Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-10
PRESIDENT BOY
SUCCUMBS AFTER
HEROIC STRUGGLE
Interment at Plymouth, w.,
to Follow Simple Ser
vices at Capital

WASHINGTON, july S.-1 lie
White House, scene of many of the
nations sorrows, again became
house of mourning today while the
whole American people, it seemed,
poured in their messages of sympa-
thy at the death of President Cool
idge's sixteen-year-old boy. Cal
vim, Jr.
Not since Lincoln's time had such
youthful member of presidents
family been called by death, and
never under more tragic circum
stances.
From the time young Calvin died
at 1880 o'clock last night at Wal
ter Reed army hospital, all through
the forenoon and afternoon there
came messages to hearten the strick'
en- parents in their first great sor-
row, callers to leave word OF SYM
pathy, and tributes to the plucky
but losing fight the boy had waged
against death.
A flag at half-mast on the Whlte
House and a white crepe token OF
mourning on the door told OF the
bereavement within. Around the
casket in the east room sailors and
marines from the presidential yacht
Mayfiower stood guard. Floral trlb-
utes in great numbers were banked
about.
Parents Bear Up Well
Coolidge bore up well with his
grief and friends of the family said
there had been no sign of a break
down by Mrs. Coolidge. Both were
careworn after Sleepless nights
spent with their son. John Coolidge,
with whom Calvin was playing ten
mis- when he suffered the tiny injury
which caused his death, remained
with his mother.
Tentative plans for the funeral
contemplate simple service at the
White House tomorrow afternoon at
o. m. Another service will be held
at Northampton, Mass, with burlal
at Plymouth, VT, the president
birthplace, on Thursday.
lieutenant Edgar Allen Poe, Of
the marines. with the six marines
standing guard around the casket,
will accompany the funeral party,
and the guard will act as pallbear-
ers. =.
President Coolidge went to the
executive offices for a short time
early today, and was visited there
Inv many officials and others Wno
wished to extend their sympathy.
Fought BraveIy to End
A coura seous struggle of five
. days that stood off the flnal claim
of acute blood poisoning to the ut
most ended last night. The youne+-
son of the president died at Walter
Reed hospital where he had lain in
his desperate fight fer lie since ne
was removed there last Saturday IN
order that every resource Of medical
science might be employed.
Wasted in strength by the raVag7
ing spread of the septic poison that
resulted from an almost unnotced
blister which developed on his loot
while playing tennis week ago,
the youth fought futile battle
throughout yesterday. Losing
n. ground steadily, he yet amazed his
physicians by the tenacity with
which he clung to the slender thread
of life and his fortitude under the
stuff ring of The complications that
attended the spread of the treach-
erous disease. He collapsed early III
the night and death occurred at
1880 O'Clock.
Forced in the last hours to aban-
don the desperate hope they had
held for his recovery, based mainly
on the courage and fighting spirit
they knew he had, the president and
Mrs. Coolidge faced the end at
their sons bedside. They had kept
the long vigil there unbroEen save
for an occasional hurried return to
the White House yesterday and
Sunday.
Parents Reveal Sorrow
So plainly showing their burden
of sorrow, the mother and father
left the hospital at once. Mrs. Cool
edge held the presidents arm as
they walked hurriedly to the auto
mobile to drive to the White House.
AS the cars swung down the Ions
avenue toward the executive man.
sion tLS.y were joined by another
with c. Bascom Slemp, the presi-
dents secretary.
As t1e doors of the White House
were Cpened to receive the presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge, the mother
was joined by Mrs. FRANK W.
Stearns. a close friend of the family
and a White House guest with her
husband. The president and Mrs
Coolidge. who were said to have
borne up bravely. went at once to
their rooms and at midnight the
White House was entirely darkened.
Those who watched the struggle
of the 16-year-old lad against the
terrific odds of the infection which
swept through his system were
agreed that only Il fortitude of will
and character unusual at any age
had kept him alive SO long. 1t was
on Saturday that the virulent nature
of the infection was definitely dis
closed. The trifling abrasion that
had resulted from the blister on Mon
day was so little thought of that he
had appeared that night with his
father at the public budget meeting
of government officials, where he
saw much to smile and jest about
with his older brother.
BY Wednesday. however, the on
slaught of the infection had com
menced and on Saturday. in a plain
army ambulance. with his mother al
his side, Calvin. Jr., was FASTENED to
Walter Reed hospital, on the out,
skirts of Washington, for an opera
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