Twice-a-week plain dealer., 1897-12-07
HIS DYING MOTHER.
President Mckinley at the Bed
side of His Stricken Parent.
THE VENERABLE LADY UNCONSCIOUS.
Gives, However, Slight Sign of Rec
ognition of Her Distinguished Son,
Who VIII Soon Return to WASH
Il ington-Death Very Near.

Canton, O., Dec. 4.-President Nc
Kinley and his wife arrived here at
at s:45 a. m. Friday, Assistant Secre-
tary of State Day coming with him.
They were to have reached here several
hours later on the regular train, but
the sad news from the sick room dur
ing the night altered their plans, and
at Pittsburgh Especial train was placed
at their disposal by the Pennsylvania
company and they came on to Canton
at the rate of nearly mile minute.
AS soon as the train reached Canton
the president hurried to the carriage
in which Charles r. Miller, Judge 7. T.
McCarty and Editor George B. Frease,
OF the Repository, had gone to meet
him and was driven to the house. The
president has scarcely been out of the
house since his arrival and spent most
OF the day in his mothers room. Only
when he felt the need of little fresh
air and exercise did he and his brother
Abner leave the house for shorewalk
along the street at the side of the house,
Will Soon Return.
President Mckinley will be in Wash
ington for the opening of congress next
Monday, whatever may be the issue of
his mothers illness. Although there
has never been in the history of the gov
,ernment case exactly similar, 1t is
necessary for the president to be at the
capital in person for the opening of a
session of congress to receive the joint
committees from the two houses and
that until fbie no,nrni ~ M bo g ,,o ;+o5 -,
the president and received his -commu-
nication the regular business of con-
gress cannot proceed. Mother McKin-
ley is unconscious and the attending
physician can give the family no hope
that she will ever return to conscious
ness. The president can do absolutely
nothing for her by remaining here. In
view of these facts the president feels
that 1t is his duty to return to Washing
ton SO as not to delay the proper open
ing Of congress at the regular time. He
has arranged to leave Canton at 2:o5
o'clock this afternoon in the special
car provided for him, attached to the
regular Pennsylvania train which
reaches Washington Sunday morning.
Assistant Secretary of State Day, who
accompanied the president from Wash
fngton, expects to return to Canton
early next week. He will leave Wash
ington as soon as possible after attend
ing to the functions of opening con-
gress.
A Day of Suspense.
Friday was one of great suspense in
The Mckinley family. The nearness Of
the messenger of death was realized
every moment of the day and that there
could be no other than fatal ending
TO the illness with which Mother Nc
Kinley was stricken Thursday morn
ing. The attending physician could
give them no hope of different result
and it is to the remarkable constitution
of the woman who has reached the ripe
pld age OF nearly SO years without Ill
Pess of any consequence that he at
tributes the fact that the flame of life
was not extinguished earlier In the ILL
mess. The family surrounded the bed,
side all day watching intently for any
rally from the comatose condition in
(Which the patient has been almost from
The beginning of the illness, and at
Ehort intervals the doctor called. But
the word from the sickroom was almost
without variation, family and doctor an
Houncing from time to time increased
weakness and sinking away.
Recognized Her Son.
I Only twice was this report varied by
khe announcement OF evidence of par
tial consciousness. The first was when
President Mckinley reached the sick
room. His sister Helen announced his
arrival by saying: Mother, here is
William. If yon recognize him hold
out your hand" The enfeebled patient
seemed to understand and to make an
effort to extend her hand, which was
Immediately grasped by the devoted
son. He thought he felt responsive
tizhteninr of her hand about his own
A-----y~-- 49,.