The record-union., 1897-12-03
The Presidents Aged Parent Siriek-
en- With Paralysis.
Her Condition Such That the End May Come
at Any Moment.
The Fatal Stroke Brought On by
an Attack of the Grip-The
President, Accompanied by As
sistant Secretary OF State Day,
Hasteus to the Bedside OF the
Sick Mother at Canton.

CANTON (O), Dec. AT an early
hour this morning Mrs. Nancy Allison
Mckinley. the venerable mother of the
President, was stricken with paralysis,
and her death is believed to be only a
question of short time. Not since
Mrs. Mckinley was stricken has there
been a favorable feature in her case.
That the attack would ultimately end
in death was the first fear of the family
on discovering her illness, and the con-
sultations of the attending physicians
have tended to confirm this belief.
Every effort is being made to render
what viii doubtless prove to be her
last illness as free from suffering as
possible.
The paralysis, when it first appeared,
was not of a serious form, and seemed
to have only affected her vocal chords.
She was able to walk from her own
bed chamber to that of her daughter,
Miss Helen Mckinley, to give the first
intimat:on of the attack, and at that
time seemed to be in possession of all
her mental and physical faculties But
soon afterward change was noticed,
and in the afternoon she sank into a
condition of semi-consciousness, in
which she has since remained.
Mother Mckinley must have been
stricken some time during last night,
but the first intimations she had of
any change in her condition was when
she awoke this morning and found her
self unable to speak. She walked to
the room of her daughter and aroused
the latter. AT once Miss Mckinley saw
that something had happened. She
awakened the other members of the
family, and a physician was called. He
at once pronounced the trouble paraly-
sis.
Mother Mckinley has been i'll for
several days with a mild attack of the
grip. She had been up and about the
house, and no serious results from her
illness were apprehended. Her son Alb
ner of New York arrived in Canton
Tuesday. and his mother seemed to be
greatly cheered by his presence. Yes
terday she was so bright and cheerful
as, TO cause the family to remark on
her improvement, Mr. Mckinley say
ing he had not seen his mother looking
so Well and rugged for a number of
years.
That being her condition when she
retired last evening, the blow to the
family upon discovering what had
come upon her during the night was a
sad one. During the forenoon a letter
from the President was read to the
aged mother, and in response to ques-
tions if she understood its contents, she
nodded her assent.
Abnsr Mckinley communicated with
the President as soon as he learned
the serious nature Of the illness of his
mother, and the President asked that he
be advised Immediately of every
change. Soon after noon Mr. McKin-
ley notified the President that the suf-
ferer had lapsed into emi-conscious-
ness, and promised to communicate fur
ther at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon The
President did not wait for the 5-o'clock
message. He responded
Tell mother / will be there" and at
once prepared to start for Canton. He
is expected to arrive here at 10 o'clock
Tomorrow morning
DR.. Phillips, when he saw the patient
at 9 O'Clock this evening, had little to
add to what he had already said. to
the effect that she was very ILL., and
stood but little chance of recovery. 1t
was the opinion of the doctor that she
could not last more than a few days,
and that the end might come at any
time
The patient has taken liquid nourish-
ment at intervals, and will not suffer
from want of food.
Abner Mckinley said late tonight
that he thought his mother was sinking
rapidly, and he feared the end was not
far off.
Mrs. Mckinley came of the race Of
hardy pioneers who laid the foundation
of the American Republic. She was
Miss Nancy Campbell Allison. and was
born at New Lisbon o in 1909 Her