Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-05-23
Serious Illness Of Mrs. Mckinley IN
San Francisco Causes Entire
Change in Programme.
her RECOVERY THOUGHT VERY DOUBTFUL
Latest Bulletin, However, Gives Some
Hope-Physicians Say Her Condi-
ton Has Improved-At One Time
She Was Thought to BE Dying
battle for Life.

tour north and east of San Francisco.
The announcement of the change of
plans was made at ten o'clock yester-
day morning in the following bulletin
issued by Secretary Cortelyou:
Mrs. McKinley's serious illness COM
pels the president to abandon his pro-
posed visit to other states. to which he
had looked forward with so much pleasure.
AS soon as Mrs. McKinley's health will
permit he will return to Washington by
the most direct route"
Death Very Near.
San Francisco, May 17.-Mrs. McKin-
ley is in the valley of the shadow of
death, and may pass away at any mo-
ment. Thursday morning shortly be-
fore dawn she sank rapidly, and it was
feared she would die before restora-
tives could be administered. But she
respondedto the powerful heart stimu-
lants which were given to her, and dur
ing the day improved to such an ex-
tent that hope of her recovery. slight
though it was, revived. But her life
hangs by thread. She has taken no
solid food since she reached here or
Sunday, and the physicians do not be-
lieve she could survive another sinking
spell such as she experienced Thursday
morning. She suffers little and bears
up bravely. During her periods of con-
seriousness Thursday her mind was
clear. The president is constantly at
her bedside, and although worn by
his long vigil, is standing the awful
strain with remarkable fortitude.
The new treatment for low vitality
salt injections into the veins-was
administered to Mrs. Mckinley, and
she responded to the treatment.
Public Functions Abandoned.
Every banquet and public function in
his honor here has been abandoned,
and the city with heavy heart is watch.
ing Mrs. McKinley's battle for life. If
the end should come, the president and
his party will be ready to start back
with the remains within "a hours. The
train which brought them here will be
used on the return trip, and all the ar
rangements have been made to go back
by the shortest route, the Central and
Union Pacific to Chicago. and thence
via the Pennsylvania to Washington.
If Mrs. Mckinley improves, it is not
believed she will be able to travel be-
fore week from the coming Monday.
An Air Of Gloom.
In the city the bulletins at the news
paper offices announcing that the fes-
tivities of the week were abandoned
fell like pail upon the multitude.
Not until then was it fully realized
that Mrs. Mckinley was at Deaths
door. There was no resentment, only
feeling of deepest sympathy for the
head of the nation watching his wife
battle for her life. Joy was turned to
sadness. The people no longer waited
the presidents coming. Their voices
were hushed. and they stood in groups
on the streets discussing the brief but
pregnant tidings from the sick room.
Bulletin Gives Hope.
San Francisco, May .17.-Secretary
Cortelyou gave out the following
statement at nine p. M: "The ply
sicians in attendance on Mrs. McKin-
ley report her condition has decidedly
improved since morning. Her pulse
and temperature are satisfactory.
The patient is resting we'll.
Express Sympathy.
London, May 17.-All the morning
papers refer editorially in terms of
deepest sympathy to the illness of
Mrs. Mckinley, recalling the SYM
pathy displayed by Doth the president
and his wife when Queen Victoria
died.
. Crisis Not Passed.
San Francisco, May 1S.-Mrs. McKin-
ley's condition continued to improve
yesterday, and the tense anxiety which
was felt was somewhat relaxed, but
during last night she did not take
nourishment freely. as she had done
earlier in the day, and powerful slim
ulants, including oxygen, were admin
istered. It is now believed that there
is fair probability of Mrs. McKinley's
gradual return to health if the slight
gainwhich she has made is maintained.
The physicians who are attending her
are not yet ready to give out sanguine
reports, but everything that comes
from them is encouraging.
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