Evening star., 1900-11-28

but little incident. His last conscious utter
ance was the expression of a wish to live:
not for the sake of life itself. but because
he believed his country needed him. His
words were: oh that l might live five
years more for my cOuntry's sake
Senator Frye. president pro tenn. of the
United States Senate, has been notified of
the senator's death. and his wishes with
reference to the funeral arrangements will
be complied with
Senator Davis by his genial disposition
and kindly courtesy. had endeared himself
to the residents of ST. Paul, and there are
but few to whom the loss does not come
a personal grief.
For more than a week it has been known
that the death of Senator Davis was GER
tain to occur within a short time Although
to day made no positive statement to this
effect they nevertheless gave the impress
sion that the case was hopless one.
The senator, in his moments of lucidity
expressed a strong determination to re-
cover, and within the past week told United
States District Attorney Evans that he was
positive he would soon be well. Indeed, 1t
Is the general belief that the senator's iron
will is all that kept him alive for the past
week. The serious kidney affection which
developed on November II had refused to
yield to treatment, and his weakened frame
was unable to withstand the poisons left in
his system by these organs failing to per-
form their functions.
On Sunday, November IS, a serious
change for the worse was noted. Previous
to that the senator had been reported as
having occasional periods of delirium. On
that day these delirious spells became more
marked, and since then the lucid intervals
have become less and less frequent, until
the senator was almost constantly ont If
his mind. In his delrium he raved Of his
congressional work. He would declare in
vigorous phrases fragments of the nations
foreign policy. There was, of course, no
cOherence-a sentence about the PhiliDpines
q 1r1p tt,a
Monroe doctrine, or a suggestion of an i'm
pending war with Spain. But always in his
diseased mind his patriotic and official du-
ties We're with him.
After his return from the Maine cam
pa gn in September Senator Davis was trou-
bled by twinges of pain in one of his feet
to which he paid little attention, thinking
It due to some neuralgic condition winch
would soon pass. He began an active cam
palgn IN this state, speaking in Duluth Sep
tembel p and at Alexandria, Mimi Sep
tember %. During the latter speech he
suffered so greatly that he could not wear
his shoe. He returned home at once and
was ordered to bed by his physician A
few days later an operation was performed
but he failed to improve.
An operation on October II was imme-
dIately beneficial, and further operation
was performed October "a. 1t was al first
believed the case was one of blood pois-
oning, caused by infection, through a slight
abrasion of his foot from the dive of a
drew off the accumulation of pus His con-
dition improved steadily until November a.
when he grew worse, and DR.. J. B. MUIR
ply, the Chicago specialist, was sent for,
consultation being held the next day.
AT that time a slight gangrenous condition
was discovered and an operation was found
necessary, removing a portion of one toe.
The wound healed we'll and the physicians
were hopeful Of the outcome. However, on
November IL kidney trouble became ap-
parent, both nephritis and diabetes compli-
eating the case and making his condition
more critical. Another consultation with
DR.. Murphy was held on November Is, con-
hrming the previous opinion and settling
the presence of the kidney trouble.
Throughout the last week of his Illness
the senator suffered little pain from his
Injured foot, which was healing nicely
His strength was kept up with stimulants,
but the failure of his kidneys to act left
his system impregnated with poison, which
in his enfeebled condition he was unable
to withstand. 1t became daily more diff
cult to Induce him to take nourshment and
stimulants, and his strength gradually ebbed
away. His delirium lasted nearly a week
and this morning he sank into unconscious
ness. which lasted until death brought him
relief.