The Washington times., 1904-02-16
CLOSING MOMENTS
Of A GREAT LIFE
Scene in Death Chamber at
Arlington Hotel.
TWENTY MINUTES TO SEVEN
The President, Senators, Diplomatists
and Friends Call to Offer Condol-
ences With Family.

! Unique in the experience Of the Ma
! uonal Capital was the scene at the Ar
/ hhgton Hotel last evening when 1t had
/ become known that Senator Hanna
/ could live but a few moments.
Statesmen. diplomatists. and men of
affairs, helpless in all save certain
dumb sympathy, moved in and OUT of
the room used as an Office by the dying
! mans secretary. Just beyond was the
sick room, whore the physicians stood
powerless to stop the advance Of the
master OF life. About the bedside were |
gathered the members OF the family. !
With the exception OF Mrs. Hanna. who |
q hGlf hour before had been driven to /
her room by weakness eugCndered by /
fourteen days and nights of anxiety /
and foreboding. No sound came from /
the apartment where the stricken Sen.- /
tor lay. but an occasional tear in the |
eyes Of the watchers in the outer room 4
save indication that each man felt HIM 4
self In the presence of death.
Suffered No Pain.
Fer thirty hours or more inc patient 4
had been out OF pain. He mad at zines /
been conscious, but only to the extent /
that when the doctors ordered him TO
Tove an arm or shift his position, ne
rIade a feeble response.
At $3.50 o'clock Drs. Osler and Carter
announced to Secretary Dover that the
patients heart which for hours had
merely fiuttered, might cease beating at
any moment.
Mrs Dan Hanna hurried TO Mrs.
Hanna to summon her for the supreme
moment. 1t arrived before either could
standing just within the door his face
averted from the bed. Although anxious
came, he did not wish to view the pass
Ing OF the great man with whom he had
so long been associated
Dr.. Carter touched his arm. saying:
The Senator is dead"
at Is All Over"
Stepping quietly outside. his voice
quivering with emotion. Mr. Dover an
nounced to the waiting newspaper men:
1T is all over" Then, CHANGING at his
watch. he added: Twenty minutes TO
seven"
Quickly but quietly. the correspCn-
dents sped down the stairs to the tele-
graph instruments and telephone booths
Within a few moments millions Of peo-
pie, not Americans alone. but those OF
other nations, We're sharing the grief OF
the little group in the inner room.
Mr.. Dover returned after a short time
to console the widow He remained half
an hour or more. Tortured by the sus-
pense OF the two weeks preceding. she
bore her great loss with composure. and
assented TO the funeral plans made by
friends or the Senator, personal and Of
fetal
Later Secretary Dover related the .
story OF the last hours Of the Senator ,
and the brave struggle ne had made ,
throughout his illness.
Joked With Physicians.
In the occasional rallies which marked S
his illness the Senator had been cheer !
ful. even jocular. At one time ne in |
sisted on being shaved attributing the
wish 10 personal vanity. Again. when Il
long period had elapsed without the :
bath 10 reduce his temperature. NJ
laughingly accused the doctors OF cheat
ing him out OF a sick mans luxury, as
sorting they had promised him fire. I
quent cooling baths. Even his last
words spoken early Sunday morning !
were in accord with the geniality and
good humor of his nature
His nurse noted that he seemed to |
miss something. and asked what ne
wished
My handkerchief think my wife
has f. was the reply. accompanied by
a pitiful attempt at Il smile. 1t had
been his custom 10 teasingly charge his
wife with having everything he might
have mislaid.
From that time. no distinguishable
sound came from the patients lips and
Z seemed fitting that the man who had ,
Z
challenge death.
Their Great Loss.
In the Senator's room were Post I
master General Payne. Representative
Dick. Governor HeTrick, and others who
had been for years. in politics and in ,
personal affairs, close TO the dead Sen :
ltOr. When the death was announced
there was a moment OF silence
1T is a great loss" murmured Cen :
-ral Dick. :
Then Mr. Payne hurried to the tele- :
phone. rang up the White House. and /.
said: Senator Hanna has just passed ,
away" :
A few minutes later. Senator Fair :
banks. who had been absent but a few .
minutes, entered followed by other
senator's, including his Ohio colleague /
Senator Foraker. and by Speaker Can / :
non and General GrosVenor The lobbv :
If the hotel rapidly filed with members :
IF Congress and friends OF Mr. Hanna :
mo thev drifted aimlessly up and down ! :
he stairway and through tine corri- =
Tors. hoping 10 be of assistance. 2
Shortly after receiving the teleDhore /
Message the President unattended / !
walked over 10 the hotel from the White
House and extended his condolences Il
he family. lie was thus occupied foY. |
iOme time. and later talked with Post
master General Payne
ON his return 10 the White HOpsp tho !