Evening journal., 1901-03-14
GEN. NARRISON'S
LIFE IN ENDED
Former Soldier President Un-
conscious to the Last
DEATH QUIET And PAINLESS
Pathetic Incident in Which Dying Pa
iriOt'S Little Daughter Figured.
Ills Life
DEATH QUIET And PAINLESS

Indianapolis, March 14.-Gen. Benja-
min Harrison died at 4:45 o'clock yes
terday afternoon without regaining
consciousness. His death was quiet
and painless, there being a gradual
sinking until the end came, which was
marked by a single gasp for breath as
life departed from the body OF the
great statesman. The relatives. with
a few exceptions, and several OF his old
and tried friends were at the former
presidents bedside when he passed
away.
The generals condition was so bad
yesterday morning, after a restless
night, that the attending physicians
understood that the end could not be
far off, and all bulletins sent out from
the sick room were to this effect, so
that the family and friends were pre-
pared when the final blow came. The
gradual failing of the remarkable
strength shown by the patient became
more noticeable in the afternoon. and
a few moments before the end there
was an apparent breakdown on the
part of the sufferer. as he surrendered
to the disease against which he had
been so bravely battling for so many
hours. The change was noticed by the
physicians, and the relatives and
friends who had retired from the sick
room to the library below were quick
ly summoned and reached the bedside
Of the general before he passed away.
Flags Quickly Half Masted.
News Of the death spread quickly
through the city and several OF the
more intimate friends at once hurried
to the Harrison residence. The word
was flashed from the bulletins to all
the newspapers, and thus communi-
Gated to the people on their way home
in the evening. The announcement
produced the greatest sorrow. Y. thin
few moRents the flags on all the
public buildings and most of the down
town business blocks were hOisted at
half mast and other outward mani
festations of mourning were made.
None Of Gen. Harrison's children
was present at his death. Neither Col.
Russell Harrison nor Mrs Mckee had
reached the city, although both we're
hurrying on their way to the bedside
OF their dying parent as fast as steam
could carry them. Both arrived today.
Elizabeth, Gen. Harrison's little daugh-
ter, had been taken from the sick
room by her nurse before the end came.
The group at the bedside included
Mrs. Harrison, William II. II. Miller,
Samuel Miller, his son; Rev Dr. NJ. l..
Names, pastor of the First presbyter-
ian church, which Gen. Harrison had
attended for so many years; Secretary
Tibbett, Doctors jameson and Dorsey;
Col. Daniel NJ. Ramsdel scrgeant-at-
arms of the United States senate and q
close personal friend of the dead presi-
dent; Clifford ArriCk, and the two
nurses who have been in constant at
tendance. Gen. Harrlson's two sisters
and an aunt were also present Mrs.
Harrison l1neeled at the right hand side
of the bed, her husbands right hand
grasped I'm hers, while DR.. Jameson
held the left hand of the dying man,
counting the feeble pulse beats. In a
few moments after the friends had
been summoned to the room the end
came, DR.. Jameson announcing the
sad fact The great silence that fell
on the sorrOwing watchers by the bed
side was broken by the voice of DR..
Haines, raised in prayer. supplicatins
consolation for the bereaved wife and
family.
A Pathetic Incident.
Gen. Harrison had been unconscious
for hours before his death, the exact
time when he passed into a comatoso
state being difficult to determine. Ho
spoke to no one yesterday failing 10
recognize even his wife The greater
part Of Tuesday he was in a semi-com-
atose condition. although he was at
times able to recognize those at his
bedside. At one time he recognized
and spoke to Mrs. Newcomer, his aunt,
and also to Mr.. Miller, the words, how
ever, being very indistinct. Doctor, "
and my lungs" we're the only words
understood Almost the last words he
uttered were addressed TO his wife, of
whom he inquired. shortly before he
became unconscious, il the doctors
were present.
One OF the most pathetic incidents
of the whole illness of the general
ocucrred Tuesday before he became
unconscious. The generals little
daughter. Elizabeth was brought into
the sick room for a few moments Ia
see her father, and offered him a small
apple pie which she herself had made
Gen. Harrison smiled his recognition
of the child and her gift, but the effort
to speak was too much, and he could
do nothing more to express his appre.
citation
Yesterday all efforts 10 arouse the
slowly dying man to consciousness
failed. and he died without a word Of
recognition to any of those who sur.
rounded his bedside.
From one who was present at the
deathbed IL is learned that the allega.
tions of cruelty and injustice dealt ou
by England to the Boers in their strug
gle for liberty had been a subject fol
thought IN the mind of Gen. Harrison.
To his friends he had often spoken OF
the pity and shame, as he viewed il,
that the brave and sturdy farmers OF
| South Africa should be robbed OF their
country, Of all they have in the world,
and forced 20 submit TO terrible mis-
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