The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-03
THOUGHT THAT THE END
HAD COME FOR PAYNE.
me Postmaster General, However,
Rallied Somewhat.


Rallied Somewhat.
Washington, Oct. AFTER a bad
night in which his condition continued
extremely grave, Postmaster General
Payne had sinking spell at 5 o'clock
this morning. DR.. Grayson was at his
bedside and rallied the patient, but a
second spell occurred about Z o'clock.
which was so severe that DR.. Gray
son summoned DR.. Magruder. The two
physicians employed heroic measures
Tor an hour. For a while it was fear
ed the end was imminent but the heart
action finally responded gratifyingly.
About 10 o'clock DR.. Osler arrived from
Baltimore. He and DR.. Rixey Joined
Drs. Magruder and Grayson in a con-
sultation and at 10:45 o'clock the fol-
lowing bulletin was issued:
During the night the action of the
heart has been very weak. This morn
ing there is some Improvement, but
the conditions are not so favorable as
yesterday. (Signed) "Osler.
"Rixey.
"Magruder."
Another sinking spell occurred about
noon, followed by rally. Shortly aft
er o'clock the relatives, who were at
luncheon in the apartments downstairs,
were summoned to the sick room, and
moment later Rev. DIR. Smith, rector
OF st. Johns Episcopal Church, arrived
at Mr.. Payne's bedside, when short
prayers were had. This aroused the
oraWaCf q ~ -
ed that Mr.. Payne had sinking spell
and that the minister was called at
the request Of Mrs. Payne when she
reached her husbands bedside.
The physicians resorted to stimu-
lants and restoratives and again the
heart action yielded to treatment. The
bulletin subsequently issued showed
the remarkable rallying power of the
sick man. and momentarily relieved
the tension so strongly felt through
out the day, but the fear of a recur-
renee of the sinking spells still re-
manned. The bulletin follows:
$3.50 p. m.-The Postmaster Cen
erals condition is still very grave He
has been resting quietly most of the
time to-day, but has had several sink
ing spells. The heart action has re-
sponded to the remedies and is better
now. Signed "Magruder.
GraySon.
1t was stated that Mr.. Payne knew
what nourishment he was taking and
spoke to the doctor about it. After
at one time got UP to go out of the
room, when Mr.. Payne called to her
and requested her to remain.
President Roosevelt called about
o'clock this afternoon and had a talk
with the attending physicians, gain
ing from them an accurate knowledge
of Mr.. Paynes condition at that time.
1t was found necessary to-day to
administer the heart remedies in lar
ger doses than upon any previous day.
1t was stated that Mr.. Payne ear
lier in the day had had some trou-
BILE in breathing and that at times he
would cry out because of difficulty
to get his breath. Private Secretary
Whitney gave out a statement timed
430 o. M, saying:
Postmaster General conscious and
takes nourishment readily. Decided
Improvement in last hour"
There was another consultation Just
after dusk. and the following was sub
sequently issued by Doctors Magruder
and Grayson:
"6:45 p. m.-within the last two
hours the Postmaster General has
shown marked improvement, has rec
ognized every one around him, and has
taken nourishment with his own hand.
Heart acting much better"
The physicians added that he had
asked for something to eat and that
when it was given to him he retain
ed it. They spoke optimistically of
his improvement, saying he appeared
better and stronger. At o'clock 1t
was announced that his favorable con-
dition continued. DR.. Osler, at Bal
timore, then decided that he would
not return here until o'clock to-mor-
row morning.
Washington, Oct. 3.-At 1890 o'clock
this morning, DIR. Magruder Said that
the improvement in Mr.. Payne's heart
action continued and that his general
condition is better. Though he slept
peacefully between 8 and II O'Clock
in the evening, he later grew somewhat
restless and moaned repeatedly as If
his sleep troubled him.
At 2 a. m. DR.. Magruder, on leaving
the sick room, reported that Mr..
Payne's improvement continued and
that, If the rate of improvement con-
tinued during the night, the bulletin
in the morning would doubtless be
gratifying. He said the Postmaster
General was retaining his nourishment
and had had no sinking spells during
the evening. When he awoke from
his sleep, which was necessarily 1T
full. he was able to recognize those
about him. DR.. Magruder added that