The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
Became Unconscious Early Fri
day Night, But Was Kept
Alive for Hours By Hero
ie Measures.
The STORY OF HIS LAST HOURS.
Goodbye, All, Goodbye 1t Is
Gods Way: His Will Be Done y

Milburn House, Buffalo, Sept. 13.-
President Mckinley began to sink
shortly after 2 o'clock this morning
after critical period of u hours, in
which alarm and hope mingled in the
emotions of those WHO surrounded him.
Shortly after o'clock the physi-
clans and nurses detected weakening
Of the heart action. The pulse futter-
ed and weakened, and the president
sank toward collapse. The end ap-
peared to be at hand. Restoratives
were speedily applied, and the physi-
clans fought the battle with all the re-
serve forces of science. Action was
immediate and decisive. Digitalis
and strychnine were administered,
and, as a last resort, saline solution
was injected into the veins.
4 general alarm went speeding to
the consulting physicians and trained
nurses as fast as messengers, the tele-
graph and telephone could carry it.
The restoratives did not at once prove
effective, and it was realized that the
president was in an extremely critical
condition. That realization, with the
shadow of death behind it, led to an
other call, and that, a summons to the
cabinet, relatives and close personal
friends of the president. The messen-
gers who returned with the doctors
and nurses were hurried off after those
within reach, and to those who were
absent from the city, messages convey
ing the painful Jidings were quickly
transmitted by telegraph. The scene
olo nd cfo
swept street was dramatic in its action
and setting, and the spirit of the
tragedy was on those who looked upon
it. A messenger who darted out into
the rain, and was whisked away in an
electric cab, gave the outside watchers
the first intimation of the i'll news
from within.
AS the telegraph instruments ratified
away with their, forlorn story this
morning, the hastily aroused physi-
clans began arriving An automobile,
racing at top speed, brought DR.. Myn-
ter first. He did no: stop to speak,
but rushed into the house. DR.. Mann
came almost on his heels, and he too
ran down the street. Neither stopped
for word as they rushed into the
house. After them came Abner Nc
Kinley, pale and agitated. He had
left the house scarcely two hours be-
fore, and had departed with the assu-
rance that the tide had turned in the
case of his distinguished brother. He
had been aroused from slumber by a
messenger who told him to come at
once.
Secretary Wilson and Secretary
Hitchcock, in grief at the peril Of their
chief, arrived within few moments.
Neither knew the true state of the
president at that moment, and in
silent fear they quickly entered the
house. Another hurrying visitor was
DR.. Wasoin, whose arrival completed
the circle of physicians: and another
was Mrs. McWilliams, the friend of
Mrs. Mckinley.
WHOLE CITY WAS AROUSED.
The Buffalo papers all had extras
with the sad intelligence of the presi-
dents relapse on the streets at day
light. One paper announced that the
president was dying. The result was
that the whole city was thoroughly
aroused and alarmed early, and before
I o'clock crowds of people focked in
the direction of the Milburn residence
to learn if the latest news was not
more reassuring. They stood at the
ropes, far down the intersecting
streets, and waited patiently for the
appearance of the morning bulletin.
Many of them refused to credit the
news of the presidents sudden change
for the worse until they had learned
by word of mouth from the sentries
of the presidents dangerous and crit
ical condition.
wife did not know the truth She
surmised that Mr.. Mckinley was
worse, for she was told this morning it
would be better for her not to enter
the sick chamber She assented, but
it was with a look of mute appeal in
her eyes.
The president himself seemed to
1