The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-06

CANTON, o., Dec. 8. - Mother Nc
KinIey has passed the fourth day Of
her illness, and enters upon the fourth
night with the spark OF life still burn
ing dtmly There has not been ma
terlal development in her case to-day,
Her condition has continued one OF
steadily wasting away, the constitution
growing weaker hour by hour under
the assault OF the disease, The family
watched by the bedside all day, pre-
pared for the end at any moment, and
some time feeling that 1t had come,
as the patient was seized with sinking
spells, such as they yesterday mistook
for q second stroke OF paralysis. Dur
ing these attacks she would perceptibly
weaken, almost cease to breathe, and
show scarcely sign Of animation,
For the most part these spells were
limited to half an hour and when they
wer over she would resume the quite
repose characteristic OF the entire Ill
ness, About the middle OF the after
noon, however, a more serious sinking
spell occurred and lasted for two
hours. Several times those Keeping the
vigil thought the last tlutter of life's
flame had gone, The attack passed
away at last, leaving the patient al
most the same as before IL occurred.
There Is stlll possibility that she
may survive the night, or even longer
hut those who have been at the bedside
most constantly have the least hope of
such result. They have seen the pa
tient weaken so steadily that they cam
not hope that she VIII much longer EN-
dure. Communication was established
with the white house as soon as the
President arrived there this morning,
and telegraph wire is constantly open
to Washington to advise the President
of every occurrence In the sick room.
Besides this he has several times talked
with his brother Abner by telephone,
DR.. Phillips, the attending physician,
has made number Of calls during the
day. This evening he said he could re-
port nothing particularly new. There
had been no notable change in the pa
tlent during the day She had contin-
ued to grow worse In the same manner
at about the same rate as during the
past few days He was satisfied that
this condition would prevail to the
end. Asked as to the prospects OF her
surviving the night, he said:
Yes, there is possibility of her Nv
ing until morning, Indeed, l am In
clined to think that she will But she
has been weakening so long that no one
can make prediction for the future
with any assurance OF certainty. The
case Is one in which we must be pre-
pared for the end at any. moment
When the end comes, 1t VIII merely DE
the passage out Of the comatose condl-
tion In which she now rests to the sleep
OF death. There will be no rally, no
more conscious periods, no final strug-
GLE
The patient has taken no nourlsh-
ment since Thursday. Il cannot be ad-
minIstered by ordinary methods, ana
the case is one In which heroic methods
Of administering food are not regarded
as justihable. They could not restore
health, would be distressing and an
noylng, and might hasten the end.
At qa6 o'clock D. m. DR.. Phillips leit
Mrs, Mckinley He said she was grow
ing weaker rapidly and he scarcely
thouuht she could survive the night
she is in no pain or distress, simply
quietly passing away
CANTON. o.. Dec Cat this hour,
1880 n. M, there are strong hopes that
Mrs, Mckinley will survive the, night.
She is much weaker than at any ottler
time. b,,. Is resting quietly and gradual
lv pa assinr away. The whole family Is
about the bedside expecting the end.