Evening star., 1901-09-13

passed, went to their homes, but
leaving three on duty. They thought
the only danger at present menacing
the President was the stoppage OF
the bowels.
Within two hours after their de-
parture another and far more dan
gerous phase of the situation pre-
sented itself.
The Presidents heart was weaken
ing. The news flashed over the city
brought the doctors back again with
all speed. In the meantime DR..
Rixey and DR.. Wasdin had been adj
m;nistering stimulants to bring up
the Presidents heart.
By the time the absented doctors
arrived the case was considered SO
desperate that bulletin was issued
expressing grave fears.
Mr.. Abner Mckinley and his faui-
lily were summoned, Secretaries Will
son and Hitchcock were called out of
bed and there was congregation Of
all interested persons in the Miiburn
house.
The arrival of these persons fur
nished dramatic scene. All was
quiet and dark about the Milburn
premises. A row of arc electric
lights stretching away in the dis
tance marked Delaware avenue, the
asphalt pavement wet with the rain
storms of the night rejecting the
lights and bespangling the roadway
with reflections of the diamonds that
swung from the electric poles. Far
down the street could be heard the
clatter of horses hoofs, approaching
on the dead run.
The vehicles would draw up before
the ropes, and the occupants hurry
ing to the Milburn house would be
greeted by Secretary Cortelyou and
details given of the Presidents con-
dition. For an hour the anxious
watchers on the outside heard moth
ing from Milburn house. They were
fully aware of the struggle between
science and death that was going on
in that semi-lighted room. The wo-
men in the second story, the men in
the sitting room, awaited impatiently
word from the doctors. Finally DR.
Mynter came down and brought the
first good news of the night.
He reported the case as improv-
ing. The pulse and temperature were
more regular, and, in fact, the heart
was stronger. This was cheering
news, indeed, and it lightened the
hearts of the household, for every
one was ready and willing to carry
straw of hope. Secretary Wilson
came out and brought the good news
to the correspondents. Between a
and $50 there was no change. The
President was not out of danger, but
the fact that he had rallied was the
thing.
After Secretary Wilson left Mil
burn house the mansion was cleared
of allvisitors who had been sitting up
since the alarm after midnight. Some
went home and some went to bed in
the spare rooms, Abner Mckinley
and his son-in-laW among the latter.
Secretary Cortelyou. satisfied that
the Presidents condition was not
precarious for the hour, was induced,
indeed almost forced, by Secretary
Wilson and Secretary Hitchcock to
take a moments rest. Without re-
a garment Mr.. Cortelyou
settled down in an arm chair and
tried to sleep. He was worn out
with watching and grief, and slept
from sheer exhaustion, but ready at
a touch from the attendant to resume
the role he has filled SO faithfully and
successfully.
The fact that the best news that
could be obtained from Milburn
house at 6:3o was that the President
had fighting chance for his life
indicated the desperate conditions
in which he has lain for the past FIVE
hours" The doctors were not will
ing to venture prediction beyond
the statement that he had a fight
ing chance" There were times this
morning when, in the opinion of the
doctors, he did not have even fight
ir>y chance, yet he rallied. l am
told that the Presidents marvellous
will power is still aiding him. He
is fighter, and he has not given up