The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-09-24
STATE MOURNS
Gov. JOHNSON
Minnesota Executive Loses in
His Flight With Geath.
FOUR TIMES UNDER THE KNIFE

In Spite CT the Efforts of Physicians
the Governor Fails to Recover from
the Latest Operation-Was Con-
scious Almost to the Last and Re-
allied That He Was Dying-Mrs.
Johnson Present at the Bedside of
Her Husband to the End.
st. Paul, Sept. 21.-Flags on all pub
lie and many private buildings are
flying at half-mast as a sign of mourn
ing for John A. Johnson, first citizen
of the state, who died at 3:25 a. 10.
in ST. Marys hospital at Rochester.
Funeral arrangements have not
been discussed by Mrs. Johnson at any
time, but it is taken for granted that
the body will lie in state at the capitol
here.
The physicians all through the night
had been making desperate efforts to
prolong his life. The governor suf-
fered with racking cough at short
intervals. The nurses raised him in
bed to give him air.
The governor had been conscious ali
of the night and evidently realized the
end was near A short time before
midnight he said to those gathered in
the sick room:
slime drags on. am so uncom-
Portable" Then he became silent
again.
Caused Mrs. johnson to Faint.
About 40 o'clock a. m. the govern
or fell over on his side on the bed and
they thought him dead. Mrs. Johnson
tainted. The governor was, however,
brought to momentarily. Mrs. john
son was also revived. From this time
he sank slowly until the end came.
The end came with Mrs. Johnson at
his bedside. 1t followed week of in
tense suffering after the operation the
patient underwent at ST. Mary's hospi-
tai.
This was the fourth time Mr.. john
son had been under the knife. The
first operation took place twelve years
ago. At the second some time later.
the governors appendix was removed.
Two succeeding operations including
the one just performed, were for ab-
dominal adhesions.
The governor was conscious almost
to the last and realized that he was
dying. y 8 s. % zr,., :. = -f'S 4
Begins Sinking Rapidly at 8.
The governor began sinking rapidly
at 8 o'clock at night and after that 1t
was felt there was little hope of his
surviving the night. .sss
At that time the doctors stated that
the governor was in a weakened con-
dition, and while they still expressed
hope of his recovery, they announced
that death at any time would not oc-
casion surprise.
The broth given the governor early
the previous day was administered as
last resort. SO weakened had he be-
come from lack of nourishmeat that
his physician determined that 1t was
better to run the chance of the nour-
ishment disagreeing with him than
permit him to remain longer without
food of any kind.
Never in State of Coma.
1t was regarded as possible that his
dangerous condition was the result Of
inability to digest the chicken BROTH
There were no regrets, however, as it
was practically certain he could not
have endured longer without food.
Six or seven years ago when the
Mayos performed the operation for ap-
pendicitis for four days following the
operation they did not think the gov
erfor could live, but his wonderful VI
tally pulled him through.
Mr.. Johnson had not been in state
of coma at any time since the last
operation In the last few days he
was drowsy at times, but when his
wrist was touched to get his pulse he
opened his eyes and looked at the doc
tors with understanding eyes.