Evening star., 1901-03-13
Gen. Harrison's Family and Friends
at His Bedside.
PHYSICIANS ABANDON HOPE
He is Unconscious and Cannot
Survive the Day.
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY

hope has been abandoned for the recovery
of Gen. Benjamin Harrison, former Presi-
dent of the United States, who was pros
trated last Thursday by pneumonia and
intercostal neuralgia. Relatives and friends
are now simply waiting for the end.
AT no time within the past forty-eight
hours have the physicians given hope to
those whose vigil at the bedside has been
so faithful
The most comfort that comes to the
Harrison household is the assurances of
the physicians that the general is not suf-
fering
Bulletins issued hourly show that death
cannot be far removed. There is hush
in the North Delaware street home that
pOrtends death.
Few callers We're admitted during the
morning, and when the front door was
opened wide it was for the admission of
messenger boys, who brought words of
sympathy from far and near
Life Barely PerceptibIe.
few minutes before 1 O'Clock this after
noon the report came, unofficialy, from the
Harrison home that the general had sunk
into semi-cOmatose condition. from which
it was impossible to arouse him, and that
the only means by which it could be deter
mined if he were alive was by holding a
mirror over the mouth and nostrils Even
by this means it was apparent only by the
closest examination that respiration SILL
continued.
DIS Jameson and Dorsey, the nurses Mr.
I1bbett, the generals secretary; his life
long friend and former law partner, w. H.
II. Miller, and Mrs. Harrison were In the
sick room throughout the night None of
them remained constantly at the bedside,
hoy lN,-%t %to
the anxious hours since the patients condi-
tion became critical that they were forced
to seek a little rest during the night. How
ever, one of the physicians, one of the
nurses and one of the members of the
household Were in constant attendance.
The bulletins issued by DIR. Jameson
throughout the night told but little of the
hard, anxious fight that was being made
against death. Each bulletin carried prac-
ticaiiy the same information its prede-
cessor-that the general was gradually
growing weaker. This was understood to
mean that the most heroic treatment was
being administered and that the sufferer
was clinging to life with remarkable te
nacity.
Kept Alive by Oxygen.
The oxygen treatment. by which it was
hoped the patients breathing might be
eased to such an extent that the affected
portion of his lungs might be relieved OF
the strain which deepened the Inflammation
so that he might recuperate somewhat, was
administered regularly. While the oxygen
did not bring results that were at any time
encouraging. it enabled the general to pro-
long the fight. General Harrison gave no
signs during the night that he recognized
those about him or that he was suffering
greatly
A feature of the generals illness, which
is a source of annoyance to the physicians
and TO the family is the large number of
offers and solicitations from all sorts of
quacks and cranks who are ready to guar
antee that they have a remedy or system of
treatment whicn would cure the general.
One of those Offering their services even
went far to wire that he is en- route
TO indianapolis at his own expense to ad-
minister his treatment.
Many beautiful flowers have been re-
ceNed at the Harrison home, and each
hour today brought many additional offer
ings of this character. With the costly
products of the hot house came humble Of
ferings of carnations.
Today the Harrison home was closed to
newspaper men. Yesterday and last night
the house was practically besieged by rep
reSsntatiVeS of the local papers and cor
respondents for foreign papers until il was
apparent that change of arrangements
for furnishing bulletins would be necessary.
Accordingly. IL was arranged 10 give out
the bulletins only by telephone. Newspaper
men who called at the house today We're
courteously informed that they could not
gain admittance, but that any information
they might want would be given them by
telephone
Relatives En- Route to His Bedside.
Mrs. Eaton the sister of Gen. Harrison
who lives in Cincinnati, arrived at noon to-
day. Mrs. Morris, the sister who resides in
Minneapolis, IS expected to arrive some
time this evening. Mrs. Bevin of Ottum-
wa. the third sister, is supposed to be on
her way here, although word from her
TO that effect has yet been received.
John Scott Harrison of Kansas City and
Carter b. Harrison of Murfreesboro', Tenn,
the generals two brothers, are also on the
way.
Due to a false report circulated In other
cities that the general had died many mes
Sages of coincidence were received TODAY
These kilograms came from all parts of
the country.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie of New
York and United States Senator c. w
Fairbanks today telegraphed expressions of
sympathy
SARATOGA, N Y, March 13-Mr. and
Mrs. James Mckee will leave this after
noon for Indianapolis, where they expect
to arrive tomorrow noon. Mrs Mckee is
the daughter of General Harrison