The record-union., 1897-12-04
The Aged Mother of the President
Slowly Sinking.
Only Twice Did She Rally From a Comaiose
Condition.
The First Was When the Presi-
dent Entered the Sick Room,
and Later When She Was
Handed FIower-Her Four
Children Almost Constantly at
the Bedside.

Children Almost Constantly at
the Bedside.
CANTON (OO, Dec. 3.-To-day was
one OF great suspense in the Mckinley
home. The nearness of the messenger
or death was realized every moment of
the day, and that there could be no
other than fatal ending to the illness
with which Mother Mckinley was
stricken on Thursday morning. The
attending physician could give them no
hope of a different result, and to the
remarka BILE constitution of the woman.
VINO mas reached the ripe old age of
nearly ~ years, without illness of any
consequence, he attributes the fact that
the flame of life was not extinguished
earlier
Inc family surrounded the bedside all
DAY, watching intently for any rally
from the comatose condition in which
the patent has been since the begin
hlhg OF the Illness and a short inter-
Nals the doctor called. But the word
from the sick room was almost with
out variation, family and doctor an
hounclng from time to time increasing
weakness and sinking away.
only twice was this report varied by
the announcement of evidence OF par
| tial consciousness. The first was when
Mr.. Mckinley reached the sick room.
his sister Helen announced his arriv-
al, saying:
Mother, here is William. If Won
recognize him, hold out your hand"
The enfeebled patient seemed to un-
derstand, and to make an effort TO ex-
tend her hand, which was immediately
q asped by the devoted son. He
thcught he felt responsive tighten
ing of her hand about his own as he
dld so, but the recognition was so slight
as to be almost imperceptible.
1t was some time later that a second
sHgnt rally seemed to occur. A bunch
of beautiful flowers was sent from the
conservatory of the White House, and
when they We're taken into the room
she noticed their arrival, and seemed
to make an effort to reach for one. The
PRESIDENT quickly selected a beautiful
white lily and handed it to her. She
TOOK IL IN her hand and carried it to
her BOSOM, it being apparent that she
was conscious of the fact and appre-
cla1ed the Hover Soon after this,
ABOUT noon, she quieted down into a
rest that seemed to be almost nat
ural sleep.
Mrs. A j. Duncan of Cleveland. who
was summoned from Chicago. where
she had been visiting, was thhe last
| of the four living children to arrive.
and she came too late to be recognized
by her mother. She made no effort on
entering the room to gain recognition
because 1t was realized that the effort
would not succeed and that it would
only disturb the parent. From this
time on the gradual sinking of Moth
er Mckinley continued. How long the
constitution will Withstand the assault
OF the disease no one can tell, but it
seems that it cannot be much longer.
The President has scarcely been out
OF the house since his arrival this
morning, and spent most of the day in
ms mothers room. Only when he felt
the need of little fresh air and exer
else did he and his brother Abner leave
the house for short walk along the
street at the side of the house.
There nave been many callers at the
home to-day. aged lady friends of
Mother Mckinley being numerous
among those who called to offer sym-
pathy INQUIRIES by telegraph were
numerous nd messengers were run
ning TO and from the house all day. If
radlcal change shall occur in the pa
tlent condition the doctor thinks it
VIII come We'll into the morning
ThlS morning Mother Mckinley. was
reported sinking rapidly, and the end
appeared near. Before she lapsed in
10 unconseiousness she was given to
understand that her son had started for
Canton from Washington. At each
stop during the night word had been
flashed to Canton of his progress. and
at each stop message told him that
he was still in the lead in his thrilling
midnight race with the grim reaper.
Finally the President retired to sleep.
When Pittsburg was reached at 7.15
a. M. Judge Day accepted the offer of
the railroad company and a special en-
gine was attached to the car. The
President at that time was asleep.
Without the loss of a moment the sna-
cial engine dashed out of the Smoky
oity. All the trains on the route We're
put on side tracks. and the last 1O1
miles were reeled off in two hours.
At 500 the train reached Canton.
| oPS-i A-N~ al ~ di DIT the nome OF. his
mother, President Mckinley entered
the SICK room and knelt by the bed
side. She was unconscious. All that
remained was to wait for death, and
hope before it came the mother would
be able once more to recognize her low
ing children.
AS the day Wore on Mrs. Mckinley
remained apparently in the same con-
dition as in the early morning. She
was unconscious, showed no evidence
of suffering and seemed to be passing
quietly into the sleep of death.
There was no encouragement given
the family by the attending physician,
DR.. Phillips, who seriously doubted that
the patient would survive. He fears
that the end is very near, but said
there was a possibility of her living for
several days. OF her four children,
three were at the bedside Mrs. a. b.
Duncan of Cleveland. who has been
visiting her daughter at Chicago, had
not yet arrived.
At l o'clock there was apparently a
slight improvement in the condition of
the sick woman. She has been sleep
ing for time, the rest seeming to be
nearly Natural. Another evidence of
better condition was given on the ar
rival from the White House of a box