The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-06
LIFE SPARK BURNS DIMLY.
Presidents Mother Enters Fourth
Day of Illness.
HAS CONTINUED TO GROW
GRADUALLY WEAKER.

Patient Has Taken No Nourishment
Since Thursday Telegraphio Com
municalion With White House Con-
stantly Maintained.
Canton, Ohio, December 5.-Mother
mckinley passed the fourth day of her
illness and entered upon the fourth night
with the spark of life still dimly burning.
Ihere has not been any material Develop
ment in her case today. Her condition
has continued one of steadily wasting
away, the constitution growing weaker
hour by hour under the assault of the
disease. The family watched by the bed
side all day prepared for the end at any
moment, and some times feeling that it
had come, as the patient WAS seized with
sinking spells, such as they yesterday
mistook for second stroke OF paralysis.
During these attacks she would per-
ceptibly weaken, almost cease to breathe
and show scarcely sign of animation
For the most part these spells were
limited to half an hour and when they
were over she would resume the quiet re-
| pose characteristic of the entire illness.
About the middl3 OF the afternoon, how
/ ever, a more serious sinking spell occurred
and lasted two hours. Several times
| those keeping the vigil thought the last
| futtar of life's flame had come. The at
tack passed away at last leaving the
patient almost the same as before it oc-
CURED. There is still a possibility that
but those who have been at the bedside
must constantly have the least hope of
such a result They have seen the patient
weakenas so steadily that they cannot hope
that she will much longer endure. Com
munication was established with the
White House as soon as the President ar
rived there this morning, and telegraph
wire is constantly open to Washington to
advise the President of every occurrence
in the sick room. Besides this he has
several times talked with his brother
Abner by telephone.
& DR.. Phillips, the attending physician,
has made number Of calls during the
port nothing particularly new There
had been no notable change in the patient
during the day. She had continued to
grow weaker In the same manner at about
4 the same rate as during the past few days
he was satisfied that this condition
would prevail to the end. Asked as to
the prospects of her surviving the night
| ho fe oft
living until morning. Indeed, am in
clined to think that she will. But she
has been weakening so long that no one
can make prediction for the future with
any assurance of certainty. The case is
one in which we must be prepared for the
end at any moment When the end comes
it will merely be the passing out of the
comatose condition in which she now
rests to the sleep of death. There will be
no rally, no more conscious periods, no
final struggle. ,"
The patient has taken no nourishment
sinos Thursday. 1t cannot be admin
istered by ordinary methods and the case
is one in which heroic methods Of admin
: istsring food are not regarded justifable.
They could not restore health. would be
distressing and annoying and might
hasten the end.
| PRESIDENT IN WASHINGTON.
Washington, December 5.-President
Mckinley, accompanied by Assistant
Secretary Day arrived in Washington over
the Pennsy lvania railroad at 7.45 this
morning. He was met at the station by
Secretary Alger, Secretary Bliss and Sec
retary Porter, and driven to the White
House. The President had received two
telgrams en- route to Washington from
Canton reporting the cond tion of his
mother. In the middle of the forenoon a
message was received from Abner No
Kinley at Canton saying that the Presi-
DENTS mother was resting in about the
same condition ss when he left Canton
Arrangements have been made for the
return trip to Canton tomorrow evening.
The President. Mrs. Mckinley and a
party Of half dozen close friends and
relatives will ,leave Washington at 7.2O
O'Clock, occupying special car attached
to the regular Pennsylvania railroad train
and arriving in Canton abou t ten O'Clock
Tuesday morning.
At late hour tonight DR.. Phillips left
Mrs. Mckinley. He said she was growing
weaker rapidly, and that he scarcely
thought she could survive the night. She
is in no pain or distress, simply quietly
passinglaway.
LATE MARINE NEWS.
Boston, December 5.-Sailed from
NanhaSLat Roo5c Soboooor uaDrv r.