Evening journal., 1901-05-16
Mckinley Himself Is Under a
Great Strain
ALL ENGAGEMENTS CANCELLED
First Lady Of The Land Not Regarded
As in Immediate Danger Of
Dissolution

San Francisco, May 16.-Owing TO
the very serious character Of Mrs. Nc
Kinley's illness the president yesterday
definitely decided TO abandon his con-
templated northwestern tour and to re-
turn to Washington direct so soon as
Mrs. Mckinley shall be able TO stand
the journey. The gravity Of Mrs. Nc
Kinley's condition has been known to
the members of the presidents immedi-
ate party for several days, but had been
concealed, in the belief that she would
rally But her present Illness has been
attended with entirely new complica7
tions, which have not yielded to treat
ment, and the president concluded that
it was time the public should be ap-
prised of the true situation. He is also
anxious that the residents OF the cities
and towns along the planned route of
his return trip. who have made such
extensive preparations for his visit,
should reeeiye prompt notification of
the circumstances which compel his
decision.
Dr. Henry Gibbons, a celebrated
physician OF San Francisco, was yes
teTday called in consultation with DR..
HircchfelGer and DR.. Rixey. Ever since
Mrs. Mckinley arrived at the Scott
residence she has been desperately i'll.
Her extreme weakness has been the
most alarming feature of her condition.
Her vitality has been at low ebb, and
she has spoken seldom to those about
her. The president has been contin-
ually at her bedside since their arrival
here Sunday night, save the few hours
Monday afternoon, when he left her to
60 to San Jose, and the three hours
he spent on Tuesday in the parade.
Fortunately Mrs. Mckinley slept ali
through his absence on both occasions.
The strain which the president him
self has undergone during the past few
days has been very great. 1t has been
q personal sacrifice for him to carry
out his engagements here, in order not
to disappoint the people, and IL is still
his desire to carry out the prearranged
program in San Francisco to whatever
extent he can. Yesterday morning he
though he would be able to be present
at the unveiling of the Donahue statue,
and so informed the committee, but at
the last moment, when his escort had
already drawn up before the Scott
residence, Mrs. McKinley's condition
was such that he decided not to leave.
All day except for a brief half hour
in the afternoon, when he yielded to
the entreaties of those about him and
went out for a drive, he remained
steadfastly at her side. The members
OF the cabinet reluctantly consented to
carry out yesterdays program at the
University of California and at Oak
land. but they put no heart into the
festivities while their chief was griev-
ing at his wifes bedside. The visit to
Mount Tamalpais, arranged for today,
was entirely abandoned, but II Mrs. Nc
Kinley's condition shall warrant the
president will attend the reception
given by the various veteran organiza-
tions of the city in the afternoon.
When Mrs. Mckinley is conscious
she recognizes the president and asks
for him. She is not regarded as in i'm
mediate danger of dissolution. There
is no abandonment of hope that she
will rally, but in her weakened condi-
tion there could not fail to be appre-
hension lest the spark Of life might
so out.
Mrs McKinley's Illness has cast a
shadow over the entire city. People
have shown their sympathy in a multi
tude of ways. All day long little
groups stand across the street oppo-
site the Scott mansion silently watch
ing the drawn blinds of the room in
which the first lady of the land lies
suffering. The news of the serious
character Of her illness evidently trav-
S eled fast, because from all over tho
country kilograms have been pouring
4 in expressing sympathy.
Just how soon Mrs. Mckinley viii
4 be able to travel is question which
q no one can answer now. It may bI
necessary for her to remain here long
81 er than next Monday, when the party
81 originally was scheduled to leave.
81 Is likely that 1t viii be somewhat late
before she will be able to endure thl