River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-23
BRAVE MAN FINALLY LOSES IN
HIS LONG, GRIM BATTLE
WITH THE ANGEL OF
DEATH.
END CAME QUIETLY AT
3:25 THIS MORNING
In the Presence of His Devoted Wife
and Faithful Friends at His
Bedside, He Dies Without
Regaining Conscious
ness,

Rochester, Sept. 81. - Governor
Johnson died at 1925 a. N. Since mid
night his death had been expected, but
2:30 the thread of life still held,
and it began to look again as if his
remarkable vitality would hold him up
till daylight. He fingered thus till
1925 when, still unconscious, the brave
heart gave last flicker and the tor
tured body gave up the ghost.
His wife, and few old friends were
at the bedside, and Frank Day and
Fred Lynch were held in an ante room
awaiting the dread summons.
At 3 o'clock yesterday the governor
was as well as he had been at any
time since the operation performed
Wednesday. Suddenly he began to
fail, and by o'clock his condition had
become SO bad that DR.. M. J. Mayo
announced that the end was approach
ing.
Two hours later it was predicted
that he would not live beyond mid
night. He fell then into a semi-com-
atose condition, in which he lowered
for the rest of the night. Midnight
passed, and / o'clock, and 2, and he
still lived.
There was none so brave, however,
as to hold out hope. 1t was thought
he might live till drawn, he might
linger at deaths door even longer; but
before this day is we'll upon it's way
the doctors were assured he would
have crossed the threshold of that por-
tai, and the state and the nation would
be in mourning.
The bulletins of the afternoon and
evening tell the solemn story of the
governors decline. They follow in
the order in which they were given
out:
3 p. m.-Dr. Charles Mayo at 8
o'clock said: 1.-The governor is not
dying. He was in as good condition
an hour ago as on Sunday. This
hour, however, is the turning point.
If he grows much weaker then you
can say he is dying. Frank Day tele-
phoned at o'clock, and we informed
him that the critical time had arrived.
Governor Johnson realizes his weak
I don't feel as strong as I did this
morning Last night we confidently
expected that the governor would live.
The bulletins pointed this way. To-
night alone can tell"
$3.50 p. m.-The governor is slightly
nauseated, is restless and weak. He
is not dying. He may rally, as he did
foIy .icI1r nj
He dozed for about Is minutes while
ago. What he needs is sleep.
p. m.-Pulse 1872, temperature 100,
respiration very hurried, 38. Progress
sively growing weaker; condition is
now extremely grave. DR.. William
Mayo has been summoned from his
farm ten miles out.
p. m.-Pulse 1876, temperature
1905, respiration SO. Not so we'll to-
night DR.. Will and DR.. Charles Mayo
have just returned from 80 minutes
consultation in the sick room. The
governor is entirely conscious, but
very weak and not picking up. 81
would not say he is going to die, but
I'll admit he has not an even chance"
said DR.. Will Mayo. This is not a
sinking SPELL nor is it a bad attack.
The patient is simply weak, and the
next few hours will tell the tale"
This is not like the two other real
sinking spells, but a wearing out.
He is not a bit comatose. Has re-
tanned some nourishment during the
past hour.
$50 p. m.-Pulse 1873, respiration
| SO. The governor is still conscious,
but he has failed rapidly in the past
| half hour. The wound is clean.
z p. m.-The governor has been
sinking rapidly in the last 40 minutes.
DR.. William Mayo says he does not
expect him to live more than two
hours. He may live longer, but the
chances are only one in ten.
s o. m.-Dr. Beckman of Minneapo.
lis has just left the hospital. He said
he had just seen the governor and he
was still conscious but very weak
The governor recognized him. eff the
governor dies / think it will be along
| toward morning" he said. HE is not
taking nourishment, but they have not
given him any artificial stimulants."
SIS p. MFRS. Johnson has just
sent down the following piteous ap
peal: Mrs. Johnson sends this mes
sage: She wants all of Governor
Johnson's people to pray for hin
now"
10 p. m.-Frank Day, the governors
private secretary, and Fred P. Lynch
of st. Paul, Democratic national com
mitteeman, have just arrived. They
were met at the depot by j. w. Kohl
er, who hurried them to the hospita
in his automobile.
1915 p. m.-The governor is drop
ping into a state of Inconsistencies