The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
THE CRISIS COMES
PRESIDENT McKINLEY's CONDITION
is EXTREMELY GRAVE.
IN GLOOMY APPREHENSION,
THE PRESIDENTS PHYSICIANS
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

The Developments Have Been Some
what Encouraging, But the Char
acter of the Wound Does Not Ad-
init of BuOyant HOpe-Next Twen-
4y-four Hours Likely to Reveal
the wOrst-Mrs. Mckinley MT the
Bedside of the President-Mem-
hers of Cabinet Near Their
wounded Chieftain-Thcy Fly to
His Side.
Buffalo, Sept. 7.--President McKin-
ley's condition is extremely grave. The
crisis will probably come within twen-
ty-four hours. While his physicians
hold out hope and the developments of
the day have been somewhat encour-
aging. in that none of the symptoms
of peritonitis or blood poisoning, which
they so much dread, have appeared,
medical experience with similar wounds
causes much anxiety, and the physi-
clans shake their heads gIoomily when
they speak of the future.
Although their distinguished pa
tents condition has been favorable
throughout the day. they do not deaire
to buoy the country up with false
hopes. Inflammation is what they
fear and at the iirst
sign in that direction the country
must steel itself for the blow. For the
time being the bullet of the assassin,
which is still in the body, is a second
ary consideration. While it has not
been absolutely located, they all agree
that after passing through the abdom-
inal cavity and perforating both walls
of the stomach, perhaps it lodged in
the neshy muscles of the back, and if
necessity required it, could be easily
located with the Roentgen ray and ex-
tracted. They agree that it is now OF
more Importance that the President
should recover from the shock of the
first operation than that the bullet
should be removed. -----"
President Doses Drowsily.
The President has been doing
drowsily throughout the major portion
of the day. Two physicians and two
trained nurses are constantly at his
bedside. He has not yet fully recov-
cred from the effects of the ether which
was administered to him. He was un-
der the influence of the powerful an
aesthetic over an hour. The result is
that although he is perfectly rational
when conscious, he dozes much of the
time. Absolute quiet and freedom from
excitement, the physicians regard as
essential now, and visitors are rigor-
ously excluded. Not a cabinet minis
ter, not even Secretary Cortelyou, was
allowed in the sick chamber to-day.
With the exception of the physicians
and attendants. Mrs. Mckinley was
the only person who crossed the
threshold. The President asked to see
her, and his physicians did not have
the heart to refuse his request. She
at his bedside, as he in his devotion to
her in her illness has often been at
hers.
Exchanged But Few Remarks.
Mr.. Mckinley had been warned not
exchanged only a few words. 1t was
only when he asked her to be brave
for both their sakes that she faltered
and almost broke down. With choking
throat and brimming eyes she prom
tsed with a bow of her head. Almost
Immediately thereafter she was led
from the room by DR.. Rixey.
Mrs. Mckinley, throughout this try
ing ordeal, has shown remarkable for
titude. She has been mistress of her
self and her sorrow and has been al
most as calm and self-possessed as the
PRESIDENT himself. And no more than
that could be said, for throughout it
all the President has been cooler than
those about him. He was so yesterday
when the pistol was discharged against
his breast and he has been so to-day
even in his semi consciousness.
When DR.. Rixey told Mrs.
Mckinley to-day of the extreme grav-
ity Of the case she did not break down.
On the contrary, feeble as she is, grief
seemed to lend her strength and she
felt that she must bear up for his
sake.
Has Taken No Nourishment.
Tie President has taken no nourish-
ment since he was shot. Water IS given
to him at intervals, but no food of any
kind as yet. His physicians say ne has
kenty of reserve strength to draw upon
and for the present neither lourisn-
ment nor artificial stimulants are
necessary.
No medicine except digitalis has been
given and that was administered TO
quiet his pulse, which mounted this