Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-09-19
Tue PRESIDENT IS DEAD.
Struggle Ended at 2.l5 Saturda,
Moraing.
END WAS PEACEFUL AND CALM.
Relatives and Friends Waited for Death
Several Hcars softly Chanted . Hymn
Before Lapsing Into Uncossciousness
Medical Skill Failed to Revive Him.

PRESIDENT Mckinley died at 2:15 Sat
urday morning His last conscious
hour ON earth was spent with the wife
TO whom he devoted lifetime of care.
lie died unattended by n minister of
the gospel. but his last words were Il
humble submission to God in whom he
believed. He was reconciled TO the
tate to which cruel assassins bullet
had condemned him and faced death in
The same spirit of calmness which has
marked his long and honorable career.
liis last conscious words reduced TO
writing by DR.. Mann who stood by
his side when they were uttere were
rs follows: Goodbye all. Goodbye.
III i Gods way. His will be done"
His relatives and members of his Of
fetal family were mt the Milburn house.
except Nice-President Roosevelt His
friends came TO the door took IA part.
ing look at him and turned tearfully
away He was practically uncon
soious during this time, but powerful
'Stinulants, including oxygen, were EN-
.ployed TO restore him to consciousness
for the final parting with his wife. He
asked for her and she sat ut his side
and held his hand. He consoled her
anu 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 that ended his life.
president Mckinley began to sink
shortly after . o'clock Friday morning.
after critical period of II hours. ia
which alarm and hope mingled in the
emotions of those who surrounded
him. Trouble began OH the preceding
afternoon through the failure of diges-
tive organs To perform their functions
The necessity for nouriShment had
been pressing for several days and the
partial failure of artificial means had
led to the adoption of natural means
The rectum. through which nourish-
ment had been injected previously to
Wednesday. became irritated and re-
jected the enemas. This forced the
physicians to try to feed him through
the mouth. probably before the SION
ach was prepared. The first admins
tration of beef juice through the
mouth. however. seemed to agree with
the patient, and the physicians were
highly gratifed mt the way the stom-
ach seemed to receive the food. The
breakfast of chicken broth, toast and
coffee. given Thursday morning. was
spoken of by all the physicians as
strong evidence of the presidents
marked Improvement 1t was only
when il became apparent late in the
morning that this food had not agreed
with the president that the first Senu-
inc anxiety appeared.
Doctors Were Alarmed.
President Mckinley, already weak
from the ordeal of the tragedy. and
suffering. complained Of an increasing
feeling OF fatigue He had heretofore
been so buoyan, and cheerful that his
complaints were regarded seriously
The pulse was then also abnormally
high. 126 beats to the minute. With Il
temperature of 1902 it should have
been 30 beats lower The weakness
of the heart began TO arouse serious
concern. Instead Of growing better
the presidents condition after that
grew steadily worse.
At $40 Thursday night the ply
sicians announced officially that the
presidents condition was not so good
The problem Of disposing of the foOd
in the stomach was becoming a seri
ols one and the danger of heart failure
increased. As midnight approached
the situation was growing critical. Cal
omel and oil were given to flush the
bowels and digitalis to quiet his heart.
However. just before midnight the
president had two operations of the
bowels. which relieved him very much
and the midnight bulletin was more
favorable 1t stated that all the coh-
,ditions had improved since the lasI
bulletin.
1t was believed then that the open
ing Of the bowels would have the eff
feet of alaying the wild pulsations of
the heart. His pulse did drop to 40
and the prospect was slightly brighter.
But owing to his extreme weakness
and his fatigue no attempt was made
TO conceal the serious apprehension
which was felt. The feeling Of depres
sion Increased in volume and intensity
Shortly after o'clock the physicians
and nurse detected Il weakening OF
the heart action. The pulse fiuttered
and weakened aud the president sank
toward collapse.
Salt solution Employed.
The end appeared to be at hand. Re
storatives were speedily applied and
the physicians fought the battle with
all the forces of science. Action was
immediate and decisive. Digitalis and
strychnine were administered and as "A
last resort saline solution was injected
into the veins.
A general alarm went speeding to
the consulting physicians and trained
nurses as fast ms messengers. the tele
graph and teleehone could carry 1t.
The restoratves did not at once prove
effective and it was realized that the
president was in an extremely critical
condition. The realization. with the
shadow Of death behind it. led to an
other call and that IA summons To
the cabinet. relatives. and close per
,,onal friends Of the president.
An Affecting Farewell.
Before o'clock it was clear TO those
nj the presidents bedside that he was
dying and preparations We're made for
the last sad offices OF farewell from
those who were nearest and dearest 10
him. Oxygen had been administered
steadily, hut with little effect i'm keep
ing back the approach of death. The
president came out of one period I'M
conscious only 10 relapse into another.
But In this period when his mind
xyae partfailv clear occurred a series