The herald., 1897-12-04
MOTHER
M'KINLEY
Still Alive but at Deaths
Threshold
ALL HER CHILDREN PRESENT
AND WAITING IN SORROW FOR
THE END
Whatever the Issue Of His Mothers
Illness President Mckinley
Will Open Congress
AND WAITING IN SORROW FOR
THE END
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CANTON, O., Dec. 3.-President Nc
Kinley will be in Washington for the
opening of congress next Monday. what
ever may be the issue Of his mothers
illness. Although there has never been
in the history of the government case
exactly similar, 1t is necessary for the
president to be at the capital in person
for the opening of the session, to re-
|ceive the two joint committees from the
two houses, and until this committee
has waited on the president and received
his communication the regular business
of congress cannot proceed.
MRS. M'KINLEY'S CONDITION
CANTON, O., Dec. 3.-This morning
Mrs. Nancy Allison Mckinley was re-
ported sinking rapidly and the end ap-
peared near.
Before she lapsed into inconsistencies
she was given to understand that her
son had started for Canton from Wash
ington. 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 7:13
a. M, Judge Day accepted the offer OF
the railroad company and a special en-
gine was attached to the car. The Presi-
dent at that time was asleep. Without
the lossso a moment the special engine
dashed out of the Smoky City. All the
trains on the route were put on side
tracks and the last 1O1 miles was reeled
OF in two hours.
At 1855 the train reached Canton:
Upon the arrival at the home Of his
mother, President Mckinley entered the
sick room and kiielt by the bedside. She
was unconscious. The little family
group was complete. Now all that re-
mained was to wait for death and hope
that before it came, the mother would
be able once more to recognize her loving
children.
AS the day wore on, Mrs. Mckinley
lay apparently in the same condition as
in the early morning. She was uncon-
scious, 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 and Mrs. A. B. Duncan of Cleve-
land, who has been visiting her daughter
at Chicago, will be here at 1:10 p m.
THE SONS ARRIVAL
CANTON, o., Dec. 3.-President Nc
Kinley believes his mother recognized
him as he knelt by her bedside. His SIS
ter Helen announced his arrival by say
ing: Here, mother is William. If you
recognize him, hold up your hand"
Mrs. Mckinley did raise her left hand
slightly and the family believe 1t was in
recognition of her son.
He grasped her hand fondly and says
he seemed to feel a slight pressure from
his mothers efforts to return his greet
ing. This was the only incident of the
sick room today.
The family continued about the bed
side but except continued weakening.
could not note any change.
The plans Of the President are to re-
main here until o'clock tomorrow, when
he will return to Washington to look
after some official business which made
it almost impossible to leave the capital
at this time.
At12 o'clock DR.. Phillips visited the pa
tient.
"There is no great change in Mother
McKinley's condition" he said. "She is
gradually sinking and the end may come
in few hours. It is barely possible that
she may survive several days.
GROWING WEAKER
At o'clock there is apparently slight
improvement in the condition of Mother
Mckinley. She has been sleeping for a.
time, the rest seeming to be nearly
natural. Another evidence of better con-
dition was given on the arrival from the
White House of box of flowers. They
were taken into the sick room and to
the bedside. She reached for and held
one Of the flowers. seeming to enjoy it's
fragrance and its beauty.
The improvement was of short dura-
tion. At 2:30 o'clock the members Of the
family felt that she was steadily growing
worse and could not last much longer.
Mrs. Duncan arrived from Chicago at
1870. No effort was made to arouse the
patient to see II she could recognize her
daughter as it was felt that 1t would be
useless, the mother being then entirely
unconscious.
There has been q stream of kilograms
pouring In since the first news Of the
illness, but none Of these have been
made public.
NO HOPE LEFT
Mother Mckinley II unconscious and
the attending physician can give the
family no hope that she will ever return
to 6onscioisneos. ~ 6kAsident can d
absolute1y nothing for her by remaining
here. In View Of these facts the presi-
dent feels that Il - his duty to returnI
to Washfngtoh ~ = not to delay the