The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
All Her Children, Including the Pres
ident, at the Bedside when the
Loved Mother Passed Away.
NO SIGN OF CONSCIOUSNESS
YESTERDAY SHE HAD SINKING
SPELLS, THEN GREW WEAKER.
And Finally Passed from Her Palsied
Sleep into the Sleep of Death
Brief Sketch of Her Life.

CANTON, o., Dec. 12.-Mrs. Mckinley
passed from life at a few minutes past 2
o'clock this morning with all of her childen
and other immediate relatives at her bed
side. She did not suffer any in her last
hours. but gradually passed from the deep
palsied sleep in which she has rested al
most constantly for the past ten days into
the sleep of death. No word could be Sc
cured from the house for some hours be-
fore the dissolution. Knocks of reporters
as well as those of telegraph messengers
were unanswered. At 2:35 a. m. an under
taker was summoned and the first publicity
given to the death.
The end was most beautiful in it's quiet
and peacefulness. Mrs. Mckinley seemed to
sleep SO soundly that it difficult to tell
whether she had yet breathed her last. This
condition continued for half an hour. There
was no struggle She seemed to sleep her
life away. The President and all Of her
family was by her side. There were no rec
ognitions, however Her last consciousness
was hours before her final taking away.
Saturday was the tenth day of Mrs. Nc
Kinleys illness, and at dawn it was thought
that the end was at hand, for about that
time she experienced one of the sinking
spells common to the illness, and for long
time seemed so nearly inanimate that it APP
peared no rally was possible. But the rally
came, and with it a condition in which she
was able to take a small amount of liquid
nourishment, the first she had taken since
last Monday This was followed by such
peaceful repose as to revive the hope, which
was realized, that she would live through
the day. The doctor felt that she would
do so when he saw her during the forenoon.
In the afternoon another period of anxiety
was experienced by the watchers. Another
sinking spell came, and for time it seemed
as though it would be the last After that
time she continued very weak and low.
The doctor called at $50 o'clock and re-
ported that he found a material change
for the worse, such as he regarded as GER
tain to bring about final dissolution during
the night. He had not even faint hope
that she could live until morning.
President Mckinley continued his vigil
all day much as he had the preceding days
He sat almost constantly in the sick room,
ana Inere secured ABOUT all the rest ne nau.
His attention has been almost wholly given
to the patient, watching intently for the
slightest change. He has had the news
papers at his side, and when the mother
rested most peacefully he glanced over their
columns for the news of the day. Late in
the afternoon he and his wife emerged from
the house and took few turns on the
porch for exercise and little fresh air.
and little later he and his brother Abner
had a similar walk. He then returned to
the house and resumed His vigil until the
end came this morning.
AT a m. it is impossible to make known
any arrangements. 1t is not believed that
any will be made until the much-worn fam
lily have few hours rest and sleep. The
President, at o'clock this morning, APP
peared in the best of health.