The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-17
SLIGHT RALLY.

- 'CO~NC11OE <NIL'F
had remained at the Scott residence all
night, and Mr.. and Mrs. Morse. nephew
and niece of Mrs. Mckinley, were sum
nioned early this morning. Downstairs
the members of the Cabinet - Secretary
Hay, Secretary Hitchcock and Secretary
Wilson-were From time to
time Secretary Cortelyou. who has had
entire charge OF everything throughout the
entire ordeal of the last few days. and
who has been present almost continually,
came down to keep them informed of the
Mrs. Mckinley suffered little. She lay
practically I'm a stupor and the doctors said
there was no pain. Every one at the resi-
cence realized that she was In the shadow
OF death and that ii would require almost a
miracle to save her.
ANOTHER CONSULTATION.
At IL o'clock the physicians had another
consultation. mo better" was the state
ment they issued. Privately they shook
their heads. Mrs. Mckinley had no reserve
strength TO call upon. She had taken prac-
tically no nourishment for several days, but
even with everything against her they said
there was still a bare chance for her TO
survive.
As the day progressed there was a no.
ticeable Improvement In Mrs. McKinley's
condition and distinct revival of hope in
the minds of the anxious watchers at her
bedside. Her mind cleared and she asked
the President about the ladies of the Cab;-
net ana how they were enjoying them
selves. She expressed a 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 sum-
moned, and she greeted them with
a faint smile. During luncheon, which
Postmaster General Smith and Secretary
Hitchcock took with the President. Miss
Barber came down stairs and told the
small company that Mrs. Mckinley had
just asked for chicken and coffee, saying
she was tired of the liquid nourishment
which the doctors were giving her. This
evidence OF her reviving strength was con-
sidered extremely gratifying and for a
time the little company was almost exult-
tant. Perhaps. however. the hope they felt
was misproportionate TO the slight grounds
upon which IL was based. The doctors. of
course, were compelled to refuse Mrs. Nc
kinley solid food. For two days they have
been only able to give her beef tea and
brandy, together with the other stimulants,
Tor her enfeebled heart action. Nitroglycer-
in and most powerful stimulants known
TO the medical profession have been re-
AT half-past 2 o'clock the President de-
cided to go out for a walk, and, accom-
panied by the postmaster general and the
secretary of the interior, he strolled
through the neighboring streets. returning
the respectful salutations which were met
with from all who recognized him and once
or twice he stopped to shake hands with
those who stepped up and requested the
privilege. Upon his return to the house he
cheerily told a group of newspaper men as
sembled there that Mrs. Mckinley was
holding her own.
During the afternoon the President ex-
pressed the opinion that the public was en-
titled 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 intervals 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. 1t was the Presidents distinct re.
quest that a signed statement should be
prepared by the physicians and given Il
the press. The statement, however, was
not issued.
In answer to a query regarding Mrs. Nc.
Kinley's health President Mckinley sale
after returning from his walk: Mrs. Me
Kinley is holding her own. We believe she
is a shade better than she was at noon"
The ladies of the Cabinet also took ad'
vantage of the slight Improvement in Mrs
McKinley's condition TO go for a short
drive during the afternoon.
CROWDS IN THE PARK.
All day long Lafayette Park. opposite tn,
Scott residence. was filled with crowds o.
people. not drawn thither so much by
curiosity as by an eager desire for direc
news from the sick room. Their ~profoun,
sorrow was apparent from the silent, re
spectful way in which they obeyed the i'm
functions OF the police to keep back beyon,
the coping OF the road which runs through
the center of the park. Although fully 10
yards from the house, many Of them spok,
I'm whispers. Late in the afternoon a littl,
girl with an armful of flowers braved thu
blue coats and ascended the steps. Tt,
butler opened the door.
Il brought these for Mrs. Mckinley" sh,
lisped. I'VE are so sorry. / hope she will
be better soon.'
Then she handed over the flowers an
slipped away.
Secretary Hay is utterly worn out by tn,
strain of the last few days and the fatigu
or the long Journey across the continon
and has rested in his room in the hotel al
day. Mrs. Hay, who was at the Scott res
idence. kept him frequently advised of tn
developments there.
Bishop Nicholas of the Episcopal Church
was one of the visitors at the Scott man
with Mrs. Mckinley, and as he left thu
house the seriousness of his expression wa
commented on by the waiting crowd. TIL
bishop said he had found Mrs. McI<inle,
IN a very low condition., but the physicians
informed him that they had not relin
was informal. as Mrs. Mckinley and N
are of different religious denominations
\ special Western Union wire was place,
Ia the Scott house to-day, thus CONNECTING
the President direct with Washington. Sec
rotary Cortelyou is thus enabled to Motif,
Washington of Mrs. McKinley's condition
without intrusting his messages TO outsid,
hands. and without loss of time.
At noon there was a report that Mrs. Nc
Kinley had died and at once flags began Z
drop 10 half-mast all over the city. 1t wa
soon learned that IL was incorrect, an,
gradually the flags were restored TO thei
former position.