Evening journal., 1901-05-17
SHADOW OF DEATH HOVERS
OVER FIRST LADY OF THE LAND
In FAR DISTANT CALIFORNIA
Physicians in Attendance De Not Believe That Mrs. Nc
KinIey Could Stand Such Another Sinking Spell
As She Experienced Yesterday

tieut. GdlneIeu III tue duJOinluB IOOIu
were the ladies of the cabinet. Miss
Barber, Mrs McKinley's niece, had re-
mained at the Scott residence all night,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Morse, nephew and
niece of Mrs. Mckinley, were summon
ed early yesterday morning. Below
stairs the members of the cabinet,
Postmaster General Smith, Secretary
Hay, Secretary Hitchcock and Secre-
tary Wilson, were waiting.
From time to time Secretary Cortol.
you, who has entire charge OF every
thing throughout the entire ordeal Of
the last few days, and who has been
present almost continually. came down
to keep them informed of the develop
ments Mrs. Mckinley suffered little.
She lay practically in a stupor, and
the doctors said there was no pain. Ev-
cry one at the resideRce realized that
she was in the shadow of death and
that it would require almost a miracle
TO save her.
AS the day progressed there was a
noticeable improvement in Mrs Nc
Kinley's condition and a distinct re-
vival of hope in the minds Of the
anxious watchers at her bedside. Her
mind cleared and she asked the presi-
/ dent about the ladies of the cabinet
and how they were enjoying them
selves. She expressed a desire that
her illness should not be allowed to
interfere with their pleasure. Miss
Hitchcock and Miss Wilson, who Were
In the next room at the time, were
summoned, and she greeted them with
! faint smile During the progress OF
| luncheon, which Postmaster General
Smith and Secretary Hitchcock took
with the president, Miss Barber came
down stairs and told the small com
4 pany that Mrs. Mckinley had just ask
ed for chicken and coffee, saying she
was tired of the liquid nourishmen'
that the doctors were giving her.
This evidence of her revivinl
strength was considered extremel.
gratifying, and for a time the littl,
company was more exultant. The doc
tors, of course, were compelled to re.
fuse Mrs Mckinley solid food. Fc'
two days they had been able to Civ,
her only beef tea and brandy, togethe
with other stimulants for her enfoe.
bled heart action.
Progress of Mrs. McIOinIey's Illness
I Mrs. McKinley's illness began short
ly after she left El Paso. She hat
stood the trip remarkably we'll up Il
that time, with the exception of {
slight period of depression during tn,
stay at New Orleans. That, however
soon passed away, and she felt un
usually we'll throughout the trip across
the state of Texas until El Paso was
reached At that place a bone felOI
made its first appearance and proveI
very trying upon her nerves, as wei
as giving her much pain. The hea
and dust Of the long desert stretcl
/, through New Mexico and Arizona wa
a severe strain upon her strength.
Before Los Angeles was reached thu
felon had been lanced once by DR.
Rixey. At the latter place her illness
was still further complicated by a Sc
. we're attack of bowel trouble and shr
had a very bad night at the residenc
, of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis. But sh
bore up bravely and insisted, rathe
against the advice of the president ant
, other members of the party, upon try
ing to fulfill the social obligation
which fell upon her.
At Surf. a small station near SAINT
Cruz, the train was stopped for almos
half an hour to permit Dr. Rixey L
lance the felon again in order to re
} lieve her from the keen PAIN she wa
: suffering. By the time Del Monte wa
, reached she was in almost a complet
3 state OF collapse. The dysentery di
} not yield to treatment and DR.. Rixe
. and the president became genuinel
? alarmed. 1t was decided to bring he
at once to Mr.. Scotts house. Since he
< arrival here Mrs. Mckinley has take
I no solid food whatever. and the doc
( tors have not been able to completed
e check the dysentery.