The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-09-18
HIS PEACEFUL DEATH.
Not Ours, Be Done" Last Conscious
Moments Spent With Wife.

Presidents Last Words Were Gods VIII
Not Ours, Be Done" Last Conscious
Moments Spent With Wife.
President Mckinley died at 2:15 Sat
urday.
lie had been unconscious since 1850
p. m.
His last conscious hour on ,r.;l was
spent with the wife 10 w.1.4 Ay .,,otcd
lifetime Of care.
He died unattended Ly q minister 4
the gospel but his last wo. j vorc an
humble submission to the will Of ,.ol in
whom he believed.
He was reconcied to the cruel fate to
which an assassins bullet had condemned
MIN and faced death in the same spirit
of calmneSs and poise which has marked
his long and honorable career.
His last conscious words. reduced to
writing by DIR. Mann. who stood at his
bedside when they were uttered, were
as follows: Good bye, all. Good bye.
1t is Gods way. His will be done"
His relatives and the members of his
official family who were at the house,
except Secretary Wilson who did not
avail himself Of the opportunity, and
some Of his personal and political friends
took leave Of him.
The painful ceremony was simple. His
friends came to the door OF the sickroom,
took longing glance at him and turned
tearfully away. He was practically un-
conscious during this time.
But the powerful heart stmulants, in
cluding oxygen, were employed to restore
him TO consciousness for his final parting
with his wife.
He asked for her, she sat at his side
and held his hand. He consoled her and
bade her good bye. She went through
the heart-trying scene with the same
bravery and fOrtitude with which she has
borne the grief of the tragedy which
ended his life
Before 6 o'clock il was clear to those nt
the presidents bedside that he was dying
and preparations were made for the last
sad offices Of farewell from those who
were nearest and dearest to him. Oxygen
had been administered steadily but with
little effect in keeping back the approach
of death. The president came out Of
one period of unconsciousness only to
relapse into another.
But in this period, when his mind was
partially clear, occurred series of events
of profoundly touching character down
stairs. With tear-stained faces, MEM
bers Of the cabinet were grouped in anx-
ious waiting. They knew the end was
near and that the time had come when
they must see him for the last time on
earth. This was about g o'clock. Ii
was an awful moment for them
One ly n they ascpnded The Stairway
Secretary Hoot, Secretary Hitchcock and
Attorney-General Knox. Secretary Will
son also was there hut he held back, not
wishing to see the president In his last
agony. There was only momentary
stay Of the cabinet officers at the thresh-
old Of the death chamber. Then they
withdrew, the tears streaming down their
faces and the words of intense grief
choking in then throats.
After they left the sick room the ply
sicans rallied him to consciousness and
the president asked almost Immediately
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
hands were clasped. She sat beside him
and held his hand. Despite her physical
weakness she bore up bravely under the
ordeal.
The president in his last period of con-
sciousness, which ended about TAO
o'clock chanted the words of the beauti-
full hymn. "Ncarer, My God, to Thee"
and his last audible conscious words as
taken down by DIR. Mann at the bedside
were: Good bye all. Good bye. 1t
is Gods way. His will be done"