The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-05-17
PRESIDENTS WIFE YET near TO DEATH.
Continued From P.se Ono.

feeifng OF sympathy for the head Of the ma
tion watching his wife battle for her life.
joy was turned to sadness. The people
no longer waited the Presidents coming.
Iheir voices were hushed and they stood
IN groups on the streets discussing the brief
but pregnant tidings from the sickroom.
The flags and banners all about seemed a
mockery In the presence of the dying wife
OF the chief executive of the country. The
various committees in charge of the nu-
merous entertainments hurried abroad and
issued bulletins that everything had been
abandoned out Of respect to the President.
PRESIDENT CONSTANTLY AT
THE BEDSIDE OF HIS WIFE.
Meantime. an air of death itself per-
vaded the Scott residence Servants fitted
about like shadows. Messenger boys with
kilograms and cables from all parts OF the
world. inquiring for news of Mrs. Nc
kinley's condition. passed in endless
streams to the door, which opened noise
lessly at their approach.
The President could not be persuaded to
leave the sickroom. and he remained there
constantly with the doctors and nurses,
seemingly incapable of fatigue.
The room In which Mrs. Mckinley lay is
a sunny chamber at the southeast corner
OF the residence. but the flood of sunshine
was excluded lest the bright light might
disturb the patient.
Gathered in the adjoining room were the
ladies Of the Cabinet. Miss Barber. Mrs
McKinley's niece, has remained at the
Scott residence all night. and Mr.. and Mrs
Morse. nephew and niece respectively Of
Mrs. Mckinley. were summoned early this
morning.
Below stairs. the members of the Cabinet.
Postmaster General Smith. Secretary Hay.
Secretary Hitchcock and Secretary Wilson
were assembled.
STRICKEN LADY LAY IN
eTUPOR, SUFFERING LITTLE,
From time to time Secretary Cortelyou.
who has had entire charge of everything
throughout the entire ordeal OF the last
Few days, and who has been present almost
continuously, came down to keep them in.
formed Of the developments.
Mrs. Mckinley suffered but little. She lay
practically In a stupor, and the doctors say
there was no pain. Everyone at the resi-
dence realized that she was in the shadow
Of the valley and that It would require al
most a miracle to save her.
At II o'clock the physicians held another
consultation.
No better" was the statement they Is
sued. Privately. they shook their heads.
Mrs. Mckinley had no reserve strength
to call upon. She had taken practically no
nourishment for several days, but, even
with everything against her, they said
there was still bare chance for her to
survive.
SICK WOMAN REVIVED
AND ASKED FOR FOOD.
As the day progressed there was a notice.
able Improvement in the condition of Mrs,
Mckinley, and distinct revival of hope
In the minds Of the anxious watchers at
her bedside. Her mind cleared and she
asked the President about the ladies of the
Cabinet. and how they were enjoying them
selves. She expressed a desire that her i'll
ah0y11d no IN ipto
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 the luncheon,