The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1901-09-20


Milburn House. Sept. l4.-From author
itative officials the following details OF
the hnal scenes in anu ABOUT the death
chamber were secured:
Before o'clock IL was clear 10 those
at the president bedside that he was
dying aud preparations we're made tor
the last sad offices of farewell from those
who We're nearest and dearest TO him.
oxygen had been administered steadily.
but with little effect, Ia keeping back tie
approach of death. The president came
out OF one period OF unconsciOusness only
10 relapse into another. But in this Pc
Rod, when has mind was partially clear.
occurred q series of events OF profoundly
touching character
stained faces members OF The Cabine;
were grouped ia anxious waiting. They
knew the end WAS near and that the time
hao come when they must see him for
the last time on earth. This was about
o clock. One by one they assembled the
stairway - Secretary Root. Secretary
Hitchcock ana Attorney General Knox.
Secretary Wilson also was there but he
held back. not wishing 10 soc the preSi-
dent in his last agony. There was only
a m0mcntaly stay OF the cabinet officers
at the threshold Of the death chamber.
Then they withdrew. the tears streaming
down their faces and the words of in
tense grief choking in their threats.
After they left the sick room the ply
sicians rallied him 10 consciousness and
the president asked almost Immediately
that his wife be- brought to him. The
doctors fell back into the shadows OF the
room as Mrs. Mckinley came through the
doorway The strong face Of the dying
man lighted up with faint smile their
hands were claspcd- She sat beside him
and held his hand.
His last conscious hour on earth was
spent with the wife, 10 whom he devoted
a life time of care. His hast words were
an humble submission TO the VIII of the
God in whom he believed. RE was rec
onciled 10 the cruel fate To which an as
sassins bullet had condemned him, and
faced death in the same spirit of calm
ness and poise which has marked his
long and honorable career.
The powerful heart Stimulants. includ-
ing oxygen were employed to restore him
IL consciousness for his final parting with
his wife. He asked for her. and she sat
at his side and he'll his hand. lie con-
solcd her and babe her goodbye. She went
through tho heart-trying scene with the
same bravery and fortitude with which
she has borne the grief of the tragedy
which ended his lie
The president. in his last period OF con-
seriousness. which ended about 40, chant
ed the words Of tho hymn. Nearer. My
God. 20 Thee" ana his last audible con-
Scious words, as taken down by DIR. Mann
o. the bedside. were: "Good-by. all; good
bye. II l. Cots Will: His viii be done"
Then his mind began 10 wander. and
soon he completely lost consciousness.
His life WAS prolonged for hours by the
administration OF oxygen, and the pres
ident finally expressed desire 10 be al
lowed 10 dir. About $50 the adminstr.S-
tion OF oxygen ceased and the pulse grew
fainter and fainter He was sinking grad
uallx. like child. into the eternal slun-
Der BY 10 o'clock the pulse could no
longer be felt IN his eNtrciniti,'s and they
grew cold Below stairs the Sricf-Stricker
gathering waited sadly for the end.
Those in the house AZ this time were
Secretaries Hitchcock. Wilson and Foot
rows JnJgc Day. col. Hcrrin. .thner Nc
Ninley. the president .rnflicr. aud his
wife: Dr. h hcs h Mr nIe Srf he s r' nns
Mrs. Duncan. the presidents .iStvrs; Mrs
Mary Rarber. Mrs. McWi'iiams. Mrs
McKinley's cousin: tho rh; sicitns in
O'Clock; John g MilbHrn. John y
Scatcher,l, Harry Hamlin. all OF his city
others Rcv Q. u. Wilson. a Methodist
minister. Of Tonaw1nda. X y. who was
the presidents pastor for ulr,s Years a
ouire whether his s.erVices were needed
bnt did not enter the houSs'.
At this midnight hour the Milb.iri
house was the cenrer of scene aS an
imafed rs though IL were midday. al
though 4 solemn hush hung over tn
great crowd Of watchers The cntit'
lower part Of tho house w;t< glow vi,
light. and the mary attendants. friend:
and relatives c0ul.l br seen within. mnN
ing about ard occasionally corning y
OF air In the upper front chambers th'
llshts were low. and around On he rprtl
siie where the chamber OF death u j.
Gated. there were fltful lights. some BURN
Ing brightly and then turned down
DespiIe the fact tha4t the vitality con
tl,;tfcd 10 ebb as midnight apilrctrhe.
no efforts were spared to keep the ~parl
al l!fe glowing Dr. Janeway. Of Ncy
York city, arrived ~ the depot 20 II 4
o'clock George Urban was waiting ~
him. and they drove al a brraknctl
pace 10 the AfiIburn house. lie Ma
shown to TIE presidents room n once
and beam an examination OF the almos
inanirnate form
secretary OF II. Navy Long arrived a
the Milburn houss. at ie:o6 o'clock. Thi
was his first visit 10 the city. ana ~
had The extreme satisfaction OF seeini
the president alive; even though ne WA
Ss'.-.fsrv Long was v.sibly affected.
Shortly after midnight the President
breathing was hardly percentlole; IN
nulse Rad practically ceased and the ex
fre-rIt,es Mere cold. II Was recognize
that nothing remained but the last strus
sic sra some of the friends OF the famii
who had remained through the day oega
3 70 leave the house. not caring To be>pres
ent at the final scene. .,.s ~
The mem )ers or the family, with IN