The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-14

was Attorney General Knox. who
reached the house at $50. He was per
uItted to go ND stairs to look for the
last time upon the face of his chief.
Those in the house at this time were
Secretaries Hitchcock, Wilson and
Root, Senators Fairbanks, Hanna and
Burrows, Judge Day, Colonel Herrick,
Abner Mckinley. the presidents broth
er, and his wife, DR.. and Mrs. Baer,
Mrs. Barber and Mrs Duncan, Mrs.
Mary Barber Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs Nc
k1nley's cousin, the physicians includ-
ing DIR. McBurney, VINO arrived after s
O'Clock, John g. NIilburn, John N
Scatcherd, Harry Hanlin and several
others.
At 9:37 Secretary CorteIyou, who had
been much of the time with his dying
chief, sent out formal notices that the
president was dying But the president
fingered on, his pulse growing fainter
and fainter
There was no need of official bulle-
tins 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 result, and
this gave hope only of brief postpone
ment OF the end DR.. Mynter thought
he might last until a. m. DR.. Mann
said at IL 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 Nilburn
house was the center of a scene as ami
mated as though it were midday. al
though a solemn hush hung over the
great crowd Of watchers. The entire
lower part of the house was aglow with
light. and the attendants, friends and
relatives could be seen within moving
about and occasionally coming III
groups to the front door 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 located there were ftful lights some
times burning brightly and then turned
low.
Secretary Root and Secretary Wilson
came from the house about midnight
and paced up and down on the sidewalk.
All that Secretary Root said was THE
night has not come yet
Despite the fact that vitality contin-
ued to ebb as midnight approached, 10
efforts We're spared to keep the spark
of life glowing. DR.. Janeway, of New
York city, arrived at the station at 11:40
O'Clock George Urban was waiting for
pace to the Milburn house. He was
shown to the presidents room at once.
and began an examination of the al
most 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 satisfac elton of see
ing the president alive, even though he
was not conscious Of his visitors pres
ence. Secretary Long was visibly af-
fected.
Shortly after midnight the presidents
was hardly perceptible. His
pulse had practically ceased. and the ex-
trenaities We're cold 1t was recognized
that nothing remained but the last strng-
gle, and some of the friends of the fam
lily who had remained through the day be-
gan to leave the house. not caring to be
present at the final scene
Such an intense state of anxiety existed
among the watchers that runors gained
circulation tnat death had al
ready actually occurred The arrival OF
the coroner gave rise to one such rumor
and a flood OF groundless dispatches were
sent, saying that the end had come These
We're speedily set at rest by an official
statement from within the house that the /
reports OF death We're groundless and the
Coroner Wilson said that he had been
The Afilburn residence a. soon as possible /
after the announcement of the death.
sued with the announcement that the /
president died at II :06 D. m. and had hur-
RED SO that there would be no delay in
eha grined when Dr. Mann met him at the /
ioor and told him that his services were /
led when he was wanted. DR.. Mann said 4
hat the president was still alive and DR.. I
The actual death probably occurred +
about O'Clock, it being understood that /
Dr.. RiXey delayed the announcement (
nomentarily to assure himself
The announcement of the news to those
members of the cabinet had withdrawn
When the news was impaired to those
Town stairs a great sigh of anguish went
Up from the strong men there assembled
The members of the cabinet. senators and
lose friends remained but a few minutes
reads. they came out into the darkness
Ind went away. There was not one among
hem with dry eyes, and some moaned in
LgOny of grief.