The herald., 1897-12-05
WHEN DUTY
CALLS HIM
The President Departs for
Washington
SAD SCENES ARE WITNESSED
AT THE BEDSIDE OF Els DYING
MOTHER
SAD SCENES ARE WITNESSED
Upon Presentation of His Message to
Congress the President Will
Return to Canton
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CANTON, o., Dec. AT 1:45 p. m.
President Mckinley entered carriage
in company with Mr.. Chas. r. Miller,
and went to the Pennsylvania station to
take the regular train for Washington.
Sadder scenes were never witnessed
than the ave-taking of President Nc
Knley from his dying mother. To the
very last possible moment the president
remained at the old homestead.
Before leaving the house he and the
other members of the family went to the
bedside Of the dying mother. He looked
at her long, spoke to her lovingly and
stopped and tenderly kissed her. There
was no response. no movement to indi-
cate that she recognized her son. He
remained in a STOPPING position for
some time, hoping he might receive
some sign that she knew or felt his
presence. 1t did not come. With feel
ings of deepest emotion he at last left
the room.
1t was strange coincidence that al
most Immediately following the depart
ure of the president the mother suffered
a relapse. While yet in his home county
and within half an hour after he left
the city the illness of the mother took
a turn for the worse, and she was
thought by the family to have suffered
a second stroke of paralysis and such
was the announcement. The attending
physician, however, declared it was not
a second assault of the disease, but a
relapse, which for time threatened to
extnguish the family -fiickering flame
of life. Once more, however, the rugged
constitution of the aged woman with
stood the assault. She rallied slightly,
and ere long was back to the condition
in which she had been for nearly twenty
hours, a condition of quiet and SEEM
ingly restful sleep, but which, it was
fully realized, was slowly burning out
the vital spark of life. In that condi
ton she was tonight. How long she
might continue no one could tell. 1t
was not thought impossible that she
might linger until the president could
discharge the important duties which
called him to Washington.
The attending physician announced
tonight that the patient cannot regain
consciousness.
The president left Canton at 2:O5
o'clock this afternoon in a special car.
Shortly before the departure he held
conference with the doctor, who assured
the president that no act of loving son
or any other mortal could do anything
for the aged mother, and that she would
never again be able to recognize him or
to recognize his presence or absence.
His last words to the family We're that
he be telegraphed at every station along
the route as to the mothers condition.
The president has definitely arranged
to return to Canton Tuesday morning,
leaving Washington on Monday as soon
as he has completed his duties in con-
nection with the opening of congress.
Mrs. Mckinley will accompany him. as
will also Mrs. Abner Mckinley and her
daughter, Miss Mabel, of New York.
The near friends of the family are near
ly all at the homestead, including the
surviving children, several grandchil-
dren. and Mrs. Abigail Osborn, Mrs.
McKinleys sister and mother of VIM.
Mckinley Osborn, consul general to
England.
NO CHANGE NOTED
CANTON, o., Dec. Sat 2:15 a. m.
there was no noticeable change in Mrs.
McKinleys condition. She was resting
easily and the restlessnes tof an hour
ago did not prove to be of a serious
nature.