The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-17

lessly at their approach. The Presi- dent could not be persuaded to leave the sick room and he remained there 1 constantly with the doctors and nurses, seemingly incapable of fatigue.
 l The Sun Excluded.
 The room in which Mrs. Mckinley lay is a sunny one at the southeast sunshine was excluded lest the light might disturb the patient. Gathered in the adjoining room were the ladies of the Cabinet. Miss Barber, Mrs. Me- Kinleys niece, had remained at the Scott residence all night and MT. and Mrs. Morse. nephew and niece of Mrs. Mckinley. were summoned early this morning. Down stairs Postmaster Gen era1 Smith. Secretary Hay. Secretary Hitchcock and Secretary Wilson were assembled. From time to time Secre- tary Cortelyou, who has had entire charge of everything throughout the entire ordeal of the last few days. and who has been present almost contin- uously. came down to keep them in- formed of the developments.
 Mrs. Mckinley suffered little. She lay practically in a stupor and the doctors said there was no pain. Every one at the residence realized that she was at deaths door and that it would require almost a miracle To save her. At Il o'clock the physicians had an- other consultation.
 | "No Better" the Statement.
 NO better." was the statement they issued. Privately they shook their heads. Mrs. Mckinley had no reserve strength to call upon. She had taken practically no nourishment for several days but even with everything against her, they said there was still a bare chance for her to survive.
 l As the day progressed there was a noticeable improvement in Mrs. Me vival of hope in the minds of the anxious watchers at her bedside. Her mind cleared and she asked the Presi- dent about the ladies of the cabinet and how they were enjoying them- selves. She expressed q desire that her illness should not be allowed to interfere with their pleasure. Miss Hitchcock and Miss Wilson, who were in the next room at the time. were summoned and she greeted them with a faint smile. During luncheon, which Postmaster General Smith and Secre- tary Hitchcock took with the President, Miss Barber came downstairs and told the small company that Mrs. McKin- fee, saying she was tired of the liquid nouriShment which the doctors were giving her. This evidence of her re- viving strength was considered ex- tremely gratifying and for time the | little company was almost aXultant. Perhaps, however, the hope they left was disproportionate to the slight grounds upon which it was based.
 Solid Food Refused.
 | The doctors, of course, were compelI- ed to refuse Mrs. Mckinley solid food. For two days they have been only able | to give her beef tea and brandy. to- gether with the other stimulants for her enfeebled heart action. Nitrogly- cerine and the most powerful stimu- lants known to the medical profession have been resorted to.
 | At about half past o'clock the President decided to go out for a walk and, accompanied by the Postmaster General and the Secretary of the h. terior. he strolled through the neighbor- ing streets returning the respectful salutations which were met from all who recognized him and once or twice he stopped to shake hands with those who stopped and requested that pri- vilege. Upon his return to the house he cheerily told group of newspaper men assembled there that Mrs. McKin- ley was holding her own. During the afternoon the President expressed the opinion that the public was entitled to | specific information regarding the nature of Mrs. McKinley's illness and the treatment she was receiving. Up to that time the bulletins issued at in tevals since yesterday had been of the briefest and most vague character and the public was largely in the dark as to the character of the trouble which had brought her to deaths door.
 It was at the Presidents distinct re- quest that a signed statement should be prepared by the physicians and given to the press. At g o'clock to- night the statement had not been is- sued, but 1t is expected later.
 All Quiet at g P. M.
 At 9 o'clock tonight all was quiet around the Scott home. About 200 people were assembled in Lafayette Square awaiting bulletins. There was | a feeling of relief when Secretary | Cortelyou summoned the press report CTS and gave to them the bulletin an- nouncing that the physicians reported , Mrs. McKinley's condition decidedly improved since morning, and that their patient was resting well at that hour A large detail of police was on |