The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-31
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
HARDING ILL
STARTS ON PAGE 1

That bulletin in turn, had succeeded am optimistic one
issued before The tone of the $50 D. m bulletin
caused apprehension because it contained the first adms
S r m mat Mr. Harding was in serious condition
COMES RAPIDLY
About 1880 p m. DR.. Sawyer his chief physician in a
frank statement said that almost any sort of complication
vas possible lie said pneumonia inflammation was among
me poSSbies tho at that hour he would not class il ms
liable lie said the Nray examination had been made to
aetene Just what the possible developments of the next
lew hours would be and to check up the clinical obseva
ons made during the day relative to the condition of lungs
Dr. Sawyer said then that the case as ceorlv serious
but not grave and that if the physicians used the word
grave II would be advsedy and would indicate distinct
turn for the worse
II was less than two hours until Sawyer signed his name
70 the bulletin announcing that the presidents condition
The effect of this announcement was TO plunge the pres
dent party into deep gloom and fear This was heightened
~ the carefully reference TO the that he
epefamentaly well adapted to fight off the infection
o,hng was said as TO his physical equipment the battle
WIN aeath Tor his doctors knew he had virtually exhausted
s sea resistance That was apparent to them when
ei o;Su examination showed drop in temperature
panied by sharp increase in pulse and respiration.
orolnariy increased pulse and respiration would have
peeh marked by rising rather than falling temperature
The Tact that the temperature down indicated extreme
low resistance and il obvious then to the physicians
"g tne danger oil pneumonia inflammation increasing
ihen the A-ray confirmed their apprehenSions in that
regard The definite central patches spoken of in the
bulletin were small and not in themselves Indicative of great
danger II was explained If the president had store of
vitality ne might easily have thrown off such an Infection
II was stated But what his doctors feared to find this
oe WAS that those patches had spread and grown
one patch That would mean, it explained that the
president had pneumonia dire eanest-and his condition
then would have to be referred to as critical
FALLS ASLEEP
DURING NIGHT
But during the night he fell asleep That was taken rs
hopeful sign as indication that nature might be ralying
the last reserves to rout the toxins Before he went to
sleep the president had little milk He seemed to
enjoy IT. lie was cheerful He fighting
few months he stood by the bedside of Mrs Harding
while she fought out single handed her own grim battle
lie could do nothing then The doctors told him so and
begged him to go to bed He shook his head and paced
hourly up and down the rug in his at the White
House trying to add his strength to hers and help her thru
the crisis The doctors said afterwards that Mrs Harding
splendid viii beat off death.
MRS HARDING
SHOWS F0RTTTUDE
Today the same splendid will being exerted much ms
Mr. Hardngs in the long nights of that other critical
time Mrs Harding. whom DIR. Sawyer described simply
as one OF those creatures who shows up under fire
was standing by keeping her head UP and her eyes dry and
facing all the cold medical facts as they were brought to
her by DR.. Sawyer. She knew the fight her man was
facing she knew that he who is seldom alone was alone
at last and that all she could do was to pray and smile
They who from the sick said was doing both
Tanks OF oxygen carried the presidential suite
during the night that they would be available if needed