Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-30
SHOWS IMPROVEMENT
Mr.. Payne Reported to Be
Resting Quietly.
PHYSICIANS CONFER
ATTACK OF HEART TROUBLE PRO-
NoUNCED SEVERE.
Patient Took Nourishment This Morn
ing and Afterward Rallied
Slightly.
PHYSICIANS CONFER

Subsequently to the announcement in The
Star yesterday that Postmaster General
Payne was i'll at his apartments in the Ar
lington annex with a severe cold, contracted
during his recent trip, it developed that
serious heart complications had set in and
Dr. G: Lloyd Magruder, his attending ply
sician, made the statement that Mr.. Payne
was in a grave condition. The treatment,
however, which was administered was in
a measure beneficial ard reports from sew
eral sources later were of a more optimis-
tic character. DR.. p. M. Rixey, surgeon
general Of the navy, was also called in.
At II o'clock this morning DIR. Magruder
said there had been some improvement In
Mr.. Payne's condition since the 0 o'clock
bulletin.
Physician Attends Constantly.
DR.. Magruder remained with Mr.. Payne
all of last night, and was Joined in con-
sultation early this morning by Surgeon
General Rixey and DIR. Grayson, both of
the navy.
Following the issuance of the bulletin DR..
Magruder said that the attack Of heart
trouble had. been very severe, beginning
night before last and continuing all day
yesterday and during last night.
He expressed himself as being extremely
anxious concerning his patients condition.
The greatest trouble has been to get Mr..
Payne to take nourishment and retain it,
although he did take some this morning.
He has rallied slightly, and this, DR..
Magruder said, gave some encouragement.
Mrs. Roosevelt Called Today.
Mrs Roosevelt called at noon and spent
some time with Mrs. Payne Prior to the
of <ho 20 oPt thn
retary of the Interior and Mrs. Hitchcock
called and inquired after the condition of
the Postmaster General.
\ Improvement Maintained.
At 2:3O o'clock Mr.. Payne was showing
gradual improvement, although his condi-
ton at that hour was still grave. He has
been taking small amount OF nourish-
ment during the day. The President called,
as did Acting Secretary Loemis Of the
Stata Department and other prominent
men. A vast number of sympathetic tele-
Fl ans have been received, among them be-
ing messages from Richard Mansfield, Sena-
tor SpOoner, Elmer Dover and Postmaster
Coyne of Chicago.
DR.. Magruder's bulletin, issued late last
night. follows:
.'The Postmaster General has. not been
feeling well for several days. Recently de-
cided symptoms of heart trouble have de-
veloped. These were very serious during
the night and the early part Of today. He
ig responding to the remedies employed ana
is resting easier.
The following bulletin was issued at 8
o'clock this morning:
1.-THE Postmaster General had a very
restless night and is very weak. His con-
dition Is serious. He is resting quietly at
- '0e''> ''' "MAGRUDER
''RIXEY."
The President and His Wife Call.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt called
to learn the condition of Mr.. Payne last
evening, and were told that at that time he
had somewhat improved. The Postmaster
General has been far from we'll or strong
man for year or more, and the severe i'll
ness which centered itself in an attack OF
gout last spring has never entirely left him.
At that time, as soon as he was in a condi-
ton to be moved, he took sea trip to Gal
weston and return, and was apparently ben
Gifted by the change of scene and atmOs-
phere.
Confinement to his duties at the Post
Office Department the strain of the long in
vestigation which resulted in the conviction
of several conspirators, the hard work for
the national republican committee prior to
the selection Of George B. Cortelyou for the
Craftsmanship of that body and many other
details of his occupation have had a very
trying effect upon his naturally delicate
physique. His duties have carried him from
Washington to the west and back many
times, each trip being strain upon his con-
stitution. Naturally a very active man. Mr..
Payne has not been for a long time what
could be called vigorous man physically.
and his illness last spring seems to have
had very serious effect upon his ordinary
vitality.
He attended the meeting Of the cabinet
Tuesday, but did not return to his office.
afterward, and was not at the department
during the afternoon Of Wednesday, nor at
all yesterday. Although his private score
tary, Mr.. Francis H. Whitney, expressed
the belief. echoed by the family Of the Post
master General, that Mr.. Paynes condition
was not such as to cause apprehension for
his life, the statement of DIR. Magruder was
SO carefully phrased, yet SO blunt as to
cause alarm on the part of friends of the
Postmaster General.
Relatives Summoned.
Immediately 1t was known that Mr. Payne
was so Ill his sister, Mrs. w. S. Cameron
Of jamestown, N. Y, and his niece, Miss
Louise Jones, who is in Milwaukee. and
who has made her home with Mr.. and Mrs.
Payne for long periods, were sent for.
Later Secretary Shaw called at the resi-
dence but the condition of the patient was
such that no visitors were admitted to his
rooms. Drs Magruder and Rixey were in
attendance upon him until they had over
come the immediate danger, and then left
instructions that any excitement might SO
aggravate the disease that fatal results
would follow.
fatal termination may come at any time or
recovery may be rapid, though this is gen.
orally merely superficial feature and not
reliable. Mrs. Payne is in condition bor-
seriousness of her husbands illness and
herself requires constant attention,