The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14


President of the United states, died
mt his residence, 1914 North Dela-
ware street, at 4,45 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
Like a child passing into the land of
pleasant dreams General Benjamin Harri-
son crossed the invisible border line be-
tween life and death at fifteen minutes
before o'clock yesterday evening. The
great mans end was in perfect harmony
with his life-peaceful, quiet. beautiful.
There was sign OF pain. no indication of
mentsl worry, no hint of distress of any
kind.
For many hours before the end came the
senses of the distinguished patient had
been enveloped in the gentle. yet impene-
trable robe OF Inconsistencies. Had there
come into his eyes the slightest gleam of
sentiency before the veil was finally drawn
over his life General Harrison would have
beheld around his bedside the faces and
forms OF most of those whom he held near
and dear. Within the circle of relatives and
friends who stood about hoping against
hope that a turn for the better might occur
were the beloved wife and the cherished
and petted baby daughter Elizabeth; the
two sisters of General Harrison, Mrs. Eliza
beth Eaton, Of Cincinnati, the elder. and
Mrs. Morris. of Minneapolis. the younger;
M. E. F. Tibbott, the generals faithful
private secretary; w II. H. Miller and Mrs.
Miller: Mr. Samuel ID. Miller; Mr. Clifford
Arrick: Mrs. Newcomer. General Harrison's
aunt; Rev. Dr. NJ. L. Haines, the deceased's
pastor; Col. Daniel NJ Ransdell. sergeant
most lifelong friend and intimate of Gen.
Harrison: Drs. Jameson and Dorsey. the
attending physicians. and the two trained
nurses. Miss Ella Keene and Miss Suzanne
Paris.
THE CLOSING MOMENTS.
The closing moments OF the long struy-
gle of life against death were almost de-
void of incident. To the dying man it
simply a slow. steady sinking into the
mysterious slumber from which there is
no awakening To those who looked on
with drawn faces and tear-dimmed eyes
Il was a vigil loving and anxious. from
which the relieving element OF hope was
rapidly fading away.
Up TO within half hour before the end
came the physicians and nurses poured into
the dying mans lungs a constant stream
of life-giving oxygen. Then came the un-
mistakable signs that the air cells could
no longer receive the fluid and the cap
was withdrawn from the mouth. This was
the beginning OF the end. Word was
quickly sent downstairs TO the anxious
group IN the parlor and they silently
wended their way TO the sick room to
witness the ebbing away of a great mans
life. Colonel Ransdell. who was perhaps
as close to General Harrison in his life
time as any other man, said I'm speaking
of the last few moments of the dying mans ;
brave struggle for life: 1T was a most
affecting scene. TO see that great man lying
there. his life ebbing away and no power
on earth to hold II back"
Mrs. Harrisons devotion to her husband
was described as wonderful by all who
witnessed IL. For the last few nights. when
Il was known that he must surely die.
she scarcely took an hour OF physical
rest. With two skilled physicians and two
trained nurses almost constantly at the
bedside. the devoted wife persisted In re-
naming at her post OF duty. as she be-
lieved IL TO be. She was compelled 10 drag
out the long. weary vigil unaided by arti-
fcial stimulants, for her physical condi-
tion was such that she could not retain
stimulants. Thus IL was that sus-
tained by her indomitable Will power alone
she kept up the patient watch by the bed
side OF her dying husband without once
betraying the slightest indication OF phys
ical collapse. Naturally. when she saw
the great man breathe his last she gave
way for a time 10 the flood tide OF grief
which rushed I'm upon her being. but IL was
only for brief instant. She must bear
ap for the sake OF others who were de-
pendent upon her.
LAPSED INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESs.
At an early hour yesterday morning
General Harrison lapsed into the state
of total Inconsistencies which continued
snsroken 10 the very end. His respira-