New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-14
strained ana tears,ained faces members Of the

awful moment for them One by one they
assembled the MISUNDERSTANDING Root, Secre-
tary Hitchcock and Attorney General Knox.
Secretary Wilson also there. but he held
back not wishing to see the President in his
last agony. There was only a momentary stay
OF the Cabinet officers at the threshold of the
death chamber. Then they withdrew. the tears
streaming down their faces and the words Of in
tense grief choking in their throats
FAREWELL TO MRS MKINLEY.
After they left the sick room the physicians
rallied him to consciousness, and the President
brought to him. The doctors fell back into the
shadows of the room as Mrs. Mckinley
dying man lighted UP with faint smile
their hands were clasped She sat beside him
and held his hand. Despite her physical weak
ness she bore up bravely under the ordeal.
The President in his last period of conscious
ness, which ended about 7:40 o'clock, chanted
the words of the beautiful hymn, Nearer. My
God. to Thee" and his last audible conscious
words as taken down by DR.. Mann at the bed
side were:
"Goodby. ALL goodby. 1t is Gods way. His
will be done"
ASKED To RE ALLOWED TO DIE.
Then his mind began to wander. and soon
afterward he completely lost consciousness. His
life was prolonged for hours by the administra-
ton Of oxygen and the President finally ex-
pressed desire TO be allowed to die About
$50 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 extremites. and they grew cold.
Downstairs the griefstricken gathering waited
sadly for the end.
All the evening those who had FASTENED here
fast steel and steam could carry them con-
tinued to arrive. They drove up in carriages
at gallop or were whirled up in automobiles.
ali intent upon getting here before death came.
One OF the last to arrive Attorney General
Knox who reached the house 930. He was
permitted to go upstairs to look for the last time
on the face of his chief. Those in the house at
this time were Secretaries Hitchcock. Wilson
and Root. Senators Fairbanks. Hanna and Bur-
rows Judge Day, Colonel Herrick Abner Nc
Kiney. the President brother and his wife;
DR.. and Mrs. Baer the Presidents niece; Mrs
Barber and Mrs. Duncan, the Presidents sis
tiers: Mrs Mary Barber. Mrs McWinams. Mrs.
McKinley's cousin: the physicians. including
DR.. McBurney. who arrived after o'clock;
John G. Mburn. John Scatcherd, Harry
Hamlin, all of this city; Secretary Cortelyou
and number of others.
The Rev. C. D. Wilson, Methodist minister,
OF Tonawanda, N. Y who was the Presidents
pastor for three years at Canton. called at the
house to inquire whether his services were
needed but did not enter the house. Another
Methodist minister. who has church near by,
remained at the Milburn house for two hours In
the belief that his services might be desired.
PULSE GROWING FAINTER
At 9:37 Secretary Cortelyou. who had been
much OF the time with his dying chief. sent out
formal notification that the President was dying.
But the President fingered on his pulse growing
fainter and fainter
There no need for official bulletins after
this Those who came from the house at in
tervals told the same story-that the President
was dying. and that the end might come at any
time. His tremendous vitality the only re-
naming factor in the result. and this gave hope
only OF brief postponement of the end. DR..
Mynter thought he might last until . a. m. DR..
Mann said at II o'clock that the President was
still alive and probably would live an hour
Thus minutes heightened into hours. and mid
night came, with the President still battling
against death.
At this midnight hour the Milburn house was
the centre OF scene as animated as though it
were midday, although a solemn hush hung
over the great crowd of watchers. The entire
lower part OF the house aglow with light
and the many attendants, friends and relatives
could be seen within, moving about and occa-
siorally coming in groups to the front doorway
for breath Of air. In the upper front cham
bers the lights were low, and around on the
north side. where the chamber OF death is To-
Gated. there were fitful lights sometimes burn
ing brightly and then turned low.
Scores airy Root and Secretary Wilson came
from the house about midnight, and paced VI
and down the sidewalk. All that Secretary Root
said was. 1.-The end has not come yet"
DOCTORS SPARE NO EFFORT
Despite the fact that vitality continued to ebt
as midnight approached, efforts were spared
TO keep the spark of life glowing DR.. Janeway
Of New-York City. arrived at the Buffalo sta
ton at II 40 o'clock. George Urban was waiting
for him, and they drove at a breakneck pace to