The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-09-19

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Isee him for the last time on earth.
This was about six o'clock. One by
Ione they assembled the stairway-Sec-
Fetary Root, Secretary Hitchcock and
Attorney General Knox. Secretary
Wilson also was there, but he held
back, not wishing to see the presi,
dent in his last agony. There was
only momentary stay of the cab
met officers at the threshold of the
death chamber. Then they withdrew
the tears streaming down their faces
and the words of intense grief cholr
ing in their throats.
Touching scene.
After they left the sick room the
physicians rallied him to conscious
mess 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 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 Presidents Last Words.
The president in his last period of
consciousness which ended about 7:4o,
Ichanted the words of the hymn:
NEARER, 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 will His will be DONE
Loses Consciousness. .
Then his mind began to wander,
and soon he completely lost con-
seriousness. His life was prolonged
for hours by the administration of
oxygen, and the president finally eX-
pressed a desire to be allowed to
die. About $3.50 the administration
of oxygen ceased and the pulse grew
fainter and fainter. He was sinking
gradually, like a child, into the
eternal slumber. By ten o'clock the
pulse could no longer be felt in his
eXtremities and they grew cold.
Await the End.
Below stairs the grief-stricken
gathering waited sadly for the end.
All the evening those who had has
tened here 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 getting here
before death came. One of the last
to arrive was Attorney General
Knox, who. reached the house at
$3.50. He was permitted to go up
stairs to look for the last time upon
the face of his chief. Those in the
house at this time were Secretaries
Hitchcock, Wilson and Root, Sena-
tors Fairbanks, Hanna and Burrows,
Judge Day, Col. Herrick, Abner Nc
Kinley, the presidents brother, and
his wife; DR.. and Mrs. Baer, the pres
ident's niece and her husband; Mrs.
Barber and Mrs. Duncan, the presi-
dents sisters; Mrs. Mary Barber
Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs. McKinley's
cousin; the physicians, including DIR.
McBurney, who arrived after eight
O'Clock; John G. Milburn, John N.
Scatcherd, Harry Hamlin, all of this
city; Secretary Cortelyou, and a
humber of others. Rev. c. d. Wilson.
Ia Methodist minister of Tonawanda
N. Y, who was the presidents pas
tor for three years at Canton, called
lat the residence to inquire whether
Ibis services were needed. but did not
lenter the house. Another Methodist
minister, who has a church near by
remained at the Milburn residence
for two hours in the belief that his
services might be desired.
fingers On.
At 9:37 Secretary Cortelyou, who
had been much of the time with his
dying chief, sent out formal notifica.
tion that the president was dying. But
the president fingered on, his pulse
growing fainter and fainter. There
was no need for official bulletins after
this. Those who came from the house
lat intervals told the same story-that
the president was dying and that the
end might come at any time. His tire.
mendous vitality was the only remain
ing factor in the result, and this gave
hope only of brief postponement of the
end. DR.. Mynter thought he might
last until two a. m. DR.. Mann said at
II o'clock that the president was still
alive and probably would live an hour.
Thus minutes heightened to hours, and
midnight came with the president still
battling against death.
At the midnight hour the Milburn
house was the'center of a scene as ami
mated as though it were midday, al
though a solemn hush hung over the
great crowd of watchers. The entire
lower part of the house was aglow
with light, and the many attendants,
friends and relatives could he seen
within moving about and occasionally
coming in groups to the front door
way for a breath of air. In the upper
front chambers the lights were low
and around on the north side, where
the chamber Of death is located, there
were fitful lights, some burning bright
~ and then turned low.
Efforts Not Relaxed.
! Secretary Root and Secretary Will
son came from the house about mid
night and paced up and down the side
walk. All that Secretary Root Said
was: "The night has not come yet"
Despite the fact that vitality con-
tiuued TO ehb as midnight approached
no efforts were spared 10 keep the
spark of life glowing, DR.. Janeway,
of New York city, arrived at The depot
at 11:4O O'Clock, George Urban was