Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-04

done the very simplest private serv-
ice will be held.
Spent Comfortable, Day
The five physicians who attended
the president were united in their
In a statement issued last night and
signed by all of them they declared
it was due to "apoplexy or rup-
ture Of a blood vessel in the axis
Of the brain near the respiratory
center" The statement emphasized
that death from such cause might
have occurred at any time, and
came after recovery from the acute
illness he had suffered for a week
was in progress.
The statement showed conclusive
' ly that the physicians as well as
every one else believed up to the
minute the executive was subjected
to the apoplectic attack that he was
on the road to recovery. Three
hours before the end came the most
optimistic bulletin issued since the
president was taken ill. 1t said that
he had spent the "most comfortable
day since his illness began" The
bulletin was timed 4:30 p. m.
1.-THE evidences of infection ara
subsiding, but he has been left in
very weakened condition by the
hard battle he has made" the bulle-
tin added. "This afternoon the tenn
perature IS remaining normal with
the pulse rate around 100 and the
respirations averaging about 80. 9th
err factors remain the same"
The bulletin was so optimistic
that there was a general letting
down N the watchfulness that has
attended the presidents illness.
Members Of the cabinet and their
wives, the personnel Of the executive
staff and many of the newspaper.
men went out to dinner, where most
of the talk was when the trip back
to Washington would be started. At
no time since the president was
brought to San Francisco Sunday
morning was the vicinity Of the
presidents suite as deserted as it
was about o'clock last night.
Outside the suite the usual secret
service men stood guard-they also
discussing when they would get
back to Washington-and down the
corridor a little handful Of newspas
permen were gathered.
Presidents Last Words
Mrs. Harding, General Sawyer and
| the two nurses, however, had noe
rellnqulshed their Watchfulness, and
it is truthfully typical of Mrs. Har"
ding that she should have been
| there. for no first lady of the land
was more devoted and faithful to
| her husband than was Mrs. Har-
ding.
Mrs. Harding was reading to the
president an article entitled, "a Re-
view of a Calm Man," written by
Samuel G. Blythe, a noted political
writer and published in current
magazine. 1t described the man to
whom she was reading, ana In was
interested in it. She paused in tler
reading and glanced up, he raised
| his hand and said:
"That's good. Go on. Read some
more"
Those were the last words the
president spoke. In an instant a
shudder shook his frame, his hand
/ dropped md he collapsed.
Mrs. Harding w. at e door in.
stantly, and called: :'Find Boone
and the others quick!" One of the
secret service men rushed down the
corridor searching for DR.. Boone,
while General Sawyer worked des-
perate1y within the rom, applying
restoratives. DR.. Boone could lit
be found on the eighth floor, and
messengers were sent out. He was
| found and came in almost running
at 1887 o'clock. Several others had
gone into the room in the meantime.
and those that came out were plains
ly greatly distressed.
One of thee was Secretary Hoov.
err, whose face was hlanched and his
eyes dim. All he could ay to 4.ews-
paper men was that there would be
a statement soon. At 7:45 O'Clock it
was announced that there would be
a. formal statement within a. few
minutes. At 1851 O'Clock it was is.
sued. 1t said:
"The president died instantaneous.
ly and without warning and while
conversing, with members of his
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