Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-07-08
PRESIDENT and
MRS. COOLIDGE
REMAIN I'OEND
Shadow of Death Once More
Cast Over White House as
Youth Loses TIE Struggle
Against Odds
nv The Associated Press }

W AAFftlAG iONs July O. btsAtn once
more east its shadow over The White
House. claiming Calvin Coolidge. Jr.. the
lG year old son of the president.
courageous struggle OF five days
that stood off the inal elai 4 Of acute
blood poisoning 20 the utmost, ended
LIST night. The youngest son Of the
president died at Waiter Reel Hospital
where he had lain in his desperate
light fcr life since hc was removed
there last Saturday in order that every
resource of medical science might be
invoked to save his lie.
Wasted in strength by the ravagins
spead Of the sepeic poison that resulted
from an unnoticed blister which devel-
oppl on hi foot while playing tennis n
week ago. the youth fought futile hat
tie throughout Yesterday. Losing ground
sterlily, yet he amazed his physicians
iy the teaacity with which he elung to
the slender thread of life. and BY his
f0rtitude under the suffering Of tho
complications that attended the spread
of the treacherous disease. IIc collapsed
early in the night and death occurred ii
i0:30 o'clock.
ENfttH ~ TIT last HV0iF ~ N'ttttRtt
the desperate hope they had held for
his. recovery, based much on the courage
and fighting spirit they knew he had.
the president and Mrs. Coolidge faced
TIE end AZ their sons bedside. They hall
kept the long vigil there unbroken save
for an occasional hurried return TO the
White House yesterday and Sunday.
So plainly showing heir ordeal os
sorrow. the mother and father IL II the
hnsrital rt once. Mrs. Coolidge had the
prcssdt nt-s arm AZ they walked hurried
IN to the automobile TO drive them to
the White IIouse. As thc.car swung
down the long avenue toward the exec
utive mcnsion they were joined by an
other one. G. Bas-om Slcmp the presi-
dents secretary.
At the White House there was only
the respect III withdrawal 10 ray a. the
doors were opened to receive the pres
;drnt and Mrs Coolidge. The mother was
Joined as she entered ~ Mrs. Frank ".
Stcarns. a close ffic7d Of the family
and 4 White House guest with her hus-
band The president and Mrs. Coolidge.
who were said to have tornr up brave
IN. went ~ once to their rooms and a.
midnight the White Iouse was entirely
dalksned. John the elder son. who had
hcen spared tho ordeal Of the last hours
ai the bedside Of his brother who had
been constant companion. was il his
room when hi parents returned and re-
mained upstairs.
Those who watched the struggle 81
the I6-vear on lal against the terrific
odds Of the disease which swep; through
his system. were agreed that only for
titude of will and character unusual at
any agc had kept him alive 70 long. II
was on Saturday that III asvcnomons m
ture VI the infection was definitely dis
closed The tr ling abrasion that hal
resulted fro the blister on Monday
was so little thought - that he had ap-
peared hat night with his father at the
prhli- ladgft meetings Of government
officials where nv saw much 10 smile AZ
and icr. ahoat with his elder brother
By Wednesday. however. the on
slaught of the infection had com
meneed and on Saturday in plain
army ambulance. with his mother at his
side, Calvin, Jr., was hastencd to Walter
Reed Hospital. on the outside Of Wash
ington. for an operation which II was
hoped might reduce To a new focus the
bacteria which were building il the tis-
sues Of his leg. For the reception Of
the patient and also to provilc tempor
airy quarters for the president and Mrs
Coolidge. that they might remain con-
stantly near him. the entire upper wing
az the hospital was cleared. The opera
tion was performed with Gas anesthesia
and was successful in that IL establish
cd drain for accommodating septic mat
ter. Although the youth showed a
slight Improvement after il. he was
said by his physician 10 have really
been sustained in his repeated rallying
from I'M almost hopeless progress Or the
disease By his determination 10 live
and his refusal 70 yield to pain. In
tense fever and a failing heart mark
cd the course of his struggle.
1t was shortly after six p. m. yestcr-
day that the collapse came and he
larsed 6rt Of consciousness. AT that
time a military guard was thrown
around the quarters assigned for the
care Of the boy and through this the
only meager news obtained was THAT
brought out at in infrequent intervals
by f. T. Clark. the presidents personal
secretary. With oxygen his attendants
were holding some glow Of the spark
of life in his wasted frame. but with no
hope. Al o'clock ii was announced
(Continued on Page Six.)