The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-09

Turner, N. r., September s.-Edward H. based on the assertion today of the two men closest to him outside of his imme- diate family. His medical adviser, Dr. William G. Lyle said so this morning and reiterated it late this afternoon. His spiritual adviser, the Rev. J. Holmes Me Guinness, made the assertion in almost the same language after visiting the sick man personally during the afternoon. How far MT. Hartman has improved and the precise state of his health is still a matter of conjecture and the subject of a succession of alarming rumors.
 The official information from the Harri- man residence today utterly failed to quiet these reports, and there seems to be some ground for the persistent, if un- confirmed, reports that he had suffered a second slight attack of indigestion yes- terday and that pr. Lyle's reassuring statement at midnight referred to his improvement from this second seizure. There is no doubt that MT. Harriman's recent condition has been desperate. Evi- dence of this was furnished today by two
 
 from Tower Hill this evening to be re- turned to the men in New York. That these tanks will be recurrent and that they must grow increasingly ominous is the belief of even those who have no immediate fear for his life and profess to consider reports published in New Yokr as exaggerated.
 Doctors Statement.
 Dr. Lyles first statement today came in his own handwriting in response to a note delivered to him at Arden house at about Ii o clock this morning. requesting more definite information. This reply read:
 ..Mr Hartman Is better.
 (Sgned) w. G. LYLE" Conjecture was thus lulled only for a few hours.
 In the afternoon alarming rumors. origi- mating, some In Wall street and some from sources unknown. poured in upon the newspaper men at Turner and Arden until o'clock, when Dr. Lyle again was called on the telephone. The most start ling report of them all was then repeated to him:
 Tt is said in New York that MT Harri- man is dead
 Those reports are not true,' replied Dr. Lyle. MT Hartman Is better to- day"
 His assurances were qualified in the minds of many, however. by visit paid to Arden house by Mrs. Mary SimOnds, Mir. Harriman's sister, who lives in Gen. Ire Valley at the foot of the mountain. A week ago, when Mrs. Simonds was asked to confirm or deny a rumor that her brother was dying. she replied:
 If he were dying do you think l should al f1nV
 visit Indicates Nothing.
 Tonight a. member of the Simonds fam lily was asked if the sisters visit indi- cated any change for the worse. The re- ply was: No, quite the contrary
 The Rev. J. Holmes McGuinness Is the young rector of the Episcopal parish of which MT. Hartman is member AS pastor of St. Johns church at Arden he has long enjoyed the confidence of the Hartman family, and by those who com pare the millionaire's broad acres here to a baronial estate. he is sometimes referred to as MT. Harriman's chaplain.
 Alarmed by the morning papers, pr. McGuinness drove to Arden house to- day. On his way he told the newspaper men he had no first hand information from Tower Hill. He spent two hours with the Hartman family. and was not seen in the valley again until he drove horne between and o'clock this after noon. Reluctant to discuss his visit. he yield ed when told that an erroneous interpre- tation might be placed upon his call if followed by absolute silence and asked:
 You tell me pr. Lyle asserts that MT. Hartman is betterT'
 The signed statement was repeated to him.
 "Well,' he replied, "you can quote me as saving that MT. Hartman is better.
 Anything further for publication he re- fused.
 Oxygen Tanks.
 The two oxygen tanks which appeared on the platform at Arden station late this afternoon were labelled oxygen for medical purposes"
 The station agent said the tanks were empty and had been sent down rom Tower Hill to be returned to the manu- facturer.
 Employees of the estate asserted today that MT. HArrimAn's wife and his children Wero koeping close indoors. Although the