Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-03
MOTHER M'K|N[tY VERY Ill.
Feared by Her Physician That She
Canno! Long Survive.

Morning at Her Home in Canton.
Unable to Speak, and in a Semi
Conscious Condition-The Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley Will
Hasten to Her 9edside-W Not
Delay or Interfere With the Open
ing Of Congress,
Canton, O., December DIR. Phil
lips and Mr.. Abner Mckinley were
seen at 10 o'clock tonight, after they
left the bedside of Mother" Mckinley.
Mr.. Mckinley thinks his mother is
sinking very fast, and fears that the
end is not far off.
He says she barely recognizes the
members Of the family and seems to
be growing weaker rapidly. DR.. Phil
lips said:
Mrs Mckinley is barely conscious
and is sinking very fast. She may not
last longer than morning, but the in
dications at this time are to the con-
trary."
At II o'clock tonight DR.. Phillips
called at the Mckinley home. He said
that there was but slight change in
the patients condition. She was
breathing heavily, but otherwise her
symptoms were not worse. DR.. Phil
lips retired for the night with in
structions that he be called if any
thing happened.
Canton, O., December 2.-The Presi-
dent and all other members of the Nc
Kinley family not already here are en-
route to the beside of Mother Mckinley
tonight. The message from the Pres
ident this evening was addressed to his
brither, Abner, who has been visiting
at the home of their mother for several
days. 1t caused the mother much cheer
and comfort.
The President had not yet been sum-
moned to the bedside of his aged moth
err, who, no doubt, is rapidly nearing
the end. But true to the devotion he
has always shown for wife and mother,
he could no longer remain away, know
ing that his mother was seriously ill.
Without waiting for the telephone
message which had been arranged for
at o'clock. he began preparations for
coming to Canton. He will reach here
at 1925 tomorrow morning.
Mrs. A. J. Duncan, of Cleveland,
daughter of Mother Mckinley, who is
in Chicago visiting her daughter,
Sarah, who is attending school there,
telegraphed this evening that she would
be in Canton tomorrow morning. Miss
Helen Mckinley makes her home here
with her mother.
What was feared this morning when
Mrs. Nancy Allison Mckinley was
stricken was a slight attack of paraly-
sis, is tonight regarded as almost a
certainty; that is, the early death of
the Presidents mother. AS the day adj
vanced she grew gradually worse and
the members of the family felt that
she was slowly sinking, although after
she fell into the semi-conscious state
early in the day there was scarcely an
appreciate change.
Everything that is possible is being
done to add to her comfort and to
postpone the final scene as long as pos
sible.
Inquiries concerning the beloved wo-
man are coming from all quarters, a
flood of kilograms having started i'm
mediately after the news of the illness
was flashed over the Associated Press
wires. Solicitous friends from Al
parts of the country are asking to oe
kept informed of her condition.
DR.. Phillips, the attending physi-
clan, tonight gave the family little
more hope than on his earlier visits.
He expressed the belief that death was
inevitable, and that the only uncer-
tainty was the time when it would
occur.
1t might be in a very short time,
he said, possibly not for several days,
and there is a chance for a rally and
postponement of death for some weeks.
He thinks the developments of the
night will decide the matter. He ex-
poets no change before morning.
The patient is taking liquid nour-
ishment at intervals and will not suf-
fer from want of food.
Mr.. Abner Mckinley said late to-
night that he thought his mother was
sinking rapidly and he fears the end
is not far Off.
At an early hour this morning Mrs.
Nancy Allison Mckinley, the venerable
mother of the President, was stricken
with paralysis, and her death is be-
lieved to be only a question of a short
time Not since Mrs. Mckinley was
stricken has there been a favorable
feature in her condition. That the at
tack would ultimately end in death was
the first fear of the family on discover
ing her illness, and the consultations
of the attending physicians have tended
to confirm this belief. Every effort is
being made to render the patient COM
Portable, and what will doubtless prove
to be her last illness, as free from suf-
fering as possible. The paralysis,
when it first appeared, was not of a
serious form, and seemed only to have
affected her vocal chords. She was
able to walk from her own bed chamber
to that of her daughter, Miss Helen Nc
Kinley, to give the first intimation of
the attack, and at that time seemed to
he in possession of all her mental and
physical faculties, but soon afterward
a change was noticed and in the after
noon she sank into condition of semi
consciousness, in which size has since
remained.