The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-14
CONE TO REST.
Benjamin Harrison Breathes His
Last at 4: As Last Night.
He Passed Away Without Re-
gaining Consciousness.
DEATH WAS PAINLESS.
His Last Intelligent Words We're
Those of sympathy
For the People of the South
African Republics.
FUNERAL ON SUNDAY.
Members of His Cabinet to Act
as PalIbearers.
President Mckinley to Attend
the Funeral.
His Last Intelligent Words Were
Those of Sympathy
For the People of the South
African Republics.
FUNERAL ON SUNDAY.
of His Cabinet to Act
as PaIIbearers.
President Mckinley to Attend
the Funeral.

I GAD n UuoE6Ae
Indianapolis. Ind, March A4.-General
Benjamin Harrison died at 4:45 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon without regaining
consciousness His death was quiet and
painless, there being a gradual sinking
until the end came, which was marked
by a single gasp for breath life de-
parted from the body of the statesman
The relatives with few exceptions,
and several of the former presidents
old and tried friends were at the bedside
when he passed away.
The generals condition was so bad in
| the morning that the attending ply
sicians understood that the end could
not be far off, and all the bulletins sent
out from the sick room were to this eff
feet so that the family and friends were
prepared when the final blow came. The
gradual failing of the remarkable
strength shown by the patient became
more noticeable in the afternoon and a
few hours before the end there was an
apparent breakdown on the part of the
sufferer as he surrendered to the disease
against which he had been bravely bat
Ting for so many hours The change
was noticed by the physicians and the
relatives and friends who had retired
from the sick room to the library below
We're quickly summoned and reached
the bedside of the general before he
passed away
News OF the death spread quickly
through the city. The word was flashed
from the bulletins of all the newspa pers,
and thus communicated to the people on
their way home in the evenl1 G. The an
nouncement produced the greatest sor-
row, nearly every one having nurtured
the hope that General Harrison would
recover. Within a few moments The
flags on all the public buildings and
most of the downtown business blocks
We're hOisted at half-mast, and other
outward manifestations of mourning
We're made.
None of General Harrisoa's children
was present at his death. Neither Rus
sell Harrison nor Mrs Mckee had reach
ed the city, although both were hurry
ing on their way to the bedside of their
dying father as fast as steam would
bear them.
been taken from the sick room by her
nurse before the end came
The group at the bedside included Mrs.
Harrison w. H. Miller, Samuel Miller.
his son; the Rev. NJ. L. HaInes, pastor
Of the First Presbyterian church, which
General Harrison had attended for so
many years; Secretary Tiboctt Doctors
Jameson and Dorsey, Colonel Daniel
Ransdell, sergeant-at-a arms Of the United
States senate and a close personal friend
of the dead ex-president; CLIFFORD Arrick
and the two nurses who have been in
constant attendance at the bedside
General HarrisOn's two sisters and an
aunt were also present Mrs Harrison
kneeled at the right hand of the bed, her
husbands right hand grasped in hers,
while DR.. Jameson held the left hand of
the dying man counting the feeble pulse
beats. In few moments after the
friends had been summoned to the room
the end came.
The great silence that fell on the sar-
rowing watchers by the bedside was
broken by the voice of DI. Haines raised
in prayer, supplicating consolation for
the bereaved wife and family, mingled
with the Sobs of the mOuTners. Steps
Were at once taken to notify the friends
come. Col. Ransdell at once dispatched
kilograms to prominent men at the ma
tional capital including the Indiana SEN
ators Messages to relatives in other
cities were also dispatched.
Gen. Harrison had been unconscious
for hours before his death, the exact
time when he passed into a cOnatose
state being hard to determine. He spoke
to no one during tie day, and failed TO
recognize even his wife. The greater
part of Tuesday, too, he was in SEMI
conscious condition, although he was az
times able to recognize those at his bed
side. At that time he recognized and
spoke to Mrs Newcomer, his aunt, 20
had just reached the home. He also
spoke to Nh Miller, the words being
very indiStirct, however, only doctor
and my lungs being understood Al
most the last words he uttered were ad-
dressed to his wife, OF whom he inquired,
shortly before he became unconscious. If
the doctors were present.
One of the most pathetic incidents Of
the whole illness of the general occurred
Tuesday, before he became unconscious.
The generals little daughter. Eliza BETH
was brought into the sick room for
few moments to see her father and offer
ed him small apple pie, which she her
self had made Gen. Harrison smiled his
recognition Of the child and her gift bat
the effort to speak was too much. and
he could do nothing more to express his
appreciation.
All efforts to arouse the slowly dying
man to consciousness failed and he died
without word of recognition to any of
the loved ones who surrounded him
From one who was present at tile
death bed it is learned that the allega-
tions of cruelty and injustice dealt cut
by England to the Beers in their strue-
gle for liberty had been a subject of
thought in the mind Of Gen. Harrison
To his friends he had often spoken Of the
pity end shame as he viewed it. that The
brave and sturdy farmers of South AZ
rica should be robbed Of their country
Of all they have in the world and forced
to submit to terrible niseries in resist
ing the expressions of a world power
Gen. Harrison, 1t is stated. would have
liked nothing better than to come out
frankly ard strongly and say to every
one who would hear what he thought of
England's cruelty; it was in his mind
constantly; but he believed that an ex-