Evening journal., 1909-09-21
GOV. JOHNSON
PASSES AWAY
Five Days Of Intense Suffer.
ing Following an Opera
ton
SEVERAL TIMES ELECTED
GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
ROCHESTER,. Mimi. Sept. g.-Governor
John Albert johnson, of Minnesota. last
year candidate for tAe Democratic nom-
ination FOR president Of the United states,
died at ST. Mary's Hospital hero at 3S5
a. m. to-day following an operation for
intestinal trouble. Five days OF intenss
suffering and heroic treatment by his ply
sicians to break up peritonitis complica-
tions had taxed his heart so terribly that
IL could not stand the strain.
Mrs. johnson was at her husbands bed
side for hours before the end and she coll
lapsed completely when he died. She was
carried fIom the room.
The end came peacefully and the execu-
| tive was in full possession OF his facul-
! ties practically up 70 the minute OF death.
The splendid courage OF the governor
and his marvellous fight for life In the
face Of terrible odds proved an insplration
to those who were near him at the end
shortly after midnight, Governor john
son began TO have short lapses OF uncon-
sciousness. AT first they were very brief.
AZ other times his mind was fairly clear.
In the room were Mrs johnson, Miss
Margaret Sullivan, Mrs. Johnaon's bosom
friend. Miss Jamme. head nurse OF ST.
Mary's Hospital, Miss Powderly. a nurse.
and DR. McNevin. Dr. Mayo had been in
and out Of the sick room and the hospital
all night. but was not present at the time
OF Governor Johnson's death.
Just as Governor. johnson was laps
ing into the final period Of uncon-
sciousness at 1.30 a. m, he shook hands
with those present at the bedside and
bade each goodbye The hour prev
ious he had spent in saying goodbye
10 his wife, Al no time did he ask
whether he was going TO live or die
He seemed to ralize the end was near
/, Frank A. Day, the governors Hccre-
tary. who has been almost a constant
companion and counsellor for many
years was in the hospital. but did not
see his chief before he died. Will
Day was Fred b. Lynch. Democratic
- National committeeman. Ho reaches
Rochester about 10 o'clock last might
"a For about an hour beginning shortl
after midnight. Governor Johnso
- talked steadily with his wife.
"I guess TN Foieg. away" he sa
ed 10 her, after ~ pause. v-hela.4k
" wife 70 HIM strolSing her hands a
face.
r.. Il want to sec Fred" he said at Of
time.
ne II was not known whether he NEAR
u his brother Fred. who was not at tn
a hospital at the time. and who was un
- able TO reach there before his brother
death or Fred b. Lynch Lynch wa
, sent for and the two had short con
~ versation. II lasted only a few min.
utos
Then all outsiders were excluded and
4 Mrs. Johnson and her friends were
left with the Governor until the end
a came.
. The announcement Of the Governor 4
death was made by DR. c. r. McNovin
- Immediately after Miss Sullivan with
q Dr. MaNevin were seen to half-carry
Mrs. Johnson out OF the hospital and
TO Dr. William J. Mayo's auto at 33l
= a. m. Watchers asked what Mrs
Johnson's departure meant.
"He died at 3.3S.' said DIR. McNevin
as tears rolled down his cheek. "H
has been a close friend of mine"
Y A few moments lai1r the big bell o
y Central School IN Rochester began Z
peal Forty-eight strokes were tolled-
one for each year OF the Governor
~ life.
ls John A. Johnson was IN every essenhi
TO a self-made man. He was born in ~
o. town Of st. Peter, Mimi, on July 2
ca 1861. OF humble parentage. his father an
ne mother having been Swedish emigrant
nu but the boy managed to get 70 the pul
a. lie schools Of ST. Peter until he was
~ years of age when his father died an
% the care OF his mpther and Nounge
brothers fell on his young shoulders.
e The boy went to work as an erran'
gu boy in the drug store at Sc. Peter and
'e being anxious 20 secure an education
studied during his spare hours and al
~ night
lie saved every penny he could and =
y few years later secured an interest in
y the ST. Peter Herald, becoming its cdi-
4 tor
= Like the majority Of the Swedish
, Americans who have settled in Mime.
= soto young johnson took an interest ir
politics. soon becoming recognized ar
- one OF the leaders OF the Democratt
party I'm ST. Peter. His editorial deal
= ing with matters Of party policy wer
y Continued on Second Page.
d WEATHER.
-. WASHINGTON. Sent. 21-Rains wi