The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-25
MRS. M'K|NLEY
MAY NOT LIVE

BUFFALO, Sept. 16-Mrs. Mckinley
gpressed concerning her She was today
Fin state of hysterical collapse, and
though efforts are to be made to take
1her to Washington with the funeral train
Stomorrow, the most serious misgivings
fare entertained by her attendants
In the Milburn house there was today
Zone of the saddest scenes ever witnessed
Sby mortal eyes. 1t was about 8 o'clock
FRIDAY night when Mrs. Mckinley last
ssaw her beloved husband and babe him
sfinal farewell. She was soon afterward
yput to bed, and the sedatives admins
stered for the purpose of producing sleep
ahad the desired effect. Mrs. Mckinley
.was asleep when the president died.
STh;s merciful Inconsistencies tided her
Through those dread hours of the night
CAT O'Clock Saturday morning the Sc
saatives lost their power and she who had
Eretired a wife awoke widow. She was
stold the news. But she did not appear to
sfully realize that her husband was dead.
sShe still spoke of him as living, asked
show he had passed the night, begged
fthat she might be taken to him. Little
5by little the dread truth dawned upon
sher, and at length her pleadings became
1 too insistent to be longer resisted.
Mrs. McWilliams and Mrs. Barber led
} her into the room where the president
Hay, the room in which he had died, and
aleft her there. What took place no one
knows or will ever know. For an hour
Sthe pair who had marched through life
Inland in hand, whose tender love had be-
Kcome celebrated, were alone together.
SAt length the watchers heard no moro
Scries and appeals for recognition, no
= more caresses and lamentations. They
Sopened the door and found the unhappy
Swoman in swoon by her husbands
fside.
When the funeral services were held
at the house Mrs. Mckinley was unable
ato come down stairs. More sedatives had
$been given her and she was but half
aconscious. Thus the hours wore on, and
1.-THE presidents remains were taken away
Ito lie in state at the City Hall. Mrs.
8 mckinley did not know of their removal.
SIn the afternoon she reused and begged
Ito be taken to her husband. When told
that the body had been carried to the
ECity Hall. where the people Were to have
Gan opportunity to see it, she demanded
Kthat 1t be brought back to her; he was
Cher husband; she had a right to him.
EThe people had all his best years, his
5, Strength, his life. In death he was hers
! and she would have her rights Hyster-
sicaliy she cried aloud for him again and
s,again. A member or the family was has
tily called and some favored sending for
s'the remains of the president in order to
Ecalm the anguish of the widow with
ssoothing sense of possession. But at
s;this moment Mrs. Hobart, widow of the
s,,late vice president, succeeded in con-
Svincing Mrs. Mckinley that it was her
. duty to let the people see the face of
. their beloved president.
!, Thanks to the strong influence which
Mrs. Hobart has always exerted over
! her friend, Mrs Mckinley was finally
! Gained and induced to lie down and try
/ to sleep. DR.. Rixey prepared another
glass of medicine and the crisis was mo-
mentarily over. Later in the day the
unhappy woman again demanded the
i body of her husband, but for the second
; time she was comforted by her loving
friends. They have grave fears that
! Mrs. Mckinley will not be able to endure
!. the ordeal of the next four days.