The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-09-17
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MilbUrn House, Sept H.-From author
itative officials the following details of
the final scenes in and about the death
chamber were secured:
Before clock it was clear to those
al the presidents bedside that he was
dying and preparations were made for
the last sad offices Of farewell from those
who were nearest and dearest to him.
Oxygen had been administered steadily
but with little effect, in keeping back the
approach of death. The president came
out of one period of Inconsistencies only
10 relapse into anOther. But in this pc
Rod when his mind was partially clear,
occurred a series of events Of profoundly
touching character.
Down stairs with strained and tear
stained faces members of the cabinet
We're grouped in anxious waiting. They
knew the end was near and that the time
had come when they must see him for
the last time on earth. This was about
clock. One by one they assembled the
stairway - Secretary Root Secretary
Hitchcock and Attorney General Knox.
secretary Wilson also was there, but he
held back, not wishing to see the prcsi-
dent in his last agony. There was only
momentary stay Of the cabinet officers
at the threshold of the death chamber.
Then they withdrew, the tears streaming
down their faces and the words of in
tense grief choking in their threats.
After they left the sick room the ply
sicians rallied him to consciousness and
the president asked almost Immediately
that his wife be brought to him. The
doctors fell back into the shadows of the
room as Mrs. Mckinley came through the
doorway The strong face of the dying
man lighted up with faint smile as their
hands were clasped She sat beside him
and held his hand.
lis last conscious hour on earth was
spent with the wife, to whom he devoted
lie time of care. His last words were
an humble submission to the will of the
God in whom he believed. He was rec
onciled 10 the cruel fate TO which an as
sasSln bullet had condemned him, and
faced death in the same spirit of calm
ness and pOise which has marked his
Ions and honorable career.
The powerful heart stimulants. includ-
ing oxygen, were employed 20 restore him
to consciousness for his final parting with
mis- wife. He asked for her. and she sat
at his side and held his hand. He con-
soleC her and babe her goodbye. She went
through the heart-trying scene with the
same bravery and fOrtitude with which
she has borne the grief Of the tragedy
which ended his life.
The president. in his last period of con-
SclOuSneSS, which ended about $40, chant
ed the words of the hymn, Nearer, My
God 10 Thee" and his last audible con-
scious words as taken down by DR.. Mann
at the bedside were: "Good-by, all; good
bye. 1t is Gods viii; His will be done"
Then his mind began to wander, and
soon he completely lost consciousness.
His life was prolonged for hours by the
administration of oxygen, and the pres
ldent finally expressed a desire to be al
lowed TO die. About $50 the administra-
lion of oxygen ceased and the pulse grew
FAINTER and fainter He was sinking grad
ually, like a child. into the eternal SUM
Der. by 10 o'clock the pulse could no
longer be felt in his eXtremities, and they
grew cold. Below stairs the Srief-stricken
gathering waited sadly for the end.
Those in the house at this time were
secretaries Hitchcock, Wilson and Root,
Senators Fairbanks, Hanna and Bur
rows, Judge Day. Col Herrin, Abner Nc
klnley. the presidents brother. and his
wife; DR.. and Mrs. Baer, the presidents
mrs. Duncan the presidents sisters; Mrs.
Mary Barber, Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs.
MeNinleys cousin; the physicians, in
Guiding DIR. McBurney, who arrived after
8 O'Clock; John G. MiIburn, John n
Scatchcrd, Harry Hamlin, all of this city;
Secretary CortelyOu and a number of
minister Of Tonawanda, N Y, who was
S Sle PRESIDENT pastor for three years at
At this midnight hour the Milburn
n!ouse was the center of a scene as an
mated as though it were midday al
InouSh a solemn hush hung over the
great crowd of watchers. The entire
liver part Of the house was aglow with
n8nt, and the many attendants. friends
&SnQ relatives could be seen within, NOV
anS ABOUT and occasionally coming in
Sssoups 10 the front doorway for a breath
~ ~ ar In the upper front chambers the
Hsnts we're low, and around on the north
c Sste, Where the chamber of death is To-
SSdtesi. there were fitful lights some burn
n
=, Despite the fact that the vitality con-
unued 70 ebb as midnight approached
no EFFORTS were spared to keep the spark
" Vie glowing. Or. Janeway. of New
L,oIK city. arrived at the depot at II 40
. CLOCK. George Urban Was waiting for
nm nm, and they drove at a breakneck
pace TO the Milburn house. He was
sn9Wn 10 tie presidents room at once,
SSrlu DeSan an examination of the almost
ihammate form
Secretary of the Navy Long arrived at
Sne Auburn house at 1906 O'Clock. This
w. w. lis FIRST visit to the city, and he
t Iao the extreme satisfaction of seeing
Sue president alive, even though he was
S eot conscious of his visitors presence
secretary Long was visibly affected.
shortly after midnight the presidents
-, Dii,Sid1hlng was hardly perceptible. His
Pulse had practically ceased and the ex-
tLbellhities were cold. It was recognized
90 oIat nothing remained but the last strug-
sc and some Of the friends Of the family
VINO mad remained through the day began