The age-herald., 1901-05-17

to the door, which opened noiselessly at their approach. The President could not be persuaded to leave the sick room 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 cor ner of the house. but the flood of sun shine was excluded lest the light might disturb the patient. Gathered in the ad- joining room were the ladies of'the cabi- net. Miss Barber, Mrs. Mckinley's niece, had remained at the Scott residence all night and MT. and Mrs. Morse, nephew and niece of Mrs. Mckinley, were sum- moned early this morning. Down stairs the postmaster general Secretary Hay, Secretary Hitchcock and Secretary Will son were assembled. From time to time Secretary Cortelyou, who has had charge of everything throughout the entire or deal of the last few days and who has been present almost continually, came down to keep them informed of the de- velopments.
 An Improvement.
 As the day progressed there was a mo- ticeable improvement In Mrs McKinley's condition 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 themselves. She expressed a desire that her illness be not allowed to interfere with 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 luncheon, which Postmaster General Smith and Secretary Hitchcock took with the President, Miss Barber came down f1,a aon that Mrs. Mckinley had just asked for chick en and coffee, saying she was tired of the liquid nourishment which the doctors were giving her. This evidence of her re- viving strength was extremely gratifying.
 Mrs. Mckinley lay principally in stupor and suffered little, and the doc tors said there was no pain. Every one at the residence realized that she was at deaths door and that 1t would require al- most a miracle to save her
 At Il o'clock the physicians had an- other consultation. "No better" was the statement they issued. 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 every thing against her, they said there was still bare chance for her to survive.
 The doctors, of course, were compelled to refuse Mrs McKinley's wish for food. For two days they have been only able to give her beef tea and brandy, together with other stimulants for her enfeebled heart action. Nitroglycerine and the most powerful stimulants known to the med ical profession have been resorted to.
 MT. Mckinley Takes Stroll.
 At about half past two o'clock the President decided to go out for walk, and accompanied by the postmaster and oF f,,ta ario t,a ct 1ad through the neighboring streets, return ing the respectful salutations which were met from all who recognized him, and once or twice he stopped to shake hands with those who stopped and requested that privilege. Upon his return to the house he cheerily told a group of news pa per men assembled there that Mrs Me Kinley was holding her own. During the afternoon the President expressed the opinion that the public was entitled to specific information regarding the nature of Mrs. McKinlcy's illness, and the treatment she was receiving. Up to that time the bulletins issued at intervals since yesterday had been of the briefest and most vague character. and the pub lie was largely in the dark as to the char acter of the trouble which had brought her to deaths door. It was at the Presi- dents distinct request that the signed statement issued by the physicians was prepared and given to the press.
 At g o'clock tonight all was quiet around the Scott home. About one hundred peo- pie were assembled in Lafayette Square waiting news. There was a feeling of re- lief when Secretary Cortelyou summoned the press reporters and gave to them the bulletin announcing that the physicians reported Mrs McKinley's condition decid- edly improved since morning, and that their patient was resting well at that hour. A large detail of police was on d,,tv keepjng pedestrians and teams from approaching near the house.
 Inside the house two telegraph opera tors are being kept busy answering the Presidents correspondence. Outside in the park a telephone booth is being erect ed to facilitate communication between inc different newspapers and their rep resentatives stationed outside the house
 CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERlANS