The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-17

the administering of oxygen and the
president finally expressed the desire
to be allowed to die. About $3.50 adj
ministration of oxygen ceased and the
pulse grew fainter and fainter. He
was sinking gradually, like a child,
into eternal slumber. BY 10 o'clock
the pulse could no longer be felt in
his eXtremeties and they grew cold.
Below stairs a grief stricken gath
ering waited sadly for the end. All
the evening those who had fastened
here as fast as steam and steed could
carry them, continued to arrive. They
drove up in carriages at a gallop or
were whisked up in automobiles all
intent upon getting here before death
came. One of the last to arrive was
Attorney General Knox, who reached
the house at $50. He was permitted
to go up stairs to look for the last
time upon the face of his chief. Those
in the house at this time were Secre-
taries Hitchcock, Wilson and Root,
Senators Fairbanks, Hanna and Bur-
rows, Judge Day, Colonel Herrick,
Abner Mckinley, the presidents
brother, and his wife; DR.. and Mrs.
Baer, the presidents niece and. her
husband Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Dun
can. the presidents sisters; Mrs.
Mary Barber, Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs.
McKinley's cousins; the physicians,
including DR.. McBurney, who arrived
after s o'clock; John Milburn, John
N. Scatcherd, Harry Hamlin, all Of
this city; Secretary Cortelyou and a
number of others.
Rev. c. D. Wilson, methodist min
lister of Tonnawanda, N. Y, who was
the presidents pastor for three years
at Canton, called at the residence to
inquire whether his services were
needed, but did not enter the house.
Another Methodist minister whose
church is near by, remained at the
Milburn. residence for two hours in
the belief that his services might be
desired.
At 9:37 Secretary Cortelyou, who
has been much of his time with his
dying chief, sent out formal notifica-
ton that the president was dying.
But the president fingered on, his
pulse growing fainter and fainter.
Those who came from the house at in
tervals told the same story, that the
president was dying and that the end
might come at any time: His termen-
duous vitality was the only remain
ing factor in the result and this gave
hope only of a brief postponement of
the end. DR.. Mynter thought he
might last until 2 a. m. DR.. Mann
said at II o'clock that the president
was still alive and would probably
live an hour. Thus minutes l%engthen-
ed to hours, and midnight 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 huch hung
over the great crowd of watchers.
The entire lower part Of the house
was aglow with light and many at
tendants, friends and relatives could
be seen within moving about and oc-
c~asionally coming in groups to the
front doorway for a breath of air.
In the upper front chambers the
lights We're low, and around on the
north side. where the chamber of
death is located, there were fitful
lights, sometimes burning brightly
and then turned low.
Secretary Root and Secretary Will
son came from the house about mid
night and paced up and down the side
walk. All that Secretary Root said
was that ''the night hasn't come yet"
Despite the fact that vitality con
tinued to ebb as midnight approach
ed no efforts were spared to keep the
spark of life glowing. DR.. Janeway
Of New York City arrived at the de-
pot at 11:40 o'clock. George Urban
was waiting for him and they drove
at breakneck pace to the Milburn
house. He was shown to the presi-
dents O at once and began an
examination of the almost inanimate
form.
Secretary of the Navy Long arrived
at the Milburn house at 1906 o'clock.
This was his first visit to the city and
he had the extreme satisfaction of
seeing the president alive even though
he was not conscious of his visitors
presence. Secretary Long was Wis
ably affected.
Vice President Roosevelt had been
notified early in the day of the criti-