Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1923-08-03
Wife W. Reading to Him

70 those about her to find the doc
tor"
Wife Wa Reading to Him
AT that time Mrs Harding was IN
derxtood 70 have been reading to the
President, sitting a. his bedside with
the evening papers and messages Of
sympathy which mad been received
during the day.
The end came 50 suddenly that
the members Of the Official party
could not BE- called. Il came after q
day which had been described by
Brigadier General Sawyer. the Presi
dents personal physician, as the most
satisfactory day the President had
f had since MS Illness began The pny-
sicians IN their formal announcement
of the end said that during the day
he had been free from discomfort and
there was every justification for an
/ ticipating a prompt recovery
Death came 70 the Chief Executive
while he was eonversing with mem
bers of his family. and according 70
an official statement issued By physi-
clans, was apparently due 70 some
brain development, probably apo
plexy.
The news Of President Harding
death swept through MS hotel and ont
Of San Francisco with almost eiectri
cal suddenness. Hotel officials among
the first to whom word Of the tragic
event was given. Immediately had the
great blue Presidential flag with IL
gold seal Of the United States hauled
down and then raised again 70 naif-
staff
4 minute or two later an assistant
manager rushed in the rose bow
room, where a dinner dance was n
progress, raised a hand and stopped
the orchestra playing Announce
ment Of the death Of the Executive
followed. and tire dancers, their gls
dress sad contrast 20 their eXpres-
sions Of gravity, gathered into little
groups. obtained them wraps, ana de-
parted
The news passed from lip TO lip.
Some guests. more curious than tnelE
fellows. gathefed iu groups az the
ends II the eoru81rs leading 20 the
Presidential room aad stared dow
sae hallway 1T which smut
Hf view 8f she azs Haare the z5tH
President II tHa EItea States las.
siaaf IN death.
EaH5ne. a#e headed 81 Seere=
Hoover 81 Depart
hurried aaa tae bali
fds aa8iaaces
- Airs Haraln. aes
soa#..#
alse
aa5rH#.I5 58ei
Become. assisiaH 70
I-szl4arf hutzz= Is Eran down
where maa gH
fssad hias "a Mrs. Hafd
fHtaf5t az
Runners bagaH - H. about. aa5=
.siI#Ier fHan - and nj
#4s5=4# soon Il, bulletins which
===,.5s 5zs,,sd ~ l#5l=a ar4EHIs telling
Fs.4 aasea of ,-z Had been RUSHED
ffea -. araz. = for more han
eiet4fe and Ere phrase Hardin
aeaa EiFElH =z. EEe NiIdfiaa
fFr57il=h me downtown districts ana
even fan car sn the residential streets
hin a few minutes after the ofiiei
bulletin Announcing the death had
boon issued
Thee brought a shock 20 crowds
which feu minutes before were sure
fhat thu eitvtz distinguished guest was
we'll an fb,. Say 10 recovery. had start
"a out 10 spend the evening at the
aires. dances or other amusements
even before the reports OF the death
had snread far. and the telephone
switchboard al the hotel became Jam
med with outgoing calls and incoming
INQUIRIES for information concerning
fhe renort
National State and party officials
came hurrving 10 the hotel in num-
hers and Gathered for conferences in
eighth floor rooms or corridors near
The Presidential suite to discuss what
/ should or must be done. One or tive
secret service men who had been out
for few hours relaxation hurried
hail 70 aia in handling a situation
made r,,ore 3ificult bv is suddonness
Fvervone who came from the Presi
lsent,sl sn;te was hesieged with aues.
.f,orers ofYicial newspaper and mere
llv rurious None could add much "a
the inforpation already given out Of
sr;sllv Largely this was because
the end came with such shocking sud.
1enneas .hat comparatively few Of its
details Rad heen noted.
Several rninutes of the President
last quarter hour alive were devoted