Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-14
THE PRESIDENTS LAST DAY.
Hope Turned to Despair When the
Heart Trouble Increased.


Heart Trouble Increased.
MILBURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sep
TENDER 13.-The Presidents last day.
which ended in despair, was begun In
hope. The ills that came on Friday
afternoon when the organs of diges-
ton refused to handle the solid food
that had been taken earlier in the day,
had seemingly been overcome by mid
night and when the new day came 1t
found the President relieved and rest
ing. Hope that had suddenly dropped
from the high place which it had held
began to revive. The healing of the
wounds had progressed favorably, gen
eIal conditions were n the main quite
satisfactory and the immediate future
Of the case seemed to hold no threat.
The physicians who had been in almost
constant attendance during the night,
parted and the watch in the sick room
was reduced. Suddenly there was
failure of the heart which for several
days had been manifesIing signs of
weakness, and the President sank to-
ward unconseiousness. This was at 2
o'clock in the morning. There was an
immediate application of restoratiyes
and general call went out to the abb
sent physicians and nurses. Digitalis,
strychnine and saline solution were
administered to the patient, but there
was no immediate response to treat
ment The physicians admitted that
he was desperately Ill and Secretary
Cortelyou decided to send for the rela-
t;ves and close friends of the Presi-
dent, the Vice President I'd the mem
bers of the cabinet. Those within
reach were called by telephone or mes
senger and kilograms were rushed to
those who left the city.
The first of the messages went out
at $3.50 o'clock and within half an hour
Milburn house began to fill again. The
serious condition of the President and
the general call sent out gave rise to u
general feeling of alarm that was never
again allayed. Desperate measures
were resorted to in order 10 stimulate
the heart and TIE sinking spell was
over by O'Clock. 1t was decided to
continue the treatment and the ply
laid their greatest hopes on
weathering the day. 1t was agreed
that if the wounded man could be
carried for "a hours that his chances
would be very favorable for the
wounds were healing splendidly.
1t was decided to summon DR.. w. w.
Johnston, of Washington, and DR.. e.
G. Janeway, of New York, heart spec
ialists, and kilograms were hurried out
asking that they come at once. Be-
fore dawn dozen of the relatives and
friends of the President arrived at
Milburn house. They assembled in
the drawing room, where they waited
for tidings 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. Hundreds of visitors
came during the morning, and If tho
police had not kept the streets clear
and barred entrance to Delaware ave-
nue. there would have been thousands.
Senator Hanna, close personal and
political friend of the President, bur-
ried up from Cleveland by special
train. Other friends arrived by regu-
ior trains and all through the day they
came in increasing NUMBERS. Their
regret and sympathy were profound.
The day developed but little encour-
agement for them, however. During
the forenoon the President made a
slight gain of strength and held it well
into the afternoon. His physicians an
nounced that they had again given him
nourlshment and it was thought that
possibly there was a chance for fur
Their gain Of strength. 1t was known,
however, that he was In very serious
state and every interest centered in the
sick room in Milburn house where the
struggle was in progress. Suddenly at
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 newspapes men
bulletined it to the world. Every one
who came from the house was besought
for an expression as to the state of the
President. Each succeeding report was
worse than it's predecessor and the Of
fetal bulletins were absolutely with