The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-08-09
W. G. Harding, Nations
Chief, Died Suddenly in
San Francisco.
HOW THE END CAME
Tragis Story of Last Minutes
OF life of President Told in
Bulletins of Early Morn.
az Associated Pregg LEASED VIE

taneously without warning last
night at 1880, the victim of a
stroke Of apopIexy, which struck
him down. in hisa weakened condi-
ton at the Palace hotel here after
an illness of exactly week. The
chief executive of the nation and
by virtue of his Office and per-
sonality one Of the worlds leading
figures, passed away at time
when his nation and his family
needed him most. With the best
of medical skill, praper and hope,
it was thought that his battle
against disease had been won.
The disease had been nearly
conquered, the fires of fever had
been extinguished, but the seven
DAYS of intense suffering had left
their mark so that when the stroke
came, and before physicians could
be called, or members of the party
summoned, or any remedial meth
DDS taken, he had passed away, and
for many more years his state
An official statement announced
that Vice-President Coolidge, next
man to occupy the first position
in the United States government,
had been notified of the presi-
dents death, at his home in Ply
mouth, Vermont.
Mrs. Harding was at the presi-
dents bedside reading to him when
the stroke came. A slight shudder
passed through his frame. In
stantly she rushed to the door and
called: "Dr. Sawyer, come quick!"
The physician who was in an adj
Joining room FASTENED instantly to
the presidential chamber, but the
nations chief executive was be-
yond medical. aid
''The President had a most
splendid afternoon said Lieut.
Com. J. C. Boone, assistant to the
Presidents physician. when |
left the room commented:
Doesn't, he look splendid?' Then
all of a sudden he went just like
that and the commander snap
ped his finger. "Just like that"
ne repeated.
The last words of the president
were spoken an instant before the
Z apoplic shock came to "a brain that
was tired. Mrs. Harding had paus-
ed in her reading and her hus-
band glanced up, raised his hand
and said:
''That's good, go on read some
more"
Mrs. Harding's appeal to find a
physician sent secret service men
hurrying and finding none of the
physicians about the hotel, for it
the dinner hour, messengers were
sent into streets. DR.. Boone was
found in the, hotel dining room
and with blanched faced hurried
upstairs. He as well as DR.. Saw
yer, who preceded him, were
too late.
One of the representatives of
The Associated Press, who have
been on watch near the presiden-
ttiaI suite ever since the chief ex-
ecutive was brought here, saw the
hurrying secret service men, re-
allied instantly that the presi-
dents condition had undergone
some sore of change-what change
he knew not, ran to wire and
sent the news of the call for doc
tors and later the announcement
that a statement soon would be
given out.
OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DEATH.
The message announcing the
death of the nations chief execu-
tive was signed by Attorney GEN
eral Daugherty and Secretaries
Hoover, Wallace and Work. 1t
follows:N
'sThe following telegram an
nouncing the presidents death was
Immediately sent to Vice President
Coolidge, Chief Justice Taft and
those members of the cabinet who
were not in San Francisco:
'The president died at 1880 p. m.
from a stroke of cerebral apoplexy.
''The end came peaceably and
without worning."
With the passing of Mr.. Harding
the office Of president devolves
upon Calvin Coolidge, vice presi-
dent of the United States, man
silent in nature, but demonstrated
as strong in emergencies.
END COMES SUDDENLY.
The suddenness with which the
end came was demonstrated by the
fact that only Mrs. Harding. and
two nurses, Ruth Powderly and
Sue Louser, were in the room at
the time of his death. Mrs. Hard
ing, with the same steadfastness
which she has demonstrated thru
out his illness, was at the bedside
reading to the president. Then,
without warning, a slight shudder
passed thru the frame of the chief
executive. Immediately there were
indications of his distress, and
then the end came.
A fourth, official bulletins aRounc-l
ed at S:32 that Mrs. Harding had
withstood the shock of the realiza-
ton OF her husbands death.
Her first words were, Il am not
going to break down."
Only DR.. Sawyer and Lieut..
Comm. BOONE, the assistant physi-
clan were able to reach the presi-
dents room, but they stated that
when they arrived there they were
powerless to do anything.
MRS. HARDING BRAVE.
Brave in the face of the presi-