The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-15
PRAYED FOR A LEADER
Chicago Women Plead for Miss
Frances L. Willard.
SHE Is I'LL In NEW YORK
The President of the W. c. I. L.
Suffering From Cancer OF the
Stomach-He Condition Serious.
but She Is Resting Easier roke
Down on Her Birthday.

Chicago, Feb. 15.-The national Off
GERS Of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union and many of the members
were gathered at the headquarters al
day yesterday to await news of Miss
Frances z. Willard, the founder, who is
i'll in New York
Early yesterday morning telegram
came from Miss Anna Gordon, Miss VIII
lard's secretary, saying that the temper
ance feaVieT was in the shadow of death.
Moved by a common impulse, the Off
GERS fell upon their knees, and Caroline
Lent Stevenson led in prayer. Each i'm
turn lifted up her voice. Then they
prayed in silence and tears mingled with
their petitions.
Those who came for news from Miss
Willard heard of the telegram and fell
on their knees like the others. They
hoped against hope. prayed with all their
faith. At noon there came another tel
egram from Miss Gordon. The special
lists could do nothing.
THE only hope is in the Great Physi-
Cian," read the telegram. Ii asked for
prayers for Miss Willard.
Again the women fell on their knees.
Again Mrs. Stevenson appealed in trem-
bling words for the life of the leader
whom they love.
As the day wore on and the number
Of callers increased. Mrs. Abbie Church
organized another prayer meeting in
Willard Hall. Scores of women passed
the remainder Of the day and part OF
the night there. praying as they had new
or prayed before that the life of Miss
willard might be saved. At times the
silence of the room was broken only by
the sobbinE of those on their knees.
Often those who led were choked. and
burst into weeping. The great fear was
upon them and petition was their only
relief As the hours passed and no news
came to cheer them their fear increased.
New York. Feb. 15.-Miss Frances f.
willard is i'll in the Empire Hotel, Sixty
third street and the Boulevard. She has
been suffering from cancer of the stom-
ach for several years The inroads Of
this disease. combined with bad attack
Of grip had completely shattered her
health
She broke down in Madison, Wis,
about a month ago while making an adj
dress. upon her birthday. II was then
decided that she should go 10 New York
and submit herself 60 specialists. Miss
Willard was exhausted by overwork and
insufficient rest.
She went 20 the hotel with her secre-
tary Miss Jordan. where she has since
remained in complete seclusion. The ag-
itation occa stoned by the attack upon
her CO-wOrker. Lady Henry Somerset.
affected her powerfully and she rapidly
grew worse.
Even while enduring the most severe
suffering the courage OF Miss Willard
enabled her to work. Every day she
dictated from sixty to one hundred let
tpf-S and also sent ont the anpeal ad-
dressed 10 President Dwight, Of Yale, 10
exert his influence against the sale Of
liquor Ia the students. This has been
placed with every branch Of the ". c. T.
L. in the State for signature.
Miss Jordan said today that Miss VIII
lard was resting more easily than she
had for several days past.