Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-05-18

San Francisco. May 1G.-Owing TO the
very serious character of Mrs Mckin-
lcy's illness, the president yesterday def
Initely decided to abandon his contrm.
plated northwestern tour. and to return
to Washington direct, SO soon aS Mrs.
Mckinley shall bc able to stand the
journey.
The gravity of Mrs McKnley's condi-
ton has been known to the members
Of the presidents immediate party for
several days, but has been concealed, in
the belief that she would rally, aS she
had SO frequently done in the past wien
suffering from one of her periods of de-
preston, and with few days of ab-
solutc rest be restored to normal con-
dition. But her present illness has
been attended with entirely new COM
plications, which have not yielded to
treatment, and the president has con-
cluded that 1t was time the public should
be apprised of the true situation. lie
Is also anxious that the residents of
the cities and towns along the planned
route of his return tiip, who have made
such extensive preparations for his visit,
should receive prompt notification Of the
circumstances which compel his de.
rision.
The bulletin which Secretary COrtcl.
You issued in the morning announcing
the abandonment of the trip coupled
with another announcement that Mrs.
McKinlcy's condition was better in some
respects, but worse in others. pre-.
pared the way for the bulletin issued
two hours later that DR.. Gibbons. Il cclr.
brated physician of San Fra ncisco, had
been called in consultation with DIR.
Ilirschfclder and DR.. RiNcy.
Ever since Mrs. Mckinley arrived ut
the Scott residence she has been dcS-
peratcly i'll. Her extreme weakness
has been the most alarming feature Of
her condition. Her vitality has been
ut low cbb and she has spoken seldom
to those about her. The president has
been continually at her bedside since
their arrival here Sunday night. save
for the few hours Monday afternoon,
when he left her to 20 to San Jose. and
the three hours lie spent Tuesday in the
parade. Fortunately. Mrs. Mckinley
slept through his absence on both oc-
| casionS.
The strain which the president him
| SELF has undergone during The past few
| days has been very great. Ii has been
n personal sacrifice for him to carry
out his engagements here, in order not
TO disappOint the people, but he has
made it unsclfShly and nobly. 1t is
| still his desire to carry out the prc-ar-
ranged program in San Francisco TO
| whatever extent he can. Yesterday
morning he thought he would he able to
| be present at the unveiling of the Dona-
hue statue. and so informed the commit
tee, but at the last moment. when his
escort had already drawn mp before the
Scott residence, Mrs. McKinley'S condi.
ton was such that he decided not to
leave.
After dinner last night the members
dence. They reported Mrs. McKinley''
condition as unchanged. When she il
conscious she recognizes the president
and asks for him. She is not regarded
as in immediate danger of dissolution
There is no abatement Of the hope that
she will rally, but in her weakened con
,lition there could not fail to be appre
hension lest the spark OF life might g,
out.
| The members of the cabinet are very
apprehensive that Mrs. Mckinley will
not rally. Her physicians have not We
been able to check the intestinal trouble
and her enfecblcd condition initiate,
against her. But ut the Scott residence
it was stated that there was no immc
date danger, although change for the
worse would not be unexpected.
At II p. IN. DIR. Iirschfelder left Iht
Scott residence. At that time Mrs. Me
Kinlpy was reported to be slightly bet
ter. A few moments later Dr. RiXey
who had been in constant attcndnnc,
for over "a hours, retired, to get Il little
rest