The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-14
DEATH ANGEL COMES
DRAMATIC SCENE IN THE MILBURN HOME AT BUFFALO WHEN
Mr.. MKINLEYS SPIRIT TAKES ITS FLIGHT.
DYING PRESIDENTS LAST WORDS ADDRESSED TO HIS WIFE,
WHO BEARS UP IN BRAVE MANNER.

DR.. Janeway. the eminent specialist,
who had been summoned from New York
arrived shortly before midnight, and
proceeded at once to the bedside of the
president.
At inStants glance told him that the
time had passed, for the slightest hope.
He turned away, telling the assembled
relations and officials that the end was
near.
Midnight came, and still the tremend-
GUS vitality of the president battling
against dissolution. Anoeher hour passed,
and, still another. At o'clock DIR. Rixey
was the only physician in the death
chamber.
Gathered in Groups.
The others We're in an adjoining room,
while the relatives, cabinet officers, and
nearest friends We're gathered in silent
groups in tn apartments below. AS he
watched and waited DIR. Rixey observed
slight convulsive tremor. The president
had entered the valley of the shadow of
death.
The word was at once taken to imme-
date relatives who were present to has
ten for the last look upon the president
in life. They came in groups, the women
weeping and the men bowed and sobbing
i'm their intense grief.
Grouped about the bedside at this final
moment We're the only brother of the
president, Abner Mckinley and his wife,
Miss Helen Mckinley and Mrs. Sarah
Duncan. sisters Of the president; Miss
Mary Barber, niece; Miss Sarah Duncan,
nece; Lieut.. James +. Mckinley; Will
lam M. Duncan and John Barber,
nephews; F. M. Osborne, a cousin; Secre-
tary Geo. B. Cortelyou; Charles D.
Dawes, comptroller of the currency;
Webb G. Hayes and William c. Brown.
With these directly and indirectly con-
nected with the family were those others
who had kept ceaseless vigil-the white
garbed nurses and the uniformed marine
hospital attendants. In the adjoining
room were Doctors Charles B. McBurney
Eugene Wasdin, Roswell Park, Chas. G.
Stockton and Herman Mynter.
Minutes Flying Fast.
The minutes were flying fast and it
was 2:15 o'clock. Silent and motionless
the circle of loving friends stood about
the bedside.
DR.. Rixey leaned forward and placed
his ear close to the breast of the expir-
ing president. Then he Strengthened up
and made an effort to speak.
1.-THE president is dead" he said.
The president had passeu away peace
fully without the con yulsive struggle of
death. 1t was as if he had fallen asleep.
AS they gazed on the face of the mar
, tyred president only the sObs of the
mourners broke the silence.
Mr.. Cortelyou had been one of the first
| to rouse himself after the stunning ef-
feet of the announcement of death. He
passed from the room and down the
| stairway.
There, in the large drawing room were
still assembled the members of the cab
| met, officials high in the administration
| as in the confidence of the president.
AS he appeared at the threshold OF the
| room they seemed to realize that the
message of death had come. Mr. Cor
| telyou halted at the door, and, summing
all his strength. said:
! Gentlemen, the president has passed
away"
Newspaper Men Notified.
Realizing, too, the momentuous nature
of the event to the people of the country,
Mr.. Cortelyou stepped through the outer
doorway of the Milburn house and ad-
! vancing down the walk to the newspaper
men at the front gate said:
s"The president died at 2:15 O'clock"
Thus closed the final chapter in the life
| of William Mckinley. All that remained
was to perform those gruesome duties
which follow death. There was the send
| ing of official notices, the summoning c'
the funeral directors. the first nasty
! thoughts of the details Of burial.
Within half an hour a carriage had
brought those who were to take charge
| of the body. The autopsy. which hat
| been decided upon for the early fore
| noon, rendered impossible the immedi
| ate embalming process.