The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-09-22
JOhNsON'S DEATH
MOURNfD BY STATE
Public Activities in Minnesota
Abandoned When School
Bell Tolls
New Executive Born in Sweden
and Was Formerly a MINI
lister of the Gospel

ST. PAUL. Mimi, Sept 21.-One OF
the most remarkable tributes ever
paid to the memory of public man
in. Minnesota was accorded to the late
Governor John A. Johnson today.
From the hour that the governors
death was first publicly announced by
the tolling of a, school bell in Roch-
ester, all public activities were aban-
doned.
Governor Johnson's body was es-
corted to the special train by
life. On the train were Mrs. Johnson.
few of her personal friends. state Of
ficers and friends of the late governor.
AS the cortege passed down the street
leading TO tihDstation the escort lined
up on either side with barred heads
and the hundreds of people around
the depot showed like respect.
Mayor Thompson had proclaimed it
a day of public mourning The mayor
and councilmen acted pail bearers
All the way along the route to st.
Paul flags were at half mast and
buildings draped with crepe. A touch
ing feature was the appearance of a
large number of school children lined
up along the platforms, each provided
with the national colors.
Body Lies in State
The train was met in ST. Paul by de-
tachments of all the local companies
of the national guard and an escort of
police Despite a heavy downpour of
rain a great crowd was out. The body
was taken to the state capitol. escort
ed by militia, and placed in the ro
tunda, where it will lie in state until
tomorrow afternoon. Four commits
stoned officers of the national guard,
four sergeants, four corporals and four
privates Were assigned to stand guard.
Tomorrow afternoon Rev. F. j. Law
less, chaplain of the governors staff,
will conduct services in the capitol.
Thursday the body will be taken to
ST. Peter, where final services Will be
held in the Presbyterian church.
81 Made a Good Fight"
ROCHESTER,, Mimi, Sept. FL
After battling against death for al
most a week the governors life had
Grouped about his bedside when the
end came were Mrs. Johnson, Miss
Sullivan, her personal friend, the at
tending physicians and two nurses.
The last thing Governor Johnson did
before 1apsing into unconsciousness.
one and half hours before his death,
was TO take his wifes hand and weakly
whisper: Well, Nora, 1 made good
fight, but / guess I've got to 60.
Then. as the last CLEAN of Intelligence
began to flicker, he pressed her hand
gently to his cheek in a parting caress.
Governor Johnson's life hung con-
tinually in the balance until the end
came SO frequently did his condition
change. alternately for better and then
fo~ hot his r1Vcfcianc
hopeful, but none too optimistic, were
able to say at no time since the opera
ton was performed that the governor
had more than an even chance for his
life.
DR.. w. J. Mayo stated that there were
no traces of blood poisoning and that
the immediate cause of death was ex-
haustion and heart failure
Sympathy From .aft
LIMON, Colo. Sept. 2I.-President
Taft today sent the following telegram:
Mrs. H. A. johnson. Rochester. MINI: Ny
heart goes out in sympathy to those bereft In
national figure of great ability and great
capacity for usefulness TO his country, he had
already demonstrated and his loss will be felt
far beyond the state that loved him so well.
sincerely hope that the fond remembrance in
which he is and always will be held in Mime
sofa and elsewhere and the record Of his high
and valued public service may q boon
to YOU and your children in your sorrow and may
in time tighten the burden you called
upon to bear. W. h. TAFT.
The president also made the follow
ing statement:
The death of Governor Johnson is great
shock and fills me with personal sorrow and
with deep sympathy for the people of Mime
sofa whose favorite son he certainly was. 1t
has been my good fortune to have the pleasantest
though we differed politically, we agreed on a
great many subjects. as had reason to know