Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1901-09-18

President Mckinley died at ais a. m
He had been unconscious since 1850
p. m. His last conscious hour on earth
was spent with his wife to whom he
devoted life time of care. He died
unattended by minister of the gospel
but his last words were an humble
submission to the will Of God, in whom
he believed. He was reconciled to the
cruel fate to which an assassin's bull
let had condemned him and faced
death in the same spirit of calmness
which has marked his long and hon.
orable career.
The president, in his last period OF
consciousness, which ended about
TAO. chanted the words of the hymn
Nearer, My God, to Thee" and his
last audible words, as taken down by
DR.. Mann at the bedside, were:
"Goodby all, goodby. 1t is Gods
way. His will be DONE"
Then his mind began to wander and
soon he completely lost consciousness
His life was prolonged for hours by
the administration of oxygen and the
president finally expressed desire to
be allowed to die. About $50 the ad
ministration Of oxygen ceased and the
pulse grew fainter and fainter. He
was sinking gradually, like a child
into the eternal slumber. By 10
o'clock the pulse could no longer be
felt In his extremities and they grew
cold.
His relatives and the members of
his official family were at the Milburn
house. except Secretary Wilson, who
did not avail himself of the oppor'
tunity, and some OF his personal and
political friends took leave Of him.
The actual death probably occurred
about o'clock, 1t being understood
that DIR. Rixey delayed the announce
ment to assure himself. The an
nouncement of the news to those wait
ing below was postponed until the
members of the family had withdrawn.
Through Secretary Cortelyou the
waiting newspaper men received the
notification. In trice there was the
keenest excitement on the streets.
When the news was impaired to
those down stairs, a great sigh OF an
guish went up from the strong men
there assembled The members OF
the cabinet, senators and close friends
,
with mournful tread and bowed heads
they came out into the darkness and
went away. There was not one among
them with dry eyes and some moaned
In agony Of grief.
Those present at the time OF the
presidents death we're: Secretary
Cortelyou, DR.. Rixey, Mrs. and Miss
Barber and Miss Duncan.
The Autopsy.
Buffalo, Sept. l6-The following report
of the autopsy upon the remains OF Pres
ident Mckinley was issued at 5 o'clock;
"The bule which struck over the
brease bone did not pass through the skin
and did little harm. The other bullet
passed through both walls OF the stom-
ach near its lower border. Both holes
were found to be perfectly closed by the
stitches, but the tissue around each hole
had become gangrenous. After passing
through the stomach the bullet passed
into the back walls Of the abdomen, hit
ting and tearing the upper end of the kid
ney. This portion of the bullets track
was also gangrenous, the gangrene involv-
| ing the pancreas. The bullet has not yet
been found. There was no sign Of peri
tonitis or disease of other organs. The
heart walls were very thin. There was
no evidence of attempt at repair on the
part of nature and death resulted from
the grangrene which affected the stom-
ach around the bullet wounds as well as
the tissues around the further course of
the bullet. Death was unavoidable by
any surgical or medical treatment, and
was the direct result Of the bullet wound.
Signed by all attending physicians.
Buffalo, Sept. 16.-Buffalo Sunday
became a city Of mourning. The dec
orations OF the Pan-American exposi
tion gave way to the symbol Of sor
row. The black drapery OF the city's
streets muffied the tolling bells Of
the churches. Bits Of Grape appeared
on every sleeve. Sorrow was every
where apparent. In the morning 9
simple service took place at the resi-
dence on Delaware avenue, where the
president died. Only the immediate
family and the friends and politica
associates OF the president were pres
ent. The scene there was pathetic In
the extreme. Then the body was
borne through solid walls Of livinf
humanity, bareheaded and grief strick
en-, to the city hall, where 1t lay In
state.
There a remarkable demonstration
Occurred, which proved how close the
president was to the hearts Of the peo
pie. Arrangements had been wade
to allow the public to view the body
from the time 1t arrived at about 1:3C
o'clock until about s o'clock. But the
people were wedged into the streets
for blocks. When O'Clock came 40.
900 people had passed and the crowt
waiting below in the streets seemed
'undiminished. IL was decided to ex
tend the time until midnight. Ther
for hours longer the streets were
dense with people and a constan
stream flowed past the bier.