The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20

so he completely lost consciousness.
His life was prolonged for hours by
the administration of oxygen and the
president finally expressed a desire TO
be- allowed to die. About $40 the
administration Of oxygen ceased and
the pulse grew fainter and fainter,
He was sinking gradually, like child,
into the eternal slumber. BY 10
O'Clock the pulse could no longer be
felt in his eXtremities and they grew
| cold
Below stairs the grief-stricken gath
ering waited sadly for the end. All
| the evening those who had fastened
| here fast as steel and steam could
! carry them continued to arrive. They
| drove up in carria ges 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 upstairs 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-
4ONS, OuNSC LAY. SOlOuCI IlGl II ~
| 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 cousin; the physicians,
including DR.. McBurney, who arrived
after O'Clock; John G.. Milburn, John
Co0fpbpp1 Horny oil nj
this city: Secretary CorteIyou and a
number of others. Rev. G. D. Wilson.
a Methodist minister of TCnawanda,
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 en-
ter the house. Another Methodist min
lister who has a churCh near by re-
manned at the Milburn residence for
two hours in the belief that his serv-
ices might be desired. At 9:37 Sec
rotary Cortelyou. who had been much
of the time with his dying chief, sent
out formal notification that the presi-
dent was dying. But the president
fingered on, his pulse growing fainter
and fainter. There was no need for
official bulletins after this. Those
who came from the house at intervals
told the same story-that
The President Was Dying
and that the end might come at any
time. His tremendous vitality was
the only remaining factor in the re-
suit, and this gave hope only of 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 probably,
would live an hour. Thus minutes
heightened to hours and midnight
came with the president still battling
against death. At this midnight hour
the Milburp house was the center Of
a scene IS a0iIna ed as though it We're
midday, although a solemn hush hung
over the saalt crowd of watchers. The
entire lower part Of the house was
aglOw with light and the many at
tendants, friends and relatives could
be seen moving about and occasion
ally coming ii groups to the front
doorway for a breath of air. In the
upper front chambers the lights were
low and around on the north side, |
where the chamber of death is To-
Gated. there were fitful lights, some
burning brightly and then turned low !
Secretary Root and Secretary viii !
son came from the house about mid !
night and paced UP and down the side, I
walk. All that Secretary Root said |
was: "Thc night has not come yet |
Despite the fact that vitality contiu- !
ucd TO ebb as midnight approached !
no efforts were spared to
Keep the Ssark Of Life GLOWING.
DR.. Janeway Of New York city arrived |
at the depot at 40 o'clock George /
Urban was waiting for Lin and they |
drove at bFeaknecek pace to the /
Aiburn house. He was shown to the /
presidents room at once and began
an examination of the almost mani /.
mate form. Secretary of the Navy
Long arrived al, 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 con
scious of his visitors presence. Sec
Rotary Long was yisibly affected.
Shortly after midnight the presi-
dents breathing was barely per-
ceptible. His pulse had practically
ceased and the extremities were cold.
1t was recognized that nothing re-
manned but the last struggle, and
some of the friends of the family who
had remained through the day began
TO leave the house, not caring to be
present at the final scene.
Such an intense state of anxiety
existed among the watchers that ru
mors gained frequent circulation that
death had already actually occurred.
The arrival of the coroner gave rise
to one such rumor and flood of
groundless dispatches were sent say
ing that the end had come These
were speedily set at rest by an official
statement from within the house that
the reports OF death were premature.
The Beginning of the End.
About o'clock DR.. Rixey noticed
the unmistakeable signs of dissolution
and the immediate members of the
family were summoned to the bedside.
Mrs. Mckinley was asleep and it was
deemed desirable not to awaken her
for the last moments of anguish.
Silently and sadly the members of
the family stole into the room. They
stood about the foot and sides Of the
bed where the great mans life was
ebbing away. Those in the circle
were: Abner Mckinley, the presi.
dents brother; Mrs. Abner Mckinley;
Miss Helen, the presidents sister;
Sarah Duncan, another sister: Miss
Mary Barber, a niece; Miss Sarah
Lieutenant ]. F. Mckinley,
q nephew; William M Duncan, a
nephew; Charles G.. Dawes, former
of the currency; F. M.
Osborne, a cousin; Colonel Webb G..
Hayes; John Barber, a nephew; Sec
rafaru Ga0roa u Cnrfe Cnlnnal