The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-05
she CLIHGS TO LIFE
NO VERY MATERIAL CHANGE IN
THE CONDITION OF MRS.
MkINLEY.
STEADILY GROWS WEAKER,
BUT SHE MAY PROBABLY SURVIVE
UNTIL. THE RETURN OF THE
PRESIDENT.
SAD SCENES AT PARTING HOUR.
At the Call of Duty Mckinley Tears
Himself From His Dying Moth
er's Bedside.

CANTON, o., Dec. A sadder scene
was never witnessed than the leave
taking of President Mckinley from his
dying mother this afternoon. The car
riage was early announced to convey
him to the special car at the Pennsyl-
vania depot awaiting the arrival of
the regular eastbound train. But to
the very last possible moment the
president remained at the old home
stead. Before leaving the house he
and other members of the family went
to the bedside of the dying mother He
looked at her long, spoke to her low
ingly and stopped and tenderly kissed
her. There was no response, no move
ment to indicate that she recognized
her son. He remained in a STOPPING
posture for some time hoping that he
might receive some sign that she knew
or felt his presence. 1t did not come.
With feeling of deepest emotion he at
last left the room.
It was strange coincidence that al
most Immediately following the de-
parture of the president the mother
should suffer a relapse. While yet in
his home county and within 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 a second stroke of paraly-
sis, and such announcement was made.
The attending physician, however, de
clared it was not second assault of
the disease, but a relapse which for
time threatened to eXtinguiSh the faint
ly Pickering fame of 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
GROWING WEAKER.
1t was not thought impossible that
she could linger until the president had
discharged the important duties which
called him to Washington and had re-
turned to his old home. That she was
constantly growing weaker, was ap-
parent to all. That she had lived so
long was a great surprise to the watch
ers and the doctor. The attending ply
sicjan again ann ounced tonight that the
patient cannot regain consciousness.
The president left Canton at 2:05
o'clock this afternoon, Judge Day, as
sistant secretary of state, accompany
ing him in a special car. Shortly be-
fore the departure he held a confer
ence with the doctor who advised that
Mr.. Mckinley carry out the original
plan of leaving for Washington. He
urged that the duties incumbent upon
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 mortal could do anything for the
aged mother, and that she would never
again be able to recognize him or
realize his presence or absence. His
last words to the family were that he
be telegraphed at every station along
the route as to his mothers condition
The president has definitely arranged
to return to Canton Tuesday morning,
leaving Washington Monday as soon as
he has completed his duties in connec-
ton 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 reached
the White house, Thursday morning,
she attempt the hasty trip. The near
friends of the family are nearly all at
the homestead, including the surviving
children, several grandchildren and
Mrs. Abigail Osborne, Mrs. Mckinley S
sister and mother of William McKin-
ley Osborne, consul general to Eng
land. She arrived last night, too late to
receive a sign of recognition and is
with the others to keep close vigil.
Miss Grace Mckinley came from her
college and William Bowman and
Stewart Duncan arrived late this even
ing. The last three are grandchildren.
DR.. Phillips left the Mckinley house
early this evening, and unless called
by reason of some change, may not
again call before morning. The patient
was resting quietly. The pulse and
respiration We're much improved, Civ
ing some reason to hope that she may
survive the night