The Alaska daily empire., 1923-08-03

day he had been free from discom- l fort and there was every justifiea- ton for anticipating a prompt re- eoyery.
 Lieutenant Commander J. T. Boone, General Sawyer's assistant 1 said: "The President had had most splendid afternoon, and when l left the room I commented, Doesn't he | look splendid then all at once he went just like that"
 The Commander snapped his ing CTS, just like that he repeated, something just snapped that's all.
 Secretary Wallace was the second member of the Presidents official family to learn of the passing of his Chief and he was so overcome with l grief that he could say nothing.
 Coolidge Is Notified.
 An official statement issued at S.1s P. M. announced that Vice. President Coolidge had been notified. The message was signed by Attor- ney-General Daugherty and Secre- taries Hoover, Wallace and Work The statement follows:
 'The following telegram announc ing the Presidents death was im- mediately sent to Vice-President Coolidge, Chief Justice Taft and those members of the Cabinet who were not in San Francisco:
 "'The President died at 7:3O D. m. from stroke of cerebral apoplexy The end came peaeeably and with out warning"
 With the passing of President Harding the office of President de- wolves upon Calvin Coolidge, man silent in nature but demonstrated as strong in emergencies.
 Suddenness of End.
 The suddenness with which the end came was shown by the fact that only Mrs. Harding and two nurses were in the room at the time.
 Mrs Harding with characteristic faithfulness and constant tenderness was reading to the President at the time. Then without warning the President collapsed. Immediately indications of distress showed them selves. Mrs. Harding ran to the door and called Eeutenant-Commander Boone and for the other doctors to come quickly.
 Mrs. Harding Brave.
 It was announced in a fourth of ficial statement that Mrs. Harding withstood her husbands death, and continued to be the bravest member of the group" Her first words were T am not going to break down"
 Only Doctors Sawyer and Boone were able to reach the room before the President passed away.
 Dr. Boone Summoned. pr. Boone was found in the city streets by a messenger and he im- meditely returned to the Palace Hotel and entered tn Presidential suite at 7:30 o'clock, wearing a grave expression and walking rap- idly. almost at double time cadence. He passed through the door into the Presidents apartments when the end came. Dr. Boone was called by Mrs. Harding, who then rushed into the hotel corridors and com manded immediate search for the other physicians. General John ]. Pershing. Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman and Mayor 1 James Rolph, passed into the Presi | dential room when summoned
 Wild Rumors Started. After Mrs Harding's frantic ap- 1 peals. rumors began to by about 1 each wilder than it's predecessor and all were denied soon after by official bulletins which were issued as rap idly as the executive officials could obtain the facts and put them on paper to the steadily increasing crowd of newspapermen which thronged the corridors and eongested doorsays near the death chamber.
 Shock Strikes Dumbness.
 The shock of the Presidents death struck the city with dumbness.
 Newspapers whose entire front pages were devoted to half a dozen words. telling the news, had been rushed from the press too fast for more than a picture and the phrase Harding is dead" circulated like wildfire through the down town districts and even far out on the residential streets within few min utes after the official bulletins an- nouncing the death had been issued.
 The news brought shock 10 the crowds which few minutes before were sure that the city's dis tinguished guest was well on the way to recovery and had started out to spend the evening at theatres. dances and other amusements.
 Officials Confer.
 Secretary Work met with other Cabinet members. in a room on the seventh floor immediately below the Presidential suite, to arrange details for taking the body east Col. w w Shipley, District Passenger Agent of the Baltimore X Ohio Railroad. and in charge of the train which carried the President on the ill-fated journey, and Paul Shoup, Vice Presi- dent of the Southern Pacific, were in the conference.
 Christian Absent.
 Members nf the Presidents party