Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-16
WIFE IS
BRAVE
How Sad Tidings Are Con-
veyed to Mrs.
rIcKinley
Family Physician Per-
forms Delicate Task
Himself
Invalid Wife Bears Up
BraveIy Under the
Great Shock

Buffalo, Sept. Immediately after
President Mckinley was cared for at
the exposition grounds, Director Gen
eral w. C. Buchanan started for the
Milburn residence to forestan any in
formation that might reach there by
telephone or otherwise. Luckily he
was the first to arrive with the infor-
nation. The Niagara Falls trip had
tired Mrs. Mckinley and on returning
to the Milburn residence she took
leave of her nieces. the Misses Barber,
and the presidents niece, Miss Dun
can, as well as their hostess, Mrs. Mil
burn, and went to her room to rest.
Buchanan broke the news as gently az
possible to the nieces and consulted
with them and Mrs. Milburn as to the
best course to pursue in breaking the
news to Mrs. Mckinley. It was finally
decided that on her awakening or
shortly thereafter Mr.. Buchanan
should break the news to her if in the
meantime her physician, DR.. Rixey,
had not arrived. Mrs. Mckinley
awoke from her sleep about $50
o'clock, feeling splendidly, she said,
and at once took up her crocheting,
which is one Of her favorite diver
sions.
Immediately on Buchanan's arrival
at the Milburn home he had telephone
communication Herewith cut off, for
already there had been several calls
and he decided on this as the wisest
course to pursue lest Mrs. Mckinley,
hearing the continued ringing Of the
telephone might inquire what it
meant. While the light Of day re-
NAMED Mrs. Mckinley continued with
her crocheting, keeping to her room.
When it came dusk and the president
had not arrived, she began to feel
anxious concerning him.
II wonder why he does not come,'
she asked one of her nieces. There
was no clock in Mrs. McKinley's room
and when it was o'clock she had no
idea it was so late and this is when
she began to feel anxious concerning
her husband, for he was due to return
to Milburn's house about 6. At
o'clock DR.. Rixey arrived at the Mil
burn residence. He had been driven
hurriedly down Delaware avenue N
an open carriage. AS he came up
Buchanan was out On the lawn con-
versing with reporter. do you
know" said Buchanan, II had sort
of premonition of this? Since early
this morning I had been extremely
nervous and feared something might
go wrong. Our trip to the falls was
uneventful but what an awful sad
ending to our day."
At 1920 DR.. Rixey came out of the
house accompanied by Col. Weob
Hayes, son of former President Hayes,
who is a friend of President Mckinley
They entered the carriage and re-
turned to the exposition hospital AT
ter DR.. Rixey had gone Buchanan said
the doctor had broken the news in the
most gentle manner to Mrs. Mckinley.
He said she stood it bravely, though
considerably affected. If it was pos
sible 70 bring him to her she wanted
it done. DR.. Rixey assured her that
the president could be brought with
safety from the expo sition grounds
and when he left Mr.. Milburn's it was
to complete arrangements for the e.
moval of the president A big force
Of regular patrolmen was assigned t.,
the Milburn residence.
At 7:3O Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson and Miss Wilson called AMI
were admitted to the residence.