The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-14

Milburn House. Buffalo, Sept. 1S.-
Before o'clock it was clear to those
at the Presidents bedside that he was
dying, and preparations were made Tor
the last sad offices of farewell from
those who were nearest and dearest to
him.
Oxygen had been administered stead
ily but with little effect In Keeping
back the approach of death. The fresi-
dent came out of one period of uncon-
seriousness only to relapse into another
But. in these periods, when his mlnd
was partially clear, occurred a series
of events of profoundly touching char-
acter.
Down stairs, with strained and tear
stained faces, members OF the capinet
were grouped in anxious waiting. Ihey
knew the end was near and that the
time had come when they must see
him for the last time on earth. rms
was about o'clock. One by one they
ascended the stairway-Se Root
Secretary Hitchcock and Attorney
General Knox Secretary Wilson was
also there, but he held back. not wish
ing TO see the President in his last
agony. There was only momentary
stAv 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.
He Asked for His Wife.
After they left the sick room the
physicians rallied him to consciousness
and the President asked almost imme-
diately that his wife be brought to
him. The doctors fell back into the
shadows of the room as Mrs. Mckinley
came through the doorway. The strong
face of the dying man lighted up with
a faint smile as their heads were clasp
ed. She sat beside him and held MS
hand. Despite her physical weakness
she bore up bravely under the ordeal.
The President. in his last period of
consciousness. which ended about TAO
%. m, chanted the words of the hymn,
Nearer, My God, To Thee" and his
last audible conscious words, as taken
down by DR.. Mann at the bedside,
were:
Goodbye, all; goodbye. 1t is
Gods way. His will be done"
Then his mind began to wander, and
soon afterward he completely lost con-
seriousness. His life was prolonged for
hours by the administration of oxygen
and the President finally expressed
desire to be allowed to die. About
$50 o'clock the administration of oxy-
gen ceased and the pulse grew fainter
and fainter. He was sinking gradually
like a child into the eternal slumber.
By 10 o'clock the pulse could no longer
be felt in his extremities and they
grew cold. Below stairs the grief
stricken gathering waited sadly for the
end.
Relatives Haste to His Side.
All the evening those who had has
tened here fast as steam and steel
could carry them, drove up in car
riages or were whisked up in automo-
biles, all anxious to get here before
death came.
One Of the last to arrive was Attor-
ney General Knox, who arrived at $3.50
O'Clock. He promptly went up 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, Col.
Herrick. Abner Mckinley, the Presi-
dents brother, and his wife; DR.. and
Mrs. Baer, the Presidents niece and
her husband; Mrs. Barber and Mrs.
Duncan, the Presidents sisters; Miss
Mary Barber, Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs.
McKinley's cousin: the physicians. in.
Guiding Dr. McBurney, who arrived
after s o'clock, John G.. Milburn. John
N. Scatcherd, Harry Hamlin, all Of this
city; Secretary Cortelyou, and num-
Der of others.
Rev. c. u. Wilson, a Methodist min
lister of Tonawanda, N. Y, who was
the Presidents pastor for three years
at Canton, called at the residence to
inquire whether his services were need
ed, but did not enter the house. An
other Methodist minister, who has a
church near by, remained at the Mil
burn residence for two hours i'm the
belief that his services might be de-
sired. At 9:37 o'clock Secretary Cortel-
you, VINO nau Deen much OF the time
with his dying chief, sent out formal
notification that the President was dy-
ing. But the President fingered on, sis
pulse growing fainter and fainter.
The End Fast Approaching.
There was no need for official bull
letins 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