The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-14

and this gave hope only of brief post
ponement of the end.
DR.. Mynter thought he might last
until a. m. DR.. Mann said at IL
o'clock the President was still alive,
and probably would live an hour. Thus
minutes heightened to hours, and mid
night came with the President still
battling against death.
At this midnight hour the Milburn
house was the center of a scene as
animated as though it were midday,
although a solemn hush hung over the
great crowd of watchers. The entire
lower part of the house was aglow
with light and the many attendants,
friends and relatives could be seen
within moving about and occasionally
coming in groups to the front doorway
for breath of air. In the upper front
chambers the lights were low. and
around on the north side where the
chamber of death is located there were
fitful lights, some burning brightly and
then turned low.
''The Night Has Not Come Yet"
Secretary Root and Secretary Wilson
came from the house about midnight
and paced up and down the sidewalk.
All that Secretary Root said was:
The night has not come yet"
Despite the fact that vitality con-
tiuuSp 10 eDD as HlunlBnI appTOdcnSu
no efforts We're spared to keep the spark
of life glowing. Dr. Janeway of New
York arrived at the Buffalo depot at
ii 10 o'clock. George Urban was wait
ing for him, and they drove at a
breakneck speed to the Milburn house.
He was shown to the Presidents room
at once and began an examination of
the almost inanimate form.
Secretary Of the Navy Long arrived
a 10 or O.ng osa
This was his first visit to the city and
he had the extreme satisfaction of see
ing the President alive even though
he was not conscious of his visitors
presence. Secretary Long was visibly
affected.
Vice President Roosevelt had been
notified early in the day of the crit
ical state of affairs. There was no
longer doubt that in the approaching
death of the President " complete
change in the executive administration
of the government would ensue. When
Mr. Roosevelt would take the oath Of
office was wholly matter of conjec-
ture.
President Arthur took the oath at
a. M, after the death of Garfield and
in that case Justice Brady of New
York administered the oath. There IS
no requirement that the oath shall be
administered by justice of the United
States Supreme Court, although that
procedure is adopted when circum-
stances permit.
Flood of GroundIess Reports.
Shortly after midnight the Presi-
dents breathing was barely percepti-
BILE. His pulse had practically ceased.
and the extremities were cold. 1t was
recognized that nothing remained but
the last struggle, and some of the
friends Of the family who had remain
ed through the day began to leave the
house, not caring to be present at the
final scene.
Such an intense state of anxiety ex-
listed among the watchers that rumors
gained frequent circulation that death
had actually occurred. The arrival of
the coroner gave rise to one such
rumor, and flood of groundless dis
patches were sent, saying thar the
end had come. These were speedily set
at rest by an official statement from
within the house, that the reports of
death were groundleSs, and that the
President still lived.
Coroner Wilson said that he had
been ordered by the district attorney
of the county to go to the Milburn res
idence as soon as possible after the
announcement of death. He had seen
a reputable local paper issued, with
the announcement that the President
died at II :06 p. M, and had hurried
up so that there would be no delay
in removing the body.
He was very much chagrined when
DR.. Mann met him at the door and
told him that his services were not
required, and that he would be noti-
fed when he was wanted. DR. Mann
said that the President was still alive.
and that DR. Janeway was examining
the heart action. There was really no
hope, but they did not desire gruesome
anticipations.