Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-04


Recognition When the President
Entered thu Room and Ciasped
Her Hand-Mr Mckinley Thought
He Felt Her Grasp Tighten, But it
Was Very Feeble = Seemed to
Know When He Selected a White
Lilly from a Bunch CT Flowers
and Placed it Upon Her Breast.
Pr sident VIII Be in Washington
When Congress Opens.
Canton, O., December 4.-1:25 a. m.
Mrs. Mckinley still living; grow
ing steadily weaker.
Canton, O., December 3.-President
Mckinley will be in Washington 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 government case
exactly similar, it is necessary for the
President to be at the capital in person
for the opening of session of Con-
gress to receive the joint committee
from the two houses and that until
this committee has waited on the
President and received his communica-
ton, the regular business of Congress
cannot proceed.
Mother Mckinley is unconscious, and
the attending physician can give the
family no hope that she will ever re-
turn to consciousness. The President
can do absolutely nothing for her by
remaining here.
In view of these facts, the President
Washington SO as not to delay the
proper opening of Congress at the reg
ular time. He has arranged to leave
Canton at 2:05 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon in the special car provided
for him, attached to the regular Penn
sylvania train, which reaches WASH
ington Sunday morning.
Assistant Secretary of State Day,
who accompanied the President from
Washington, expects to return to Can
ton early next week. He will leave
Washington as soon as possible after
attending to the functions of opening
Congress.
To-day was one of great suspense in
the Mckinley family. The nearness or
the messenger of death was realized
every moment of the day. and that
there could be no other than a fatal
ending of the illness with which Mother
Mckinley 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
old age of nearly SO years without ILL
ness of any consequence, that he at
tributes the fact that the. fame OF life
was not extinguished earlier in the ILL
ness.
The family surrounded the bedside 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 short
intervals the doctor called. But the
word from the sick room was almost
without variation, family and doctor
ing weakness and sinking away.
Only twice was this report varied by
the announcement of evidence of par
tial consciousness. The first was when
President Mckinley reached the sick
room. His sister Helen announced his
arrival. saying: Mother, here is Will
liam. If you recognize him hold out
your hand"
The enfeebled patient seemed to I'M
derstand and to make an effort to ex-
tend her hand, which was Immediately
grasped by the devoted son. He thought
he felt a responsive tightening of her
hand about his own as he did so. but
the recognition was so Slight as to be
almost imperceptible.
It was some time later that q Sec
ond rally seemed to occur. bunch Of
beautiful flowers were sent from the
conservatory of the White House, and
when they were taken into the room
she noted their arrival and seemed TO
make an effort to reach fer one.
The President quickly selected a
beautiful white lily and handed it to
her. She took it in her hand and car
ried it to her bosom, it being apparent
that she was conscious OF the act and
appreciated the mower.
Soon after this, about noon. she quiet
ed down in rest that seemed to be al
most a natural sleep.
Mrs A. j. Duncan, of Cleveland, who
was summoned from Chicago. where
she had been visiting, was the 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 il
was realized that the effort would not
succeed and that it would only disturb
the patient. From this time on the
gradual weakening of Mother Mckinley
continued.
How long the constitution will stand
the assaults 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 his mothers room.
AS soon as the special train which the
Pennsylvania road provided from Pitts
burg with train master ]. *. Turner in
charge. reached the Canton station. the
President hurried to the carriage in which
Charles r. Miller, Judge T. T. McCarty
and Editor George B. Frease of the Re-
pository. had gone TO meet him, and was
driven TO the house
Only when he fe.t the need Of a little