Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-16
Minnesota Executive Nay
Not Survive His
Operation.
ONE CRISIS AT 3 A. n.
Surgeons Reported to Have
Found Worse Conditions
Than Anticipated. 4

Rochester, Mimi, Sept. 16. - The
noon bulletin says Johnson's condition
is not quite so good and that he is
suffering considerable pain.
Near Death at 3 A. NJ.
St Paul, Mimi. Sept. 16-Although
the night was one of anxiety at the
bedside of Governor Johnson in st.
Mary's hospital at Rochester, the
morning reports received here indicate
his condition is much more hopeful.
From the bulletin issued by DR.. Mayo
at 9 o'clock today it was learned that
at , O'Clock this morning Governor
Johnson was in precarious condition.
This fact was not given out at the
time. AT $50 the governors condition
was much improved.
Better in Morning.
Rochester, Mimi, Sept. 16.-Dr.
Mayo gave out a bulletin at sac
this morning that in spite of a rest
less night Governor Johnson's condi-
ton was much improved Every hope
is entertained for his recovery.
Rests Well Mt IL A. NJ.
At II a. m the hospital issued a
bulletin to the effect that johnson was
resting easy and his condition was
satisfactory.
Condition Critical.
Rochester, Mimi, Sept. 16.-Gov.
Lob IaI 1f ;c in,
critical condition following an opera
ton performed on him by Drs. William
J. and Charles Mayo yesterday morn.
ing
At nine o'clock last night Dr. Nevin.
house physician of St. Mary's hospital
in which the state executive now is ly
ing. gave out the following statement:
Very poor condition; pulse irregu-
lar and fast; temperature subnormal.
Rallies After Bad Spell.
The operation had in view the re-
| moval of intestinal adhesions, presum-
ed to have been left from previous
operations. The governor went under
the influence of anesthetics at S:35
a. m. and remained Hereunder for
| three hours.
| An investigation of the governor 3
lower intestines by the surgeons re-
veaed a fistula, left by an old abscess.
This added to the gravity OF his condi-
ton and he kept under the influence
of drugs longer than anticipated.
witnessing Doctors Fear Outcome.
A number of physicians witnessed
the operation. some of whom were
from ST Paul. and it is known that in
conversations over the telephone with
friends in st. Paul they intimated that
lGovernor Johnson's condition was
considered grave.
DR.. H. H. Witherstein of this city. a
state senator. is known to have given
the governors private secretary,
Frank A. Day, gloomy view of the
case. saying ii was lone of the most ter
rible operations of the kind he had
ever Witnessed
| Others have expressed similarly pes
simistic opinions.
Long Quest for Health.
The return of Mr. Johnson's ailment
is believed to have been due to ex-
cessive activities during the state fair.
He was advised by his physician TO
go under the knife over a month ago
The executive went to Drs. Mayo
first in 1897. when they operated on
him for appendicitis. Only an abscess
Twas found. and the appendix was NOT
lremoved until a second operation In
1901 A third operation was perform
ed in 1908 for intestinal adhesions.
4 This was the most serious of the
three. The conditions were similar
to those of the present operation, and
his condition was then critical.