The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-17
the strain of the last few days and the
Iatigue of the long journey. He rested in
his room at the hotel all day.
CLINGING BY a THREAD.
Mrs. McKinIey's Tenure on Life Is
but Slender.


Drs. Hirschfelder and Gibbons departed
and DIR. Rixey laid down for a little rest,
there was hope that her life would be
spared. All day the President has watch
ed the doctors faces and scanned the de-
meanor of the nurses for a sign of en-
couragement, and they have urged him
not to despair. Mrs. Mckinley had ap-
preciably 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 for few minutes to at
tend little reception being held there
After midnight for hours there was no
sign of life in the Scott mansion, exceot
the night lamp burning low in Mrs Nc
Kinleys room.
AT o'clock this morning the police pa
trolling outside and the little group of
newspaper watchers on the corner oppo-
site, saw stir in the house Lights
fiickered here and there, carriage with
rubber tires rolled swiftly up to the house
and Dr. Hirschfelder aiighted The word
was whispered that Mrs. Mckinley was
sinking. For time it was thought she
was dying, but powerful artificial heart
stimulants revived her slightly When
daylight came the doctors held another
consultation, and the news of Mrs. Nc
Kinley's sinking spell was given out by
Secretary Cortelyou, but no word of en-
couragement.
All engagements Cancelled.
With it went formal notification that all
engagements for the remainder of the
Presidents stay In San Francisco were
cancelled. The President no longer had
the heart to hold out false hope that he
would be able to attend any Of the func-
tions arranged in his honor; the honors
of the world were as nothing to him now.
His only thought was for the wife hover
ing between life and death. He directed
that all Mrs. McKinleys relatives be ad-
vised of the extremely critical condition
of her illness and steeled himself for the
worst.
In the city the bulletins at the newspa-
per offices announcing that the festivities
of the week were abandoned, fell like a
pail upon the multitude. Not until then
was it fully realized that Mrs. Mckinley
was at deaths door, The people no long
er waited the Presidents coming. Their
voices were hushed and they stood in
groups on the streets, discussing the brief
tidings from the sick room. The flags and
banners all about seemed a mockery in
Chief Executive of the country.
The various committees in charge of the
numerous entertainments hurriedly issued
bulletins that everything had been aban-
doned out of respect to the President.
Ain Air of Death Prevails.
Meantime an air of death itself pervad-
ed the Scott residence Servants fitted
about like shadows. Messenger boys with
telegraphs and cables from. all parts
of the world, inquiring for news
of Mrs. McKinleys condition,
passed in endless streams to the door,
which opened noiselessly at their APP
rroach. The President could not be per-
suaded to leave the sick room, and he
remained there constantly with the doc
tors and nurses, seemingly incapable of
fatigue.
The room in which Mrs. Mckinley lies
is a sunny chamber at the southwest
corner of the residence, but the flood Of
sunshine was excluded lest the bright
light might disturb the patient. Gathered
in the adjoining room were the ladies of
the cabinet Miss Barber, Mrs. McKin-
leys niece, had remained at the Scott
residence all night, and Mr. and Mrs.
Morse, nephew and niece of Mrs. Nc
kinley, were summoned early this morn
ing Below stairs the members of the
CdDlI6l, EOSliudSlCI OGuCi dl Nttiilu 0cS-
retary Hay, Secretary Hitchcock and Sec
retary Wilson were waiting.
Decided Improvement Reported.
San Francisco, May 16.-At s:45 p. m.
Secretary Cortelyou gave out the follow
ing statement:
physicians in attendance on Mrs. Nc
Kinley report her condition as decidedly
improved since morning; pulse and tenn
peratur2. satisfactory. Patient resting
easily"
Decided Improvement at 81 O'Clock.
At 9 o'clock tonight all was quiet
around the Scott home. About 200 people
were assembled in Lafayette Square,
awaiting developments. There was a feel
ing of relief when Secretary Cortelyou
summoned the press reporters and gave
them the bulletin, announcing that the
physicians reported Mrs. McKinley's con-
dition decidedly improved since morning.
and that their patient was resting well
at that hour A large detail of police was
on duty, keeping pedestrians and teams
from approaching the house.
Inside the house two telegraph opera
TORS ar except busy answering the Presi-
dents correspondence. Outside in the
park a telephone booth is being erected
to facilitate communication between the
different newspapers and their representa-
tives staLione doutside the house.
The Outlook Much Brighter.
San Francisco. May 16, 10 p. m.-Dr
Hirschfelder and II. It. Scott have just
left the Scott residence. DIR. Hirschfelder
has gone home for the night. He said
he felt much pleased over Mrs. Mckin-
ley's condition. Dr. Hirschfelder said
that Mrs. Mckinley was decidedly i'm
proved. Secretary Cortelyou announced
that no further bulletins would be given
ont tonight unless unexpected develop
ments should take place.
No More News.
San Francisco, May 1s, 11:2o p. m.-
Secretary Cortelyou states that no more
news regarding Mrs. McKinley's condi-
tion will be given out tonight.
English Papers Express sympathy.
London. May 17.-All the morning papers
rofer editorially in terms of the deepest
svrpathy TO the illness Of Mrs. McKln-