The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-14
HOW CRISIS CAME
rLUTTERING AND WEAKENING
PULSE
THE FIRST SIGN OF COLLAPSE
THAT BROUGHT SORROW To THE
hearts or ANXIOUS MILLIONS.

Messengers and Physicians Hurried
Through the Storm Swept Streets.
DigitaIis, Strychnine and Saline
ISOLATION Used to Force the Heart
to Perform Its Functions-The
Turning of the Tide-Of All the
sad Household the Noble Wife
Alone knew Not the Truth-Crank
mt MiIburn HOuse-The Resources
of Desperation.
Milburn House, Buffalo, Sept. 10
President Mckinley began to sink
shortly after o'clock this morning
after a critical period of twelve hours,
in which alarm and hope mingled in
the emotions of those who surrounded
him. Shortly after o'clock the ply
sicians and nurses detected a weaken
ing of the heart action. The pulse
Huttered and weakened, and the Pres
ident sank toward collapse.
The end appeared to be at hand.
Restoratives were speedily applied and
the physicians fought the battle, with
all the reserve forces of science. Ac-
tails and strychnine were administer
ed, and as last resort saline solution
was injected into the veins.
A general alarm went speeding to
the consulting physicians and trained
nurses as fast as messengers, the tele-
graph and telephone could carry it.
The restoratives did not at once prove
President was in an extremely criti-
cal condition. That realization, with
the shadow of death behind it, led to
another call and that a summons to
the cabinet. relatives and close per-
sonal friends of the President. The
messengers who returned with the
doctors and nurses were hurried off
after those within reach, and to those
who were absent from the city tele-
grams conveying the painful tidings,
were quickly transmitted by telegraph.
The scene about the house and in the
stormswept street was dramatic in its
action, and setting, and the spirit of
the tragedy was on those who looked
upon 1t. A messenger who darted out
into the rain and was whisked away
in an electric cab, gave the outside
watchers the first intimation of the ill
news from within.
Physicians Hurry to His side.
AS the telegraph instruments ratified
away with their forlorn story early this
morning the hastily aroused physicians
began arriving. An automobile, racing
at top speed, brought DR.. Mynter first.
He did not stop to speak, but rushed
into the house. DR.. Mann came almost
on his heels and he, too, ran down the
street. Neither stopped for a word as
they rushed into the house. After them
came Abner Mckinley, pale and agi-
tated. He had left the house scarcely
two hours before and had departed
with the assurance that the tide had
turned in the case of his distinguished
brother. He had been aroused from |
slumber by a messenger who told him |
to come at once.
Secretary Wilson and Secretary |
Hitchcock, in grief at the peril of their
chief, arrived within few moments. |
Neither knew the true state of the |
President at that moment and in silent |
fear they quickly entered the house.
Another hurrying visitor was Dr. Was |
ding, whose arrival completed the cir
Gle of physicians, and another was
Mrs. McWilliams, the friend of Mrs.
Mckinley.
One Paper Said He Was Dying.
The Buffalo papers all had extras
with the sad intelligence of the Presi- |
dents relapse on the streets at day
light. One paper announced that the |
President was dying. The result was
that the whole city was thoroughly |
aroused and alarmed early, and before |
Z o'clock crowds of people fiocked in |
the direction of the Milburn residence |
to learn If the latest news was not |
more reassuring. They stood at the |
ropes far down the intersecting streets |
and waited patiently for the appear
ance of the morning bulletin. Many of |
them refused to credit the news of the |
Presidents sudden change for the |
worse until they had learned by word |
OF mouth from the sentries of the Pres |
idents dangerous and critical condi-
ticn.
OF all the sad household only the |
wife did not know the truth She |
surmised that Mr.. Mckinley was
worse. for she was told this morning
1t would be better for her not to en-
ter the sick chamber. She assented. |
but 1t was with look of mute ap-
peal in her eyes.
The President himself seemed to
realize that his life hung by thread |
This morning he looked out of the !
window. When the nurse sought to
adjust the pillow to keep out the light, |
he murmured feeble protest. at is
so beautiful" said he "the trees are
so beautiful; 1 want to see them"
DR.. w. w. Johnson of Washington
and DIR. Janeway of New York. two of |
the most eminent heart specialists in |
the United States, were summoned to
lend their skill and counsel and DR.. |
McBurneY. the noted surpaon x.,ho Iaft /