The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-23
GOVERNOR
JOHNSON
Is DEAD
End Comes Peacefully to Dis
tinguished Patient
DEVOTED WIFE At BEDSIDE
Brightens Last Moments Of HeI
Husbands Life.

Rochester, Mimi, Sept. 21.-Gov
ernor John A. Johnson died at 3:2:
o'clock this morning.
Life quietly slipped away and in it!
wake there remained but the sorrow
of great state, the infinite grief of Z
. devoted and courageous wife and the
thoughts of what greatness to which
his career might have expanded had
not it been so sadly brought to q
close
Until death came, he was quite con
scious, his firm, resolute mind fully
cognizant of the approaching end apt
meeting it with the clear equanimity
which so characterized his active life
AS the shortening hours passed by
the governor remained tranquil despite
the mental anguish which he must
have endured. Knowing quite wei
that which he could not avert, he lay
quietly in his bed, waiting.
With him during the last hours were
Mrs. Johnson, Frank A. Day, Doctors
Mayo, Dr. Charles F. McNevin, Miss
Margaret Sullivan, Miss Jammie, head
nurse of the hospital, and Miss Schil.
ler, the governors night nurse. All
the hospital attaches were those who
had guarded him as best they might
since the operation nearly week ago
and who had ministered to him SO
vigilantly.
Through the evening and the early
morning Mrs. Johnson remained tire
lessly beside him, giving the solace
which only she could give. She held
his hand almost constantly, and at in
tervals bathed both of them with al
hohol. Although none could ever
know how she suffered, she cheered
the governor when his spirits drooped
lowest. Although her husband seemed
quite
Aware Of the Great Weakness
which was gradually flooding over
him and it's import, Mrs. Johnson de-
clined to allow the physicians to tell
him the time had arrived when there
was no hope. Steadfast at mis- bed
side she stayed, repressing her own
grief in order that she might ease the
last moments for her husband.
When death touched the still figure,
DR.. Will Mayo led Mrs. Johnson away
to an adjoining room. where Miss Sui
Hyan gave those comforts 80 needed
to dull the widows grief.
And so came the end to a states
governor, who was so deeply in.
trenched in the peoples confidence.
esteem and love.
Governor Johnson's trouble, which
had it's fatal termination Tuesday
morning, began ten years ago. AT
that time he was operated on for ap-
pendicitis and the operation was not
entirely successful. Two subsequent
operations were performed. but both
were unsuccessful in restoring him
to his usual health and vigor. Final
ly the last operation was decided up
on as the governor had been feeling
poorly for several months. That Gov
I ernor Johnson did not regard the
operation as dangerous was evidenced
when he declined to settle his per-
sonal affairs at the suggestion of his
secretary, Frank A. Day.
After the governor had been operat.
ed on and examined an old abscess
was found that had left fistula in his
abdomen that was removed as we'll as
the hernia that was the primary
cause of the operation. 1t is said
that the operation was one OF the
most difficult ever performed by the
Doctors Mayo. it requiring nearly
three hours time. The prolonged ex-
posure and disturbance of the intes.
tines caused unusual gas accumula.
tions, which caused a distension of
the abdomen, excruciating pains and
sapped the vitality.
ONE pessimists say that oppor-
~ tunity for the American boy
has passed. but the career Of
the late John A. johnson. gov