The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-17
MRS. M'KINLEY IS
 GREATLY IMPROVED
Encouraging Statement Issued Late Last Night---Life of Patient
 Still Hangs by Thread.

 hour tonight Secretary Cortelyou gave out the following statement:
 "Physicians in attendance on Mrs. Mckinley report her condition as de- cidedly improved since morning. pulse and temperature satisfactory. Patient resting we'll"
 Mrs. Mckinley is in the shadow of death and may pass away at any mo- ment. This morning shortly before dawn she sank rapidly and it was feared she would die before restora- tives could be administered. But she responded to the powerful heart stimu- lants which were given to her and during the day improved to such an extent that hope of her recovery. slight though 1t was, revived.
 The new treatment for low vitality, salt injections into the veins, was ad- ministered to Mrs. Mckinley and she responded to the treatment.
 Life Hangs by Thread.
 But her life hangs by thread. She has taken no solid food since she reached here Sunday and the physi- clans do not believe she could survive another sinking spell such as she ex- perienced this morning. She suffers little and bears up bravely. During her periods of consciousness today her mind was clear. The President is constantly at her bedside and although worn by his long vigil. is standing the awful strain with remarkable forti- tude.
 Every public function planned in his honor here has been abandoned and the city with heavy heart is watching Mrs. McKinley's battle for life. If the end should come. the President and his party will be ready to start back with the remains within twenty -four hours. The train which brought them here will be used on the return trip and all the arrangements have been made to go back by the shortest route, the Central and Union Pacific to Chicago and thence via the Pennsylvania to Washington. If Mrs. Mckinley inn proves it is not believed that she will
  the coming Monday. All the members of the cabinet with the possible excep- tion of Secretary Long will remain here to the end. The latters daughter is very i'll at Colorado Springs and he is very apprehensive that he may be call ed there at any time.
 Remained at Bedside.
 During the night the President did not leave Mrs. McKinley's bedside Shortly before midnight when Drs. Hirschfelder and Gibbons departed and Dr. Rixey laid down for a little rest, there was hope that her life would be spared. All day the President had watched the faces of the doctors and the nurses for a sign of encouragement and they had urged him not to de- epair. Mrs. Mckinley had appreciably rallied during the early hours of the night and at 10 o'clock was so much better that the President had gone in next door to show himself for a few minutes at a little reception which was being held there. After midnight for hours there was no sign of life in the Scott mansion except the night lamp burning low in Mrs. McKinleys 8 room. The fog had drifted in with the coming of the sea wind and the city lay swathed in it as in a shroud.
 At o'clock this morning the police patrolling on tip-toe outside and the little group of newspaper watchers on the corner opposite saw d stir in the house. Lights flickered here and there, carriage with rubber tires rolled swiftly up to the door from the gloom and Dr. Hirschfelder alighted. It was whispered that Mrs. Mckinley was sinking. For time it was thought she was dying, but powerful heart stimulants revived .ler slightly. When daylight came the doctors held anoth- CT consultation and the news ol Mrs. McKinley's sinking spell was given out.
 Entire Program Cancelled.
 Formal notification was made that all arrangements for the remainder of the Presidents stay in San Francisco were cancelled. Tine President no long CT had the heart 10 nOld out raise hopes that he would be able to attend any of the functions arranged here in his honor. His only thought was of the wife who was lowering between life and death. He directed that all of Mrs. McKinley's relatives be advised of her extremely critical condition and steel ed himself for the worst.
 In the city the bulletins at the news paper offices announcing that the fes- tivities of the week were abandoned, fell like a pail upon the multitude. Not until then was 1t fully realized that Mrs Mckinley was at deaths door.
 The committees in charge of numer- ous entertainments issued bulletins that everything had been abandoned out of respect to the President. Mean time an air of death pervaded the Scott residence. Servants fitted about like shadows. Messenger boys with telegrams and cables from all parts of the world inquiring for news of Mrs. NcKinIey's condition passed in endless