Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-23
, GRAVE APPREHENSION CAUSED ny
MRS. MKINLEY's CONDITION.
President Decides to Abandon His
Contemplated Northwestern Tour
WIN Return to Washinrton III.
rect a. Soon ns Mrs. Mckinley IL
Able to Stand the Journey-Pres-
ent Illness Attended With Com-
plications Which Do Not Yield to
Trcatment-When Conscious She
Recognizes the President,


ley's illness the president yesterday
morning definitely decided to abandon
his contemplated Northwestern tour
and to return to Washington direct as
/; soon as Mrs. Mckinley is able to stand
the journey. The gravity Of Mrs. Nc
Kinley's condition has been known to
che members Of the presidents party
for several days, but had been con-
cealed in the belief that she would
rally as she had so frequently in the
past when suffering from one of her
periods Of depression, and with a few
days of absolute quiet and rest be re-
stored to normal condition. But her
present illness has been attended with
entirely new complications which have
not yielded to treatment and the presi-
dent concluded that it was time the
public should be apprised of the true
situation. He is also anxious that the
citizens Of the cities and towns along
the planned route of his return trip
who have made such extensive prepar-
atoms for his visit should receive
prompt notification of the circum-
stances which
Compelled His Decision.
DR.. Henry Gibbons. celebrated ply
in consultation with DR.. Hirschfelder
and DR.. Rixey. DR.. Gibbons has a rep
utation here for his skill in the treat
ment Of intestinal disorders. 1t was
the presidents own wish that another
physician be called in consultation. not
because he did not have perfect conf
'dence in Doctors Hirschfelder and
Rixey, but because he desired that
nothing that science could do should
be left undone. He was especially
anxious that the diagnosis of the at
tending physicians should agree. Ever
since Mrs. Mckinley arrived at the
Scott residence she has been desperate
ly i'll. He extreme weakness has been
the most alarming feature of her con-
dition. Her vitality has been at low
ebb and she has seldom spoken to
those about her The president has
been constantly at her bedside save
the few hours Monday afternoon when
he left her to go to San Jose and the
three hours he spent Tuesday in the
parade. Fortunately, Mrs. Mckinley
slept through his absence on both these
occasions. The strain which the pres
1dent himself has undergone during the
past few days has been very great. 1t
has been personal sacrifice for him to
carry out his arrangements here. 1t Is
still his
Desire to Carry Out
the prearranged program in San Fran
cisco to whatever extent he can. The
members of the cabinet reluctantly
consented to carry out yesterdays pro-
gram at the University Of California
and at Oakland, but they had no heart
to PUT into the festivities while their
chief was grieving at his wife's bed
side. The visit to Mount Tamalpais,
arranged for to-day, has been entirely
abandoned, but # Mrs. McKinley's
condition warrants, the president will
attend the reception given by the vari-
Gus veteran organizations of this city
in the afternoon.
Mrs. McKinley's illness has cast a
shadow over the whole city. The peo-
rle have shown their sympathy in
multitude Of ways. The news of the
serious character of her illness evident
ly travelled fast, because from all over
the country yesterday afternoon tele-
grams have been pouring in expressing
sympathy for Mrs. Mckinley and ask
ing for information. Just how soon
Mrs. Mckinley will be able to travel Is
a question which no one can answer
now.
Tie members of the cabinet called at
the Scott residence last night. They
reported Mrs. McKinley's condition as
unchanged. When she is conscious
she recognizes the president and asks
for him. She is not regarded as in i'm
mediate danger of dissolution. There
is no abandonment Of hope that she
will rally, but in her weakened cond1-
ton there could not fail to be appre-
hension lest the spark of life might go
out.
She May Not Rally.
The members of the cabinet are very
apprehensive that Mrs. Mckinley will
not rally. Her physicians have not
yet been able to check the intestinal
trouble and her enfeebled condition.
initiates against her. But at the Scott
residence at this hour it was stated
that there was no immediate danger,
although a change for the worse would
not be unexpected.
QUITE A PROBLEM YET.