Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-09-18

ers.
Secretaries Root, Hay and Wilson
came from the house about midnight
and paced up and down the sidewalk.
All that Secretary Root said was:
"The night has not come yet"
SPARK OF LIFE.
Despite the fact that vitality con-
tinued tn ebb as midnight approached
no efforts were spared to keep the
spark of life glowing,
DIR. Janeway OF New York city
arrived at the depot at 1l:40. George
Milburn was waiting for him and
they drove at breuk-neck pace to
the Milburn house. He was shown
to .he presidents room at once and
began an examination of the almost
inanimate form. Secretary of the
Navy Long arrived at the Milburn
house at 12:06 O'Clock. This was his
first visit to the city and he had the
extreme satisfaction OF seeing the
president alive, though he was not
conscious OF his visitors presence.
Secretary Long was vlslbly affected.
WAS PLAINLY DYING.
Before 6 O'Clock 1t was clear to
those at the presidents bedside that
he was dying, and preparations were
made for the last sad Offices Of fare
well from those who were nearest
and dearest to him. Oxygen had
been administered steadily, but with
little effect In keeping back the ap-
proach of death. The president came
out OF one period OF unconsclousness
only To relapse into another, but In
this period, when bis mind was par
TALLY clear, occurred series ofevents
OF profoundly touching character.
Down stairs, with strained and tear
stained faces, members OF the cabinet
were grouped In anxious waiting.
They knew that the end was near
and that the time had come when
they must see him for the last time
on earth. This was about 8 o'clock.
One by one they assembled the stair
way - Secretary Root, Secretary
Hitchcock and Attorney General
Knox. Secretary Wilson also was
there, but he held back, not wishing
10 see the president In his last agony.
There was only a momentary stay
Of the cabinet officers at the thresh-
hold OF the death chamber. Then
they Withdrew, the tears streaming
down their faces and the words Of
intense grief choking In their throats.
After they left the sick room the
physicians rallied him to conscious
ness and the president asked almost
Immediately that his wife be brought
to him. The doctors fell back into
the shadows Of the room as Mrs.
Mckinley came through the doorway.
The strong face Of the dying man
lighted up with u faint smile as their
hands were clasped. She sat beside
him and held his hand. Despite her
physical weakness she bore up brave
ly under the ordeal.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
Milburn House, Buffalo, Sept. A.
From authoritative officials the fol-
lowing details OF the final scenes Of
and about the death chamber were
secured:
The president had continued In IN
unconscious state since $50 p. m. DIR.
Rixey remained with him at all times
and until death came. The other
doctors were In the room at times,
aud then repaired to the front room,
where their consultations had been
held. About o'clock DR.. Iiixey noted
the unmistakable signs OF dIssolu-
tion and the immediate members OF
the family were summoned to the
bedside. Mrs. Mckinley was asleep
and IL wns deemed advisable not to
awaken her for the last moments Of
anguish.
Silently and sadly the members OF
the family stole into the room. They
stood about the foot of the bed,
where the mans life wns ebbing
away. Those In the circle were:
Abuer Mckinley, the Presidents