Evening star., 1923-08-03

ana fever. In spite OF his illness he
insisted on putting through his pro-
gram of speaking in Vancouver and
Seattle. He had considerable difi-
seattle because of weakness and pain.
because of this he was persuaded to
| come directly to San Francisco. and
arrived at the Palace Hotel Sunday
! morning. July 2S. He dressed and
walked to the automobile from the
| train. Sunday evening a consulta-
tlon was called because his tempera-
ture mad risen to 102 and his pulse
ana respiration were abnormally
rapid. The abdominal difficulty had
! Dy this time become localized in the
gan bladder region. but there was a
general texemia with fever and
leucocytesis. A central broncho- -pneu-
monia soon developed on the left side.
latory collapses and cold sweats and
an irregular pulse. Most disturbing
| OF all was the rapid and irregular
breathing, suggestive OF arterio-
scierosis of the brain vessels in the
; region of the respiratory center.
Under treatment marked improve
ment in the pneumonia and circula
| tory disturbances took place, and
| Thursday. August .. he was free from
fever and pain; the acute lung con-
dition was practically gone. He was
| resting comfortably in bed and con-
versing with Mrs. Harding and Gen.
sawyer when he died instantaneous
ly: without word or groan.
! We all believe he died from apo
plexy or a rupture of a blood vessel
in the axis of the brain near the
respiratory centers. His death came
| after recovery from the acute illness
was in process. 1t might have oc-
Cured at any time. One Of his sis
/ terS died suddenly in the same man
&C. f. SAWYER. ND
| RAY LYMAN WILBUR. NJ D.
! &C. N. COOPER. NJ. D.
u. T. BOONE. VI. D.
! HUBERT WORK. NJ d.
| Hastily summoned members of the
! Presidents party. led by Secretary
! Hoover, had hardly left the room
which now had become a death cham
/ ber before the cry Of newsboys call
| ing the extras rose from the streets
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
/ ton calmly.
Secretary Hoover left the room just
/ before the news of the Presidents
death was announced, and in answer
| to inquiries from a small group OF
newspaper men. said:
| Boys, / can't tell you a :aing.
| He spoke in voice that was
choked and his expression denoted
deep and sudden grief. Quickly after
/ the first announcement was made the
! corridors at the Presidents suite be-
came filled, nearby with members OF
! the Presidents official party. and
! farther away with newspaper men
/ and others. mostly city. state and
federal officials, who had heard of the
news.
| Hotel officials. among the first TO
: whom word of the tragic event was
given. Immediately had the great blu .
! presidential flag with it's gold seal of
the United States hauled down and
| then raised again 10 half-staff.
Dance Stops.
j A minute or two later an assist
ant manager rushed into the Rose
Bowl room, where a dinner dance
was in progress. raised a hand and
stopped the orchestra's playing. An
! nouncement of the death of the
their gay dress a sad contrast to their
expressions of gravity. gathered into
little groups, obtained their wraps
and departed.
Some guests, more curious than their
fellows, gathered in groups at the
ends of the corridors leading to the
! presidential rooms and stared down
! the Railways at the screens which
| shut of the view of the suite where
! the forty-ninth President of the
| United States lay silent in death
! Several minutes of the Presidents
| last quarter of an hour alive were
devoted, as had been much Of his
life, to childhood and it's interests.
| Two little girls came to the Presi-
Dental suite just before O'Clock
| with flowers, seeking to present them
to the President
| Mrs. Harding, who shares the Pres
! idents lifelong love of children, gra
ciously came from the sick room to
speak a word to the two tots. and az
| cepted their gift. Returning TO the
= President, she took with her few
I of the blossoms, and these were in
| the room few minutes later when
| he died.
Even after the President was dead
| the kilograms which have been COM
| ing ever since his illness, all express
! ing hopes for his recovery, or grati-
! fication that he had made such salts
| factory progress, were continuing to
A minute or two after his death, a
| messenger brought in large bundle
/ of them.
Several of the state and national
figures. who hurried to the presiden-
tial suite to express their sympathy
and leave condolences. later issued
formal statements on the Presidents
death.