Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-20
Before Passing Into Unconscious
ness He Chanted the Words of
the Hymn, "Nearer, My
God to Thee"
The Wound Inflicted by Czolgosz, the
Anarchist Assassin, Proved Fatal
After Little More Than
Week After the Shot
Was Fired.
Theodore Roosevelt Takes the Oath of
Office as President-Short Funeral
Service at the Milburn Home
The Journey to Washing
ton and Services There.

tOh dIu OSTNlCSS lbSIC.
Buffalo, y. Y, Sept. 14.-President
Mckinley died at 2:15 this morning.
He had been unconscious since 7:j0 p.
m. His last conscious hour on earth
was spent with his wife, to whom he
devoted lifetime of care. He died
unattended by minister of the gos-
pei, but his last words were an hum
BILE submission to the will of the God
in whom he believed. He was recon
ciled to the cruel fate to which an
assassin's bullet condemned him and
faced death in the same spirit of
calmness which has marked his long
and honorable career. His last con-
scious words, reduced to writing by
DR.. Mann, who stood at his bedside
when they were uttered, were:
Good bye. All good bye. 1t is
Gods way. His will be done"
His relatives and the members of
his official family were at the Milburn
house, except Secretary Wilson, who
did not avail himself of the opportun-
ity. and some of his personal political
friends took leave of him. This
painful ceremony was simple. His
friends came to the door of the sick
room, took a long glance at him and
turned tearfully away. He was prac-
tically unconscious during this time.
But powerful heart stimulants, in
cluding oxygen, were employed to re-
store him to consciousness for his
final parting with his wife. He asked
for her and she sat at his side and
held his hand. He consoled her and
bade her goodbye. She went through
the trying scene with the same brav-
cry with which she has borne the
grief of the tragedy which ended his
life.
Mrs. Mckinley last saw her hus-
band between II and IL o'clock. The
members of the cabinet were admit
ted to the sick room singly at that
time.
About o'clock DIR. Rixey noted the
unmistakeable signs of dissolution
and the immediate members of the
family were summoned to the bed.
side. Mrs. Mckinley was asleep and
it was deemed desirable not to awak
en- her for the last moments of an
guish.
In an adjoining room sat the ply.
sicians. 1t was now 2:O5 o'clock and
the minutes We're slipping away. Only
the sobs of those in the circle about
the presidents bedside broke the si
lence. Five minutes passed, then six
seven, eight.
Now DR.. Rixey bent forward and
then one of his hands was raised as il
in warming. Tna fiuttering heart wa.
just going to rest. A moment NOR.
and DIR. Rixey Strengthened up ant
with choking voice said: "The presi
dent is dead"
Secretary Cortelyou was the frs
to turn from the stricken circle. HI,
stepped from the chamber to the out
er hall, and then down the stairwa,
to the large room where the member
of the cabinet, senator's and distin
guished officials were assembled. A.
his white face appeared at the door
way hush fell upon the assemblage
Gentlemen, the president ha
passed away" he said.
For moment not word came il
reply. Even though the end ha,
been expected, the actual announce
ment that William Mckinley was deat
fairly stunned the men who had beer
his closest confidants and advisers
Then a groan of anguish went III
from the assembled officials. The,
cried like children. They turne,
from the room and came from tn
house with streaming eyes.
The president in his last period o
consciousness which ended about Z: :4C
chanted the words of the hymn
"Nearer My God to Thee and hi
last audible conscious words as takel
down by DR.. Mann at the bedsid
Were:
Good bye, good bye. This i
Gods way. His will is DONE" The
his mind began to wander and 500
after he completely lost conscious
ness.
The city, not only in those part
near the Milburn house, but all owe
and even out in the exposition
grounds, went into a state of fermen
when the news of the sudden collaps
of the president was announced. Til
i'll news of the early day had bee
somewhat softened by the later an
nouncement that there was Il sligh
improvement and the sudden an
nouncement of his approaching di.
solution came as great surprise.
the Pan-American grounds it wa
announced that he was dead and tn
majority of the crowd turned towar
the city. In the city itself the paper
made it understood that there wa
no hope.
When the crowd learned that tn
news was confirmed some one shou