The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-20
OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH
GOV. ATKINSON RALLIES AFTER
HOPE is ABANDONED.

If He Lives Twenty-FOur Hours
Longer He VIII Get WeII-HiS
Grit All That Is Keeping Him
AIive-He Realizes His Critical
Condition and Says He Is Going to
Win the Fight If Possible.
Atlanta, Ca, June 10, p. m.-Gov. At
kinson lowered between life and death
all day Since midnight last night the
crisis has been on. and the physicians
and family were almost without hope.
When the consultation among the doc
tors was concluded last night it was
thought that the governor stin had a
slight chance for his life. The physicians
felt somewhat encouraged at his condi-
tion, his temperature and pulse both hav-
ing improved, and 1t was upon this that
they based their hope. The governor, who
had slept some, himself expressed the
opinion that he was better Il feel lit
tie stronger" he said to his devoted wife,
who is constantly with him despite her
own delicate health.
This slight Improvement was only tenn
porary, however. Soon after the physi-
clans left the governor began losing
strength. He bore up bravely. but the
ordeal was so severe that he was forced
to complain of the awful tiredness that
exhausted him. His bowels were swelling
and the symptoms of peritonitis became
more marked. He retained his medicine,
however, and this gave some encourage
ment to his trained nurses, who have been
with him constantly. AS the morning
wore on, however, the physicians real
lied that the medicines, though retained
in the stomach, were not assimilated and
practically ineffective. When questioned
by the family the physicians shook their
heads ominously and gave but slight en-
couragement At $50 o'clock this morn
ing the physicians made a close examina-
ton and, after consultation. issued the
following bulletin:
a. m.-Since the last consultation held
at midnight. the governor has rested
fairly well, but this morning is consider
ably exhausted. He is to-day retaining
his medicine and some nourishment. Tenn
perature 80 40; pulse 120; respiration So;
condition still serious.
]. B. S. Holmes.
Hunter P. Cooper,
+. w. McRae.
w. Perrin Nicolson.
w. F. Westmoreland,
Nathan O. Harris.
The announcement of the bulletin was
taken as the beginning of the end, nj 2
though the watchers at he mansion stlll
hoped. After this consultation the phy-
sicians were one or more of them, con-
stantly in the sick chamber. DR.. Willis
Westmoreland who had all along express
ed the utmost confidence, began to weaken
after the morning examination
A second consultation was set Tor
o'clock, but IL o'clock DR.. Holmes recog-
nized a decided change for the worse and
the doctors were hastily called together.
The governors position was changed so
that he rested a little better for while
and constant applications OF Ice water
were made to his lips. THE ice water
is my greatest pleasure now," said the
patient feebly. He remained conscious
all the while and spoke TO those about
him as his ebbing strength would permit.
About noon. when his brother came N,
his answer was, Il am just as sick as l
can live, Tom
DR.. Holmes told the governor during the
morning that his condition was most criti-
cal He realized his condition himself ana
made a heroic struggle against the grip
of the great destroyer.
At 1890 o'clock the physicians closed
their conference by issuing the followins
bulletin:
1890 D. m. - Since this mornings con-
sultation the condition of the governor
has materially changed for the worse ana
he is now speedily sinking, Unless some
Unforeseen change in his condition occurs
his death seems inevitable.
]. B. S. Holmes,
Hunter p. Cooper,
f. w. McRae,
w. Perrin Nicolson,
W. F. Westmoreland,
Nathan o. Harris,
A. c. North.
From this time, although frequent state
ments were made by the physicians that
his condition appeared to be unchanged.
he seemed to grow steadily weaker.
The doctors themselves announced that
they had given up hope and the end was
only a matter of hours
Several close friends of the governor
We're admitted to the sick room during
the afternoon. He recognized all of them
and spoke to them when he could. Among
those who were admitted was Judge Mar
Gus Beck. AS he hesitated at the door,
the governor called to him and introduced
him to the attending physicians. rms
was between 2 and 3 O'Clock. From
o'clock on, although unconscious, the pa
cate that at times it seemed to have sew
cred. This morning when the change for
the worse became apparent, kilograms
were sent for Mrs. Atkinson, the COVER
nor's mother, who has been in Virginia
for some time. She cannot, however,
reach the city before tomorrow morning.
The father of Mrs. Atkinson was tele-
graphed for and win arrive tomorrow
morning. All of the o;ner members OF
the family have been here since Mon
day waiting in fearful and sad-faced sus-
pense the ending of the awful struggle
with death.
The executive mansion has .been
thronged with callers all day, and tele-
grams of inquiry ana sympathy have
come in by the score. one of the mes
sages of sympathy was from Col. Gordon
on behalf of the soldiers in camp at
Griffin. Besides the stream of callers
from among the people of the city, great
many of the governors closest friends
from other cities are here, having come
to be near in the critical moment. Among
these are: Hon. F. c. duBignon of Savan-
nah. Judge Allen Fort of Americus. Judge
Marcus Beck, Attorney General Terrell,