The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-04
PRESIDENT At HER BEDSIDE
HAVING REACHED CANTON EARLY
YESTERDAY MORNING.
He Will Return to Washington in
Time for the Opening of Con-
gress Next Monday.

~'~N@NNJb
the issue of his mothers illness. Although
there has never been in the history of the
government a case exactly similar, it is nee
essary 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 until this COM
mittee has waited on the President and re-
ceived his communication the regular busi-
ness of Congress cannot proceed.
Mother Mckinley is unconscious, and
the attending physician can give the family
no hope that she will ever return to con-
sciousness. The President can do absolute
ly nothing for her by remaining here. In
view of these facts the President feels that
it is his duty to return to Washington SO
as not to delay the proper opening of Con-
gress at the regular time. He has arranged
to leave Canton at 2:05 tomorrow after
noon in the special car attached to the regu-
lar Pennsylvania train, which reaches
Washington Sunday morning Assistant
Secretary of State Day, who accompanied
the President from Washington, expects to
return to Canton early next week. He will
leave Washington as soon as possible after
attending to the functions of opening Con-
gress.
To-day was one of great suspense in the
Mckinley family. The approach of the mes
senger of death was realized every moment
of the day. and it was apparent there could
be no other than a fatal ending to the ILL
| ness with which Mother" Mckinley was
stricken Thursday morning. The attending
physician could give them no hope of a diff
terent result, and it is to the remarkable
constitution of the woman, who has reached
the ripe old age of nearly eighty-nine years
without illness of any consequence that he
attributes the fact that the flame of life
was not extinguished earlier in the illness
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 ILL
ness, and at short intervals the doctor
called. But the word from the sick room
was almost without variation, family and
doctor announcing from time to time in
creasing weakness and sinking away. Only
twice was this report varied by the an
| nouncelnent of evidence of partial con-
sciousness. The first was when President
Mckinley reached the sick room. His sis
ter Helen announced his arrival, saying:
Mother here is William. If you recog-
nize him, hold out your hand"
RECOGNIZED HER SON.
The enfeebled patient seemed to under
stand and to make an effort to extend her
ia fa1x ora bv
the devoted son. He thought he felt re-
sponsive Tightening of her hand about his
own as he did so, but the recognition was
so slight as to be almost imperceptible. 1t
was some time later that a second slight
rally seemed to occur. A bunch of beauti-
full flowers was sent from the conservatory
of the White House, and when they We're
taken into the room she noted their arrival
and seemed to make effort to reach for
one. The President quickly selected beau
tiful white lilly and handed it to her. She
took 1t in her hand and carried it to her
bosom, it being apparent that she was con-
scious of the act and appreciated the flow
er. Soon after this, about noon, she quiet
ed down into rest that seemed to be al
most natural sleep
Mrs A. j. Duncan, of Cleveland, who was
summoned from Chicago, where she had
been visiting, was the last of the four liv-
ing 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 it 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 withstand the assaults of
he oil hut
cannot be much longer.
The President has scarcely been out of
the house since he arrived this morning,
and spent most of the day in his mothers
ROOM AS soon as the special train which
the Pennsylvania Railroad provided from
Pittsburg, with Trainmaster j. K. Turner
in charge, reached the Canton station the
President hurried to the carriage, in which
Charles r. Miller, Judge Il. L. McCarty
and Editor George b. Frease, of the Re-
pository, had gone to meet him, and was
driven to the house Only when he felt the
need of little fresh air or exercise did he
and his brother Abner leave the house for
a short walk along the street at the side of
the house.
There have been many callers at the home
to-day, aged lady friends of Mother McKin-
ley being numerous among those who called
to offer sympathy. The inquiries by tele-
graph are numerous, and messengers are
going to and from the house all the while.
DR.. Phillips made call early this evening
after which he said he could report no dis
tinct change in the condition of the patient
from what he had previously described. She
continues to grow weaker, but may live un-
til morning. If radical change occurs he
thinks it will come well into the morning.
DIR. Phillips was recalled to the Mckinley
home an hour or two after his first visit
tonight, when the family saw evidence of
rapid sinking in Mother" McKinley's con-
dition. He found her pulse very slow and
weak and the evidence of weakening more
visible than ever. He called still later and
found the same conditions. AT 10 o'clock
he said she might live until morning, but
he feared not.
Midnight showed no material change in
the condition of Mrs. Mckinley or the
course of the disease. 1t is surely wearing