Smyrna times., 1901-05-22
MRS, MCKINLEY'S ILLNESS
CAUSES GREAT ANXIETY
PRESIDENTIAL TOUR THROUGH SOUTH.
WEST TOO MUCH OF A STRAIN.
Grave Fears We're Entertained That She
Might Not RecOver.-COmfOrtabIy LO.
Gated at Henry T. ScOtts Residence.

Might Not RecOver.-COmfOrtabIy LO.
Gated at Henry T. ScOtt's Residence.
Mrs. McKinley's illness began
shortly after che left Ell Paso, Texas,
on the way to California.
She had stood the "trip remarkably
we'll up to that tirae, with the excep-
tion of slight periods of depression at
Memphis and New Orleans. These
soon passed away and she felt unus-
ually we'll throughout the trip across
Texas until Ell Paso was reached.
At that place the bonefelon on her
hand made it's first appearance and
proved trying upon her nerves, as we'll
as giving her much pain. The heat
and dust of the long desert stretch
through New Mexico and Arizona were
also a severe strain upon her strength.
Before Los Angeles was reached the
felon had been lanced once by DR..
Rixey. At that place Mrs. McKinley's
illness was still further complicated
by severe attack of dysentery and
she had bad night at the residence of
Gen. Harrison Gray Otis there. But
she bore up bravely and insisted,
against the advice of the President and
other members of the party, upon try
ing to fulfill the social obligations
which fell upon her. The tax upon
her strength was too great, and after
leaving Los Angeles it beceme appar-
ent to both DR.. Rixey and the Presi-
dent that Mrs. Mckinley was extreme
ly sick.
At Surf, a small station near Santa
Cruz, the train was stopped almost
half an hour to permit DIR. Rixey to
lance the felon again in order to re-
lieve her from the keen pain she was
suffering. By the time Del Monte was
reached she was in almost a complete
state of collapse. The dysentery did
not yield to treatment and DIR. Rixey
and the President became greatly
alarmed. 1t was at first proposed that
physician should be summoned from
San Francisco for consultation and
that Mrs. Mckinley should remain
quietly at the hotel at Del Monte in
the hope that few days of rest and
quiet would restore her to her normal
condition, but after a conference on
the subject with Henry t. Scott it was
decided that it would be wiser to take
her to his house. where every comfort
could be provided, where trained
nurses could be gotten and where the
best physicians in San Francisco could
be called in consultation if necessary.
Since her arrival there Mrs. Nc
Kinley took no solid food and the doc
tors would not check the dysentery.
Except by reputation the President
knew nothing of DIR. Hirschfelder,
whom Mr.. Scott advised should be
called in as consulting physician, and
this worried him considerably. After
Mrs. Mckinley had been there q
hours without noticeable improvement
the President asked Mr.. Scott wha
was his opinion of DIR. Hirschfelder
"He is brutally frank, - replied Mr.
Scott.
81 shall have talk with him" sale
the President
He took DIR. Hirschfelder into al
adjoining room and they were to
gether for some time. Afterward tn,
President remarked to Mr.. Scott tha
the opinion he had expressed of DIR
Hirschfelder's frankness agreed will
his own. From that conversation will
DIR. Hirschfelder dated the President
first genuine alarm over the result o
his wife's illness.
OF all the ladies of the White Hous
during the history of the Government
not one has travelled more extensivel
or made more extensive tours on spe
cial trains than Mrs. Mckinley.
1t has often been remarked by Dl
Rixey, the White House physician
that Mrs. Mckinley was possessed {
wonderful capacity for one 80 frail (
undergo the intense strain incident 1
10-days' or three-weeks' tour wit
the President, during which she WI
subject to almost the same attentio
as the President himself and wei
through practically the identical pr
gram as to dinners, evening entertain
ments and luncheons.