Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-12
Daily nennebee journal
TEDDY IS BETTER.
Considerably Improved in Past
Twenty-four Hours.
One Lung Is in Far Better Shape and
He Is Doing Nicely.
Tension and Anxiety on Father and
Mother Is Intense.

Groton. Mass, Feb. 1.-THE concen-
sus of today's reports from the SICK
room of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the
eldest son of the President, who, since
Thursday last. has been i'll with pneu-
monia at the GrOton school inhrmary,
intended to show an improvement, ana
at 8 o'clock. tonight, his condition was
authoritatively stated to be better
than it was at the same time. last night.
The crisis of the disease is still 10
come. and is booked for within the
next "a or SO hours.
The President and his wife both
firmly believe that their son will meet
This crisis in good condition. and pass
ing it successfully, will ultimately re-
cover. In fact, the slight favorable
turn in the disease, today. has greatly
relieved the strain on both OF them,
and the day closed much more cheer
fully than yesterday. Still, the reports
issued through Mr.. Cortelyou. secretary
to the President, ran quite gamut
between hope and fear, although as
rule they kept on the higher register.
Beginning with the morning, when
the boy, after an admitted hard night,
was reported as improved. although
plerrisy in the right lung was mention
ed, this favora BILE pitch was continued
until the noon statement. 1t was low
cred, however, a 2.45 o'clock in the af-
ternoon, when it was stated that the
temperature had risen. that it would
probably remain high, and if anything
increase a little toward morning. This
somhre tone seemed almost to neutral
ize the mornings encouraging notes. al
% ~: sy,1a that
pleurisy had been checked.
But the next report, at $50 in the
evening showed that Notwithstanding
the high temperature the boy had more
than held his own all day, and that his
condition was favorable. The hopeful
ness was still further increased by an
additional and voluntary report on Mr..
|Cortelyou's part at 8 o'clock, that the
lad was in better condition than at the
same time last night, although he said
there had not been much change dur
ling the day-meaning that the favor
able condition of the morning had been
practically maintained. 1t seemed,
therefore, as if the result of the day
had been to place the boy on a some
what higher scale toward recovery
All these reports were authoritative,
but in addition thre was a CHEEKY inter-
view with Secretary Of the Navy John
D. Long, who. early in the afternoon,
paid a hurried visit Of courtesy to his
chief. and who frankly said the boy
was better, and, to seemingly confirm
| this, came the Presidents sudden ap-
pearance little later in the afternoon
at the new sporting dome. recreation
house built by Mr.. Gardner adjoining
his own mansion. The President was
dressed in a suit of f1annels and SEEM
ed ready for some exercise in the new
squash court. He did not play, how.
ever. although he remained in the sun
ny building nearly two hours watching
a game between Mrs. James Lawrence
and Rev. Sherard billings.
Another interesting event of the day
was the receipt of a telegram from Am
bassador Pauncefote at Washington con-
veving KING Edwards expression of SYM
pathy for the President and hope for the
speedy recovery of his son.
The remarkable weather contributed
not little to the cheerfulness of the
day. this being the sixth consecutive day
during which the sun has shone brightl;-
from morning to night. while the air has
MIGRATING. Two of the three windows
l in the sick room were kept open nearly d
| foot all day and although the green cur
! tatns were drawn most of the time the
! CLINT of the sunlight must have added
much to the cheerfulness of the room.
Mr.. CortelyOu's reports tell the story
of the day. At stated intervals one rep
| resentative of the score of newspaper
men domiciled in the cottage nearly oppo-
| site the infirmary would stroll over to
| the Garner house and receive the latest
advices from the sick room. Sometimes
| the reports have been questioned until.
Il Ia, ,,xSA
~ the same nature were constantly being
| sent to Miss Alice Roosevelt at Washing
ton.
/ At the earliest request of the President
/ the reports were not issued In bulletin
/ form. Mr.. COrtelyou absolutely refusing
| to give statistics of temperature, pulse
Sand respiration. 80
| After somewhat sensational night .
| during which loud cries for water were
| heard from the direction of young Rooss-
| velts room by the watchers in the street
| below. the newspaper gathering were
| rather surprised that this morning when
| the first report came To two Of the favor
| able turn In the disease. The report stat
| ed that the crisis in the left lung. where
4 the pneumonia started. had been met and
passed successfully. but the crisis in the
right lung was yet To come. The report
| also stated that there was a slight touch
of plenrisy in the right lung: but on the
| Improvement. Mr.. Cortelyou urged the
reporters not to make this report too IA
| vorable. The II o'clock report showed the
conditions unchanged. but that the pleu-
| risv was only slight so far.
1 Shortly after l O'Clock. Sec Long ar.
rived at the Groton station from Boston.
| He went Immediately to the Gardner
| house. He remained exactly one hour
| at the school, where he had a short chat
| with the President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
l He left at els for Boston by way OF
| Aver Before the newspaper men could
| obtain an interview with him the 2.45 re-
port from MIR. Cortelyou was issued,
| showing that the boys temperature had
| increased and indicating that he would be
| worse. tonight and tomorrow morning.
instead of better. Again the newspaper
men were cautioned against issuing too
| encouraging reports. as 1t was probable
| that they would have to issue unfavor-
able ones until Wednesday noon.
Then came Secretary Longs interview
which seemed at first to conflict some
what with the reports stated above. The
secretary said frankly that the boy was
better and that both the President and
his wife were much encouraged. No ar
| rangements had been made, however, for
| the Presidents departure. although Mr..
Long intimated that IL the disease pro-
grsesed at the same rate the boy would
probably be sufficiently improved to al
low the President to leave for Washing
ton, Thursday. He said both the Presi-
dent and Mrs Roosevelt were much worn
and worried, but otherwise quite well.
| A short time after Secretary Long left
the school James Lawrence and his wife.