The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-03


 The suddenness with which the end; came, was shown by that fact that only Mrs Harding and the two nurses, Ruth PoWderly and Sue Daus- ser were in the room at the time. Mrs. Harding. with her characteristic faithfulness and constant tenderness, was reading to the President at the time.
 Then without a warning a slight shudder passed through the frame of the chief executive. he collapsed and the end came. Immediately the indt- cations of distress showed them selves. Mrs. Harding ran to the door and called for Lieutenant Commander Boone and for the other doctors to come quickly.
 Mrs. Harding Brave.
 It was announced in an official statement issued at S:32 D. m. that Mrs Harding had withstood the shock of her husbands death and continued to be the bravest mem Der of the group" Her first words, when she realized the President had died were; T am not going to break down"
 The statement said:
 Mrs. Harding, who from the be- | ginning of the Presidents illness had expressed confidence in his re- covery, did not break down. On the other hand she continued as from the beginning, the bravest member of the group.
 When it was realized that the President had actually passed away she turned to those in the room whose concern had turned to fear, and said; 1 am not going to break down."
 Only Drs Sawyer and Boone. the chlet and assistant physicians, were able to reach the room before the nations leader passed away They were powerless to do anything. Brave in the fact of the Presi- dents illness. Mrs Harding remained brave in realization of his death, and did not break down.
 o O O
 Shock to San Francisco. General John J. PershinG, accom- panied by Rear Admiral Hugh Rod man, retired, Mayor James Rolph, of san Francisco, and Supervisor Angelo Rossi passed into the Presidents room at S:45 p. m.
 The news of Presidents Hardings death swept through his hotel and out of San Francisco with almost electrical suddenncSs Hotel officials among the first to whom word of the tragic event was given, immediately had the great blue presidential flag with it's gold seal of the United States hauled down and then rhised again 1 to half mast A minute or two later an assistant manager rushed into the rose bowl room, where dinner dance was in progress, raised d hand and stopped the orchestra playing. An nouncement of the death of the exc cutiVe followed and the dancers, their | gay dress, sad contrast to their cx- pressions of gravity, gathered in lit- l tie groups, obtained their wraps and | departed.
 The news spread from lip to lip. l some guests, more curious than their 1 fellows, gathered in groups at the ! ends of corridors leading to the Pres 1 ident's rooms and stared down the 1 railways at the screens which shut | tWenty-ninth President of the Unit 1 ed States lay, silent in death. Q. Cabinet Officers Present. | Cabinet officers, headed hy Score l tary Hoover of the commerce depart- ment, hastened up and down the halL | haStening to express their coudoI- ences to Mrs. Harding or hurrying ! back for nasty conferences among themselves or with other govern ment officials.
 Lieutenant Commander Joel r. l Boone. assistant physician To The l President hurried up from down. | stairs, when newspaper man had
 found him in response to Mrs Hard- ing's frantic appeals.
 Rumors began to fly about. each 1 wilder than it's predecessors. and ali
 denied soon after by official bulIe- tins which Were issued us rapidly
 as the executive officials could as-
 certain the facts and type them on paper to steadily increasing crowd of newspaper men which torouecd
 the corridors and ~oneestod door
 
 The shock Of the Presidents death struck Inc city with dumbucss. ! Newspapers whose entire front pages were devoted t3 half d dc zau words telltn.. ibe news or which had been rushed from the press too fast for more than picture and the phrase . "Hardtus Gead,' circulated like