The sun., 1919-09-27
President Breaks Down and
Is Unable to Speak at
Wichita.
CONFINED TO HIS BED
Special Train Is Speeding
to Washington by Short
est Route.
rs DUE THERE TOMORROW
Had Not Recovered Fully From
Influenza Which Seized
Him in Paris.
Is DUE THERE TOMORROW
By star Correspondent o, THE sur.

By star Correspondent Of THE suN.
KANSAS CRY, Sept. 26.-Threat-
ened by a nervous breakdown and
serious complications Of illness, the
President is speeding toward Wash
ington, his tour suddenly abandoned
at Wichita, Kan, this morning. He
will arrive at the capital at A NJ.
Sunday after one of the fastest long
runs ever made by q special train
The United States Railroad Admin
istration has swept all obstructions
from the right of way, from Wichita
to Washington, and the orders are for
speed.
The Presidents physician, Rear
Admiral Cary Il. Grayson, told the
reporters that haste was imperative,
for the reason that the President
must have the benefit Immediately
Of tranquil rest and proper medica-
tion. This he can get only in the
absolute seclusion Of the White
House.
I DR.. Grayson did not pretend to
issue dogmatic diagnosis. He hopes
that the Presidents illness, which was
very acute this morning, may be tenn
porary only and that overtaxed
nerves and weakened stomach may
respond quickly to complete rest and
the accompanying medical treatment.
A continuation of the tour in
the Presidents debilltated condition
might have had serious consequences,
he said.
Condition Not Alarming.
The Presidents attaches asked the
press to emphasize the fact that
there was nothing in his condition to
nlarm the public. They represented
him as very tired man whose over
strained nerves reacted upon his
stomach. They believe that rest will
restore him swiftly and that he will
be able to fulfil his engagements for
October, which include reception to
the King and Queen of the Belgians
and the opening of the Industrial Con
ference. They anticipate that a short
rest will enable him to resume his
efforts for an unqualified treaty and
league Of. nations
On the advice of DR.. Grayson
Joseph Z. Tumuity, private secretary
to the President, cancelled all the
Presidents engagements for the i'm
mediate future.
Late this afternoon as the Presi-
dental special slid along the Kaw
River toward this city one of
the Presidents travelling companions
sought official information from the
Presidents own cook:
boy, how is the Presidents ap-
petite?"
"He suttenly made fine lunch, sab ="
which was taken without any further
corroboration from Dr. Grayson to in
dicate that the President was feeling
a little better already.
First Attack In San Francisos.
Nervous exhaustion affecting diges-
ton manifested itself at San Francisco
on September Is, but DR.. Grayson
thinks some OF the trouble may be
traced back to a light attack OF in
fuenza which the President suffered in
Paris six months ago. The news OF
this illness was not given fully to the
public. but it is now admitted that the
President passed through three days
OF fever. pain and nausea, and that his
recovery from the attack was followed
by an irritation in the bronchial tract
which has held on persistently, with
soreness, intermittent huskiness of
voice and cough. Weeks ago, at the
outset of the trip to the Pacific coast
DR.. Grayson spoke somewhat appre-
hensively OF this bronchial trouble
though the President regarded It
lightly.
In the first two weeks of the tour
the President was unusually vigorous
In fact, no positive let down was per-
ceptible TO his travelling companions
until last night. He carried himself
alertly, his cheeks were ruddy, his eyes
were bright, his voice was strong. and
all seemed weh. Nothing seemed to
be the matter with his nerves. Wher-
ever he went he received congratula-
tions upon his healthy appearance. He
seemed to be full OF pep
Worn Out by the Strain.
DR.. Grayson said from time to time
that. the President was very tired after