Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-09-21
PRESIDENT SUCCUMBS
TO MURDERER'S BULLET
After a Day of Alternate Relapses
and Rallies, rlcKinley Passes
Quietly Away.
HE BEGAN TO SINK FRIDAY MORNING
For Hours He lowered on the Brink of Death, Then Took
an Apparent Rally Later Another Turn for the
Worse Ensued-Heroc Efforts Of
Doctors Unavaiing.
HE BEGAN TO SINK FRIDAY MORNING

mourning family and their intimate
friends were left alone with their dis
tinguished dead.
The Closing Scene.
Before 9 o'clock II was clear 10 those
at the presidents bedside that he was
uylhs' ana preparations were made for
the last sad offices Of farewell from
those who were nearest and dearest 10
MN. oxygen had been administered
steadily, but with little effect, In keen
ing Dack the approach OF death. The
president came out OF one period OF un-
consciousness only 10 relapse into an
other. But In this period, when his
nina was partially clear, occurred a
series OF events OF profoundly touch
ing character. Down stairs. with
strained and tear-stained faces, MEM
pers OF the cabinet were grouped In
anxious waiting. They knew the end
was near, and that the time had come
"hen hey must see him for the last
time on earth. This was about 6
CLOCK. one by one they assembled the
stalrway-Secretary Root, Secretary
Hitchcoc and Attorney General Knox.
Secretary Wilson also was there. but
he held back, not Wishing to see the
president in his last agony. There was
only a documentary stay OF the ca binet
oincers on the threshold OF the death
chamber. Then they withdrew. the
tears streaming down their faces and
me words OF Intense grief choking In
their throats.
After they left the sick room the
physicians rallied him to conscious
ness and the president asked almost
immediately that his wife be brough.
TO nm. The doctors fell back into the
shadows or the room as Mrs. McKin-
ley came through the doorway. Tbs
race or the dying president lighted up
Wtlh p faint smile as their hands were
clasped. She sat Beside him and held
his hand. Despite her physical weak
ness she bore up b~ravely under the or
deal.
His Last Words.
The president In the last period of
consciousness, which ended about TAO
=. mp chanted the words OF the HYMN
Nearer, My God. to Thee" and his
last audible, conscious words, as taken
down by Or. Mann at the bedside, We're:
"Goodby, all; goodby. 1t is Gods
way. His will be done"
Then his mind began 10 wander and
0 he completely lost consciousness.
His life was prolonged for hours by the
administration Of oxygen, and the pres
ident finally expressed q desire TO be
oiio"'N W hlc' ADOul OsOU the H0fnln-
istration OF oxygen ceased and the pulse
grew fainter and fainter. He was sink
Ing gradually, like "A child. into the
eternal slumber. BY 10 o'clock the pulse
could no longer be felt In the cxtrem-
tiles. and they grew cold.
Below stairs the grief-stricken gather
Ing waited sadly for the end.
All the evening those who had FASTENED
here as fast IA steam and steel could
carry them continued 10 arrive. They
drove up In carriages ut a gallop or were
whisked up In automobiles, all intent up-
on getting here before death came. one
of the last to arrive was Attorney Cen
eral Knox, who reached the house at
$3.50. He was permitted To go up stairs TO
look for the last time upon the face OF
his chief. Those IN the house at this
time were Secretaries Hitchcock, Wilson
and Senators Fairbanks, Hanna and Bur
rows, Judge Day, Colonel Herrick, Alb
ner Mckinley, the presidents brother,
and his wife, DIR. and Mrs. Baer, the pres
ldent's nieces, Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Dun
can, the presidents sisters, Miss Mary
Barber, Miss McNYllllams, Mrs. McKin-
ley's cousin, the physicians, including Or.
McBurney, who arrived after s o'clock,
John @. Milburn, John N. Scatcherd, Har-
ny Hamlin. all of this city, Secretary Cor
telyou ana a number OF others. Rev. c.
u. Wilson, a Methodist minister OF Tona-
wanda, N. Y, who was the presidents
past for three years at Canton, called at
the residence TO inquire whether his serv-
ices were needed, but did not enter tho
house. Another Methodist minister who
has IL church near by remained at the
Milburn residence for two hours in the
belief that his services might be desired.
At 9:3I o'clock Secretary Cortelyou, who
had been much OF the time with his dy-
ing chief, sent out Il formal notification
that the president was dying. but the
president fingered on. his pulse growing
fainter and fainter
Long Fight with Death.
There was no need for official bulletins
after this. Those who came from the
house ut intervals told the same story
that the president was dying and that the
end might come ut any time. His tre-
mcndous vitality was the only remaining
in the result, and this gave hope
only OF brief postponement OF the end.
Mynter thought he might last until .
a. m. Dr. Mann said at IL o'clock that
the president was still alive and probably
live an hour. Thus minutes length
aned 20 hours, and midnight came with
he president still battling against death.
At the midnight hour the Milburn
was the center OF n scene as anil
as though It were midday, although
4 solemn hush hung over the great crowd
Of watchers. The entire lower part or the
house was aglow with light, and the many
friends and relatives could
be seen within, moving about and occa-
slonaily coming in groups to The front
doorway for a breath OF air. In the up
Der front chamber the lights were low.
Around on the north side, where the
,hamber Of death Is located, there were
atful lights. some burning brightly and
hen turned low.
Secretary Root and Secretary Wilson
from the house about midnight and
paced up and down the sidewalk. All that
Root said was. 1.-THE night has
lot come yet"
Tanned LIES Pickering Flame.
Despite the fact that vitality continued
a ebb as midnight approached, no efforts
we're spared to keep the spark OF life
glowing. DIR. Janeway Of New York city
arrived at the depot at u:40 o'clock. Geo.
Urban was waiting for him, and they
srove at a breakneck pace TO the Mil
Durn house. He was shown to the presi-
ient's room at once. and began an ex-
animation of the almost inanimate fern.
Secretary of the Navy Long arrived at
he Milburn house at IL :06 O'Clock. This
vas his arst visit to the city, and he had
he extreme satisfaction OF seeing the
president alive, even though he was not
OF his visitors presence. Sec
.etary Long was visibly affected
Vice President Roosevelt had been noti-
led early In the day OF the critical state
affairs. There was no longer a doubt
hat In tha annroaching death of the Dres-