Evening star., 1901-09-14

nent danger occupied only few
hours, but they were hours fraught
with what threatened to be most
tragic circumstances.
Late this afternoon the first note
of uneasiness for several days was
sounded in the Milburn house, fol-
lowing closely and quickly upon a
period that was considered highly
optimistic. The President had been
fed with solid food Thursday morn
| ing. The doctors were anxious to
| get some good nourishment into his
system in natural way. He want
ed it too, and in the opinion of the
physicians there was no reason why
he should not have it. They thought
| it might serve to put the stomach to
work its old lay, which would
be decided medical victory.
So he was given some toast, cof-
fee and chicken broth. He ate it
| with a relish and his stomach retain
ed it. The doctors thought their ex-
pertinent of giving him solid food
was decided success. When the
| doctors left him after THIS meal they
were in high feather. They declared
that they had made the stomach go
to work, and they did not worry
about anything else"
So the day wore on, and there
was no indication of a change in
these conditions until about q
o'clock, when it became noised about
that the Presidents food taken in the
morning had not agreed with him.
DR.. Wasdin denied this. 1t was de-
veloped later that the main trouble
at this time with the President was
with respect to his bowels. He had
not assimilated. in the intestines the
solid. food he had taken during the
day, and his bowels had not perform
ed their functions. Efforts were
made with the usual remedies to Sc
cure an action, but without avail !;
only nausea of the patient resulted.
In the early part of the evening,
therefore, the great anxiety was to
of k1,1 1>~x,,o1o
This was to be merely an incident
compared with what was to follow
before the night was over. Strin-
gent measures were taken to secure
the action. The physicians said the
contents of the stomach must not
be allowed to remain there or seri-
Gus results would follow.
Finally, by the use of calomel and
castor oil, the President had actions
of the bowels. He appeared much
relieved and soon went into doze.
The doctors, thinking the crisis had
passed, went to their homes, but
leaving three on duty. They thought
the only danger at present menacing
the President was the stoppage of
the bowels.
Within two hours after their de-
parture another and far more dan
gerous phase of the situation pre-
sented itself.
The Presidents heart was weaken
ing. The news flashed over the city
brought the doctors back again with
all speed. In the meantime DIR.
Rixey and DR.. Wasdin had been ad-
ministering stimulants to bring up
the Presidents heart.
By the time the absented doctors
arrived the case was considered so
desperate that bulletin was issued
expressing grave fears.
Mr.. Abner Mckinley and his FAM
lily were summoned, Secretaries Will
son and Hitchcock were called out of
bed and there was congregation of
all interested persons in the Milburn
house.
The arrival of these persons fur
nished dramatic scene. All was
quiet and dark about the Milburn
premises. A row of arc electric
lights stretching away in the dis.
tance marked Delaware avenue, the
asphalt pavement wet with the rain
storms of the night rejecting the
lights and bespangling the roadway
with reflections of the diamonds that
swung from the electric poles. Far
down the street could be heard the
clatter of horses hoofs, approaching
on the dead run.
The vehicles would draw up before
the ropes, and the occupants hurry
ing to the Milburn house would be