The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-09
Mr. Blaine Suffered Another Serious Re-
lapse Early Sunday Morning.
His Physician Was Hastily Summoned, and,
by the Application of Powerful Stim.
ulants, Stayed the End.
he Rallied Yesterday, and Last Night
His Condition Had Improved.
His Family Has Little Hope. and Absent Mem.
bers Have Been Summoned-A Presby-
terIan Minister at the Bedside.


ANOTHER SINKING SPELL.
Ildr. Blaine Attacked by Heart Failure and
Physicians Hurriediy Summoned.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.-The news that
James G. Blaine had once more passed into
the valley of the shadow of death, and that
even those who had been most sanguIne IN
anticipation now held no hope
of his recovery. b, came known
IN Washington early this morning.
Notwithstanding the hopei II views which
the family and ATTENDING physician, by
their direction. had from time TO time CIV
en- out for publication. no expectation OF
Mr.. Blaine's ultimate recovery has been
entertained by anyone who had knowledge
of the facts since the issue of the significant
bulletin of Dec II last. which said:
MIR. Blaine has been suffering for some
time mast with symptoms Of impaired gen.
eral health, but which did not clearly IN
dicate the disease of any particular organ.
Evidence of local organic dlsesse has been
manifested recently, and it is believed his
present condition is due to this cause.
While there is nothing In the disease to
warrant the fear of any very rapid prog
ress, he has shown, within q month past,
moro signs of seriOus illness than hereto
fore. 1t Is hoped that this aggravation
may pass Off, but no positive statement can
now be made as to changes which may take
place from day to day."
Next day, Sunday. Dec. s, just three
weeks ago, there occurred sudden failure
CT the hearts action, which for hours left
the patient trem bling on the verge of death,
and which broke down much of the reti-
cence and suppression Of facts that bad
heretofore been maintained. and elicited
admissions which seemed to preclude any
hope of recovery or even of any material
amelorati0n of his condition. 1t is sig
nificant indication of the interest which
The whole country has taken in the pro-
longed fight against Its distinguished citi-
zen that since that day the press wires
leading from Washington to the great news
centers of the country have not
for one single moment remained unnamed.
Night and day operators aud reporters have
remained on duty. relieving each other
without cessation, and at stated intervals
through every night bulletins have been
wired TO indicate at least that no change
fog the worse had set in. Many more or
less well-founded assertions of failing
vitality anG dangerous rciapses haso siIco
then found publicity, but mono has been
officially admitted until last night. On
the contrary the daily statements of the
sick statesman's condition have been so
progressively on a scale of "a little better"
every morning that. had they been ground
ed on q substantial basis. would long since
have landed the invalid on q pinnacle of
robust health.
{. SUDDEN CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.
Last night the physicians admitted that
Mr.. Blaine was worse and much weaker.
Even this admission was qualified by the
announcement that no immediate danger
was anticipated, and that the doctors
would not return during the night unless
sent for. The exigencies of the occasion,
however, brushed aside this intention, IL it
was ever seriously entertained, and from
the hour of A. NJ. one or the other of the
physicians remained in constant attendance
at the bedside, each relieving the other
At noon the physicians authorized this
statement: {.
Yesterday Mr.. Blaine lost strength. but
last night his weakness became more de-
cIded for a few hours. and he seemed in
danger Of q speedy termination. Since
morning, however, ne has been somewhat
stronger. and at the present moment shows
10 great hope can be felt unless the i'm
provement shall become more marked than
at present and be continued for hours. HIS
symptoms are connected with an irregular
and feeble action of the heart"
The doctors bulletin, alarming as it was.
left many facts to be supplied by outside
Inquiries. 1t was about midnight that his
condition became so alarming that the
trained nurse who is constantly at his bed
side had DR.. Johnston aroused and hur-
riedly summoned. DR.. Johnston arrived at
/ O'Clock and found Mr.. Blaine sinking
rapidly, and he worked over him for some
time before signs of any recovery became
evident His condition was SO alarming
that the family fearfully looked for the end
before dawn Of the Sabbath morning and
remained awake and within immediate call
of his bedside all night. The powerful
heart restoratives applied BY the doctors,
which are stated to have been the most
potent known to medical science were suc-
cessful in raliying and making more steady
the feeble and tittul pulsations of the heart
so that by the time the churcb-goers passed
the family residence in Lafayette square
Mr.. B!aine's condition was a shade better.
He was still, however. SO weak and pros
trated that the doctors did not dare to
leave him at the same time, fearing that
another attack and the final summons
might come at any moment. At O'Clock
DR.. Hyatt. the other physician, was sum-
moned.
DIR. JOHNsToN's ADMISSION.
At o'clock Dr.. Johnston left the house
and hurried through Lafayette Park on his
way to breakfast at his home q few blocks
away. To a reporter. who intercepted him.
Dr.. Johnston said that Mr. Blaine. at
that hour, was in really danger
Gus condition. DR.. Johnston is q
very conservative man. and this was
the most decided statement he had
ever made respecting Mr.. Blaine. Mr..
Blaine, he said, began to grow weaker
yesterday afternoon, and his condition
grew worse with the on-coming of the
night. Mr.. Blaine sank as the vital forces
of nature ebbed. He was at that time so
low that there was cause for apprehension
for the worst. In response Co an inquiry
as to Mr.. Biaine's chances for rallying. as
compared with tho dangerous elements in
the case. Dr. Johnston stated that the
probabilities wero in the direction of the
patients failing DIR. Johnston returned
10 MIR. BlaIne's residence shortly before 10
o'clock. and soon afterwards DR.. Hyatt
lett for breakfast, 1t being tho intention OF
the doctors that. unless there shonid be an
unexpected display of strength on the part
., IL tf.<. thAr nf 4har,