Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-09-18

NC was ulluS, duu preparations were
made for the last sad offices of fare
well 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
Que period of unoousciousness only
to relapse into another. But in this
period, when his mind was partially
clear, occurred series of events of
profoundly touching character.
This was about 6 O'clock. One by
one they assembled the stsirway-Sec-
rotary Root, Secretary Hitchcock, and
Attorney General Knox. Secretary
Wilson also was there, but he held
back, not wishing to see the President
in his last agony. There was only a
momentary stay of the Cabinet Off
GERS at the threshold of the death
chamber. Then they withdrew, the
tears streaming down their faces and
the words of intense grief choking in
their throats.
The President in his last period of
consciousness which ended about 7:40
p. NJ, chanted the words of the hymn,
"Nesrer My God, to Thee" and his
lost audible conscious words, as taken
down by DIR. Mann at the bedside,
were:
Goodby, all, gOod-by. 1t is Gods
way. His will he done"
Then his mind began to wander,
and soon afteward he completely lost
consciousness. His life was prolong-
ed for hours BY the administration of
oxygen, aud the President finally ex-
pressed a desire to be allowed to die.
About $50 the administration of OK
ygen ceased, and the pulse grew faint
er and fainter. He was sinking grad
nslly like a child into the eternal
slumber. By 10 o'clock the pulse
could no longer be felt in his extrem-
tiles and they grew cold. Below
stairs the grief stricken gathering
waited sadly for the end.
Those in the house at this time
were Secretaries Hitchcock, Wilson
and Root; Senators Fairbanks, Han
ma and Burrows; Judge Day, Colonel
Herrick, Abner Mckinley, the Presi-
dents brother, and his wife; nr. and
Mrs. Bser, the Presidents niece, aud
her husband; Mrs. Barber and Mrs.
Duncan, the Presidents sisters: Miss
Mary Barber; Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs.
McKinley's cousin; the physicians,
including DR.. McBurney, who arriv-
ed after o'clock. John n. Scatch-
erd, Harry Hamlin, all of this city,
and a number of others Rev. q. D..
Wilson, Methodist minister of Ton e
awada, y. Y, who was the Presi
dent pastor for three years at Canton,
called at the residence to inquire
whether his services were needed, but
did not enter the house. Another
Methodist minister who has church
nearby remained at the Milburn resi-
dence for two hours in the belief that
his services might be desired.
At 9:37 Secretary Cortelyou, who
had been much of the time with his
dying Chief, sent out formal notifica-
ton that the President was dying.
But the President fingered on, his
pulse growing fainter and fainter.
= 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 vitali-
ty was the only remaining factor in
the result, and this gave hope of only
brief postponement of the end.
Shortly after midnight the Presi-
dents breathing was barely precep-
tible. His pulse was practically
ceased and the extremities were cold.
1t was recognized that nothing re-
manned but the last struggle, and
some of the friends of the family who
had remained through the day be-
gan to leave the house, not caring to
be present scene.
The rage of the people of Buffalo
against the Presidents assassin when
they learned tonight that he was dy-
ing was boundless. Thousands sur
rounded the Jail, and the entire pc
lice forcs of the city and two regi-
meuts of militia we're utilized to in
sure his protectin.
The following report of the autop-
sy upon the remains of President
Mckinley was issued:
"The bullet which struck over
the breastbone did not pass through
the skin, and did little harm. The
other bullet passed through both
walls of the stomach near its lower
border. Both holes were found to be
perfectly closed by the stitches, but
the tissue around each hole had be-
come gangrenous. After passing
through the stomach the bullet pass
ed into the back walls of the aldo
men, hitting and tearing the upper
end of the kidney. This portion of
the bullet track was also gangrenous,
the gangrene involving the pancreas.
The bullet has not yet been
found There was no sign of peri
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