The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05
Says Goodbye to the Stricken
the National Capital.
MOTI1ER M'KINLEY VERY LOW
BUT CLINGING TO LIFE WITH RE-
MARIxABLE TENACIOUSNESS.
She Has Not Been Conscious for Two
Days, and Her Sons Parting Trib-
ute Brought No Response.


CANTON, O., Dec. 4-Sadder scenes were
never witnessed than the leave-taking of
President Mckinley from his dying mother
this afternoon. The carriage was early an
nounced to convey him to the special car
at the Pennsylvania depot, awaiting the ar
rival of the regular east-bound train. But
to the very last possible moment the Presi-
dent remained at the old homestead. Be
fore leaving the house he went to The bed
side of the dying mother. He looked at her
long, spoke to her lovingly and stopped and
tenderly kissed her. There was no response,
no movement to indicate that she recognized
her son. He remained in STOPPING pos
ture for some time, hoping that he might
receive some sign that she knew or felt his
presence. 1t did not come, and with feeling
of deepest emotion he at last left the room.
1t was strange coincidence that almost
Immediately following the departure of the
President the mother should suffer re-
lapse While yet in his home county, and
within half an hour after he left the city,
the illness of the mother took a turn for the
worse and it was thought by the family that
she had suffered second stroke of paraly-
sis and such announcement was made. The
attending physician however, declared 1t
was not second attack OF the disease, but
relapse which for time threatened to
end her life. Once more, however, the
rugged constitution of the aged woman
withstood the assault. She rallied slightly
and ere long was back to the condition in
which she had been for nearly twenty hours,
a condition of quiet and seemingly restful
sleep, but which, it was fully realized, was
slowly burning out the vital spark of life
In that condition she was tonight. How
long it might continue no one could tell. 1t
was not thought impossible that she could
linger until the President had discharged
the important duties which called him to
Washington and had returned to his old
home. That she was constantly growing
weaker was apparent to all. That she had
lived so long was a great surprise to the
watchers and the doctor. The attending
physician again announced tonight that The
patient cannot regain consciousness.
THE PRESIDENTS VIGIL.
There was little change in Mother Nc
Kinley's condition during last night. Sew
eral times the rapid. failing became so no.
ticeable to the friends about the bedside
that it was thought the summons had come.
This condition was emphasized by slow
and weak pulse The radical change for the
worse which this condition seemed TO pre-
sage did not occur. AT o'clock this morn
ing, however the patient appeared to be go
weak that it seemed she must soon yield,
and those of the family who had sought
rest were summoned to the bedside, tx-
pecting every moment to see the last flicker
of lfe's flame. The patient, however, con-
tnued, as she had been during the night,
just slowly wearing away and steadily
weakening. The President remained at the
bedside almost the entire night, repeatedly
declining to seek some sleep at the solicita-
ton of the family until the night was rear
ly spent. At no time since taking the flower
yesterday afternoon has Mrs. Mckinley
shown evidence of consciousness or that she
recognizes her children around her bed.
DR.. Phillips left the Mckinley home at
$3.50 o'clock after examining the patient. He
could only repeat what he had said before,
that death was slowly but surely drawing
near. There had been slight rally since
the alarming condition at o'clock, but it
was not q significant rally and would not
endure long. The patient was exceedingly
weak at times life being almost impercept-
ible The doctor said it is possible that she
may live the greater part of the day.
At noon DIR. Phillips told the President
that his mothers breathing had become
more labored and that her pulse was stead
lily weakening, portending an early end. On
receiving this information the President de-
cided to carry out his plans for going to
Washington at 2:05 o'clock and began max
ing arrangements to start at that time. His
last act before leaving the house was to
go to the room of his mother to take prob
ably his final look at her in life She was
entirely unconscious of his presence and
there could be no farewell The patient was
in the same condition as had prevailed all
day. The President when he entered the
room spoke lovingly to his mother, and
bending over her bed fondly kissed her
goodbye. She showed no evidence of realiz-
ing what was transpiring and, deeply af-
fected by the scene, the President bade
hasty goodbye to the family, entered a
carriage with Charles r. Miller and pro-
ceeded to the railway station.
DEPARTURE OF THE PRESIDENT.
The President left Canton at 2:O5 o'clock
this afternoon, Judge Day, assistant secre-
tary Of state, accompanying him in a
special car. Shortly before the departure
he held a conference with the doctor, who
advised that. Mr.. Mckinley carry out the
OIlSlIldl pldl VI leaving LOT washington.
He urged that the duties incumbent on the
Nations chief executive were such that it
was absolutely necessary for him to be at
the White House when Congress assemblies.
and assured the President that no act Of a
loving son or any other mortal could do
anything for the aged mother and that she
would never again be able to recognize him
or to realize his presence or absence. His
last words to the family were that he be
telegraphed at every station along the route
as to the mothers condition.
The President has definitely arranged to
return to Canton Tuesday morning, leaving
Washington Monday as soon as he has COM
pleted his duties in connection with the
opening of Congress. Mrs. Mckinley will
accompany him, as will also Mrs. Abner
Mckinley and her daughter, Miss Mabel
of New York. Mrs. Mckinley was greatly
shocked by the news of the illness when it
ing, and it was not deemed advisable that
she attempt the hasty trip decided upon
The near friends of the family are nearly
all at the homestead. including the surviv-
ing children, several grandchildren and Mrs.
Abigail Osborn, Mrs. McKinley's sister and
mother of William Mckinley Osborn con-
sui general to England. She arrived last.
too late to receive a sign OF recognition.
Miss Grace Mckinley came from her coll