Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-19
The Nations Chief Executive Succumbs at
Last to the Assassin's Bullet.
SCENES DURING THE LAST HOURS.
Members Of the Cabinet in Buffalo Admitted into
the Death Chamber One by One to Take Their
8 Last Look on Their Chief-Roosevelt
May Issue Proclamation.

day. 1t was agreed tnar II the wound
ed man could be carried for "a hours
his chances would be very favorable,
for the wounds were healing splendid
Iy. 1t was decided to summon Dr.W. w.
Johnston, of Washington, and DR.. E.
G. Janeway, of New York, heart spe-
cialists, and kilograms were hurried
out asking that they come at one.
Before dawn dozen of the relatives
and friends of the president arrived
at Milburn house. They assembled in
the drawing room, where they waited
TOR tidngs from the sick room above
them. The physicians assured them
that the president had fighting
chance for his life and to the hope
that in the end victory would be his,
they clung all day. The day
developed but little encouragement
for them, however. During the fore
noon the president made slight gain
of strength and held it well into the
afternoon. His physclans announced
that they had again given him nour-
ishment, and it was thought that
possibly there was a chance for fur
ther gain of strength. 1t was known,
however, tht he was in a very seri-
GUS state and every interest centered
in the sick room, where the strug-
gle was in progress. Suddenly, at
five O'Clock in the afternoon, there
was a repetition of the heart attack
and those in the presence of the
stricken man knew that the end was
at hand. This knowledge soon spread
to the street and the waiting news
paper men bulletined 1t to the world.
Friends Take Last Farewell.
Milburn House, Buffalo, N. Y, Sept.
14.-Before six o'clock last night it
was clear to those at the presidents
bedside that he was dying and prepa-
rations were made for the last sad
Offices of farewell from those who
were nearest and dearest to him.
Oxygen had been administered stead
lily, but with little effect in keeping
back the approach of death. The
president came out of one period Of
unconsciousness only to relapse into
another. But in this period, when his
mind was partially clear, occurred
series of events of profoundly touch
ing character Down stairs, with
strained and tear-stained faces, mem
bers of the cabinet were grouped in
anxious waiting. They knew the end
was near and that the time had come
when they must see him for the last
time on earth. This was about six
o'clock. One by one they ascended
the stairway, Secretary Root, Secre-
tary Hitchcock and Attorney General
Knox. Secretary Wilson was also
there, but he held back, not wishing
to see the president in his last agony.
There was only a momentary stay Of
the cabinet officers at the threshold
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. Nc
Kinley came through the doorway.
The strong face of the dying man
lighted up with faint smile as their
hands were clasped. She sat beside
him and held his hands. Despite her
physical weakness she bore up brave
ly under the ordeal.
The president in his last period Of
consciousness, which ended about
7:4O, chanted the words of the hymn.
"Neaser, My God, to Thee" and his
last audible conscious words as taken
down by DR.. Mann at the bedside
were: "Good-by, all; good-by. 1t is
Gods way. His will be DONE
Then his mind began to wander and
he completely lost consciousness. His
life was prolonged for hours by the
of oxygen and the
president finally expressed desire to
be allowed to die. About $3.50 the
Of oxygen ceased and
the pulse grew fainter and fainter
He was sinking gradually, like
child. into the eternal slumber. BY
ten o'clock the pulse could no longer
be felt In his extremities and they
grew cold.
Below stairs the grief-stricken
waited sadly for the end.
All the evening those who had has
tened here as fast as steel and steam
could carry them continued to ar
rive. They drove up in carriages at
gallop, or were whisked up In auto
mobiles. all intent upon eetting here