Evening journal., 1897-12-04
AT M'KINLEY'S HOME
Sad Scenes at the Deathbed
Of His Mother.
ALL OF THE CHILDREN At CANTON.
During the Whole Of Yesterday the Pres
ident and His Brother and Sisters
Watched Beside Their Dying
Mother-She Knew Him.


CANTON. o, Dec. 4.-President Nc
Kinley will be in Washington for the
opening Of congress next Monday
whatever may be the issue of-his moth
er's illness. 1t is necessary for the
president to be at the capitol in per-
son for the opening Of a session Of con-
gress to receive the joint committees
from the two houses, and until this
committee has waited on the president
and received his communication the
regular business Of congress cannot pro-
ceed
In view Of these facts the president
feels that It is his duty to return to
Washington so as to not delay the
proper opening Of congress at the reg
ular time. He has arranged to leave
Canton at 2:05 o'clock this afternoon in
the special car provided for him at
tached to the regular Pennsylvania
train which reaches Washington sun
day morning Assistant Secretary Of
State Day, who accompanied the pres
ident from Washington. expects to re,
turn to Canton carly next week.
Yesterday was one of great suspense
in the Mckinley family. The nearness
could be no other than a fatal ending
to the illness with which Mother Nc
kinney was stricken Thursday. The at
tending physician could give them nc
hope of a different result, and il is tc
the remarkable constitution of the wo.
man, who has reached the ripe age OF
nearly 50 years without illness of any
consequence, that he attributes the fact
that the flame of life was not extin-
guished earlier in the illness.
The family surrounded the bedside all
day watching intently for any rally
from the comatose condition in which
the patient had been almost from the
beginning, and at short intervals the
doctor called, but the word from the
sick room was almost without varia-
tion, family and doctor announcing
from time to time increasing weakness
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: Mother here is William. If
you recognize him, hold out your
hand"
The enfeebled patient seemed to un-
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 a second rally seemed
TO occur. A bunch of beautiful flowers
was sent from the conservatory Of the
White House, and when they were tax
en- into the room she noted their ar
rival and seemed to make an effort tC
reach for one. The president quickly
selected a beautiful white lily anc
handed it to her. She took It in hei
hand and carried it to her bosom, 1t be.
ing apparent that she was conscious OF
the act and appreciated the flower
Soon after this, about noon, she quietec
down into a 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 oi
the four children to arrive. and sh,
came too late to be recognized by hel
mother. She made no effort on enter.
ing the room to gain recognition, be-
cause it was realized that the efforr
would not succeed and that it would
only disturb the patient.
As soon as the special which tn,
Pennsylvania road provided from
Pittsburg, with Trainmaster j. n. Tur
ner in charge reached the Canton sta
ton the president hurried to the car
riage, in which Charles r. Miller
Judge II. T.. McCarty and George Is
Frease had gone to meet him, and wal
driven to the house. Only when he fel
the need of a little fresh air and exer
else did he and his brother Abner leavi
the house for a short walk