Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-04
WIFE At BEDSIDE
READING To PATIENT
WHEN END COMES
Continued from Page u

NOONGu1ucu ITViiI age ~
family at 1870. Death was apparent
ly due to some brain evolvement.
probably apoplexy.
During the day he had been free
from discOm' trt and there was ev-
cry jus-i fcaticn for anticipating a
prompt recovery.
"(Signed)
&C. E. SAWYER, M. =.
RAY LYMAN WILBUR, M. ..
&c. M. COOPER. M. D.
~. T. BOONE, NJ. D.
HUBERT WORK, M. D.
This was followed by a second
bulletin which made the flat an
nouncement that death was due to
apopuexy and that Mrs. Harding,
General Sawyer and the two nurses
were in the room at the time.
News Flashed Over World
One of the Associated Press repre-
sentatives, who have been on watch
ever since the president was brought
TO San Francisco last Sunday morn
ing, heard Mrs. Harding's appeal
for the doctors, saw the secret serv-
ice man hurry down the hall in
search of DR.. Boone, and at 1923
o'clock sent bulletin travelling
over the wires to all parts of the
country telling of the call for the
physicians and then followed with
bulletins giving more details of what
was occurring in the vicinity Of the
presidential suite. Thus newspaper
editors were aware Of something inn
pending full twenty-five minutes be-
fore the announcement of death was
made
When the death announcement
was made it was flashed to all parts
of the nation by the Associated
Press by telegraph and telephone,
and to the most distant parts Of the
world by cable and radio. THIS it
was that newspapers were on the
streets in New York with announce
ment of the passing Of the republics
chief before it became at all gen.
orally known about the hotel.
The announcement was followed
momentarily- by confusion in the
vicinity of the presidential suite, but
soon the trained members of the ex.
cutive staff took charge, the ply
sicians conferred and later issued
their detailed statement as to the
cause of death and the cabinet
members meeting together decided
upon and submitted to Mrs. Har-
ding for approval the plans for the
return trip to Washington.
Messages were dispatched telling
of the sad news to George B. Chris
tan, Jr., the presidents secretary,
who had gone to Los An eles to
speak for the president at knights
Templar meeting, to the other cabi-
net members, and to Calvin Coolidge,
the vice president, who early today
took the oath Of office at his home
in Plymouth, VT, and became the
head of the nation.
Influenza Attack Recalled
The detailed statement by the ply
sicians described the changes in the
presidents physical condition, dat
ing from last spring, when the presl-
dent following a long period OF
overwork and great strain, was con-
fined to his bed with an attack of
influenza. This attack was more
serious than the general public ever
realized, and its effects had not
been entirely dissipated when the
present trip was started in June de-
spite the five weeks vacation spent
in Florida and Georgia in March and
early April.
The president, it was revealed, had
been subject to some attacks OF
abdominal pains and indigestion, and
there had for some time been evil
dences of arterio- scleloSis, enlarge
ment of the heart and defective ac-
ton of the kidneys. The statement
then recited that the executive had
suffered an acute gastro-lntestlnal
attack associated with abdominal
pain and fever on the return trip
from Alaska and told HON he had
insisted on going through with ms
progFam in Vancouver, British Co
lumbi4, week ago Thursday, and
statement then told Of the cancella-
ton of the proposed trip into the
Yosemite, of his arrival here Sun
day morning, and traced his vary
ing condition during the week.
"Most disturbing Of ALL" it said,
"was the rapid and irregular breath
ing suggestive of arterio- sclerosis of
the brain vessels in the region OF
the respiratory center"
The physicians reviewed the favor
able conditions existing just prior
to the apoplectiv attack, and con-
Guided by saying:
"He was resting comfortably IN
bed and conyersing with Mrs. Har-
ding and General Sawyer when he
died simultaneously without word
or a groan."
Mrs. Harding Is Calm
Hastily summoned members OF
the presidents party, led by Secre-
tary Hoover, had hardly left the
room which now had become death
chamber before the cry of news
boys calling the extras rose from
the streets far below.
Mingled with these calls was heard
the soft crying of woman. 1t was
not Mrs. Harding, though, for as
much as she desired to give express
sion to the greatest grief that can
come to a woman, she met the situa'
ton calmly. Secretary Hoover was
the first of the four members of the
presidents official family, who were
in the city, to reach the side Of the
president after his death.
He was followed by Secretary Wal
lace and then by Secretary Work
and finally by Attorney. General