hyatt came out of the house. He said
Blaine had rallied somewhat since early
morning and his system responded more
freely than heretofore to the remedies
administered. They revived him to
some extent and the action of the heart
was better.
DIsCONsOLATE FRIENDS.
Representative and Mrs. Hit, init
mate personal friends of the family,
were about the earliest callers OF the
day. When leaving, Hit sorrowfully
admitted that he did not think either
Mrs. Blaine or the members of the fam
lily hoped for his ultimate recovery, and
said Mrs. Blaine was evidently prepared
for the worst.
Robert Blaine, brother of the sick
man, called later, and on leaving the
house, said the family felt more hopeful
than earlier in the morning.
Soon after IL O'Clock intimate friends
of the family sent kilograms to relatives
of the family, announcing the latest
state of his illness. These stated, it is
understood, that the family were with
out hope that Blaine would recover.
Secretary of State Foster called and
on leaving stated that Blaine was some
what improved and better than last
night.
DYING LIKE PHILOSOPHER.
A warm personal friend of Blaine, and
who has access to what transpires in the
sick room. said this afternoon: "Blaine
has not had connected thought for 80
days past. His heart, while nourishing
other organs, is not strong enough to
furnish the necessary blood for the
brain. But Blaine dies like a philoso-
pher at last, distasteful as the subject
of death has been to him in other and
stronger days. A few weeks ago he
called his family about him and calmly
told them he did not expect to recover; /;
went over his affairs in detail, and said
to each of his children all he had to say.
When the history is written of Blaine's
illness the touching devotion of the wife
and mother will be one of the interest
ing chapters"
All during the afternoon visitors were
coming and going at the Blaine man
sion, among them Vice-P President Morton
and Secretary Halford.
A TEMPORARY RALLY.
Towards evening Blaine rallied slight
lv from the attack of the morning The