The Omaha morning bee., 1924-02-02
dent was conscious.


Washington, Feb. Woodrow vii
son is fighting against death at close
quarters. .
With a tenaeity born of the old in
domftable spirit that carried him
through so many desperate battles IN
the momentous days of Ihis service in
the White House. he clung TO life
tonight after those about him had
all but abandoned hope of his recoy-
cry.
By nightfall he had snatched back
a little OF the strength that had ebbed
away in the earlier hours. but his con-
dition remained grave and the watch
ers at his bedside realized how IN
significant a turn for the worse II
y ould take to snuff out the flicker
ing flame of his earthly being.
As the evening hours passed the
broken remnant of his vitality
reached the stage in which botn
friends and physicians were poweriess
TO do more than hope for the best
10 one knew at what moment the
supreme crisis might come. or wheth-
er he again would emerge victorious.
Death Matter of Hours.
A conviction lay upon all OF those
closest about him, however, that even
should he live to see the day. the
end would be only question OF
hours.
The Immediate cause OF his relapse
was a minor arrangement which flrst
a appeared Monday. In the beginning
II was not in itself alarming, but 1t
was enough to undermine the sienoer
and tottering support by whieh ms
vitality has been sustained since ing
ering illness first took grip upon
him four years and four months ago.
He took a sudden serious turn IN the
early hours of today, and ever since
has lain between life and death
While the great personages e'
Washington and the lowliest OF MS
followers far and near we're pouring
in A food of messages OF sympathy
or calling at his home to express theii
tccneern. he spent the long hours OF
the day and night sleeping hfuiis
and awaking TO speak in faint WINS
ners To those who we're with him.
Fights Grim Battle.
During the afternoon he Was aoie
to take some nourishment; his hear
seemed trifle stronger: his mind re
manned for the most part clear ana
a.ert. he suffered somewhat. but bore
I. stojcally. The sinking sun and
he twilight hours saw him still nght-
ing. but there were DO signs that en-
couraged his physicians to believe
that material change for the bet
ter was in prospect.
He himself understood that the nat
tic through which he was passing
probably would be his last.
I'm ready" he said to his friend
and physician. DIR. Grayson. You've
done all YOU could. l am broken
machine. It's better that | should &c
than remain a helpless invalid.
Mrs. Wilson. who has been his con
stant companion since his Ions III
ness began. remained silent al ms
bedside as the battle went on. Miss
Margaret Wilson Of New York. the
former presidents daughter. and Jo-
seph Wilson OF Baltimore, his broth
er. Joined her late in the day. Other
members of the family also have
heen summoned by telegraph.
Grayson Called From South.
The digestive trouble that led to
the present grave condition resulted
frcm some injudieious choice of food
taken Monday. DIR. Graysen was in
North Carolina on hunting trip, hut
Mrs. Wilson sent for him because out
of her long experience with the deli
csto constitution Of the former presi'
dent she saw there might be real
danger ahead Meantime. DIR. Sterling
R0filn. who had helped care for Mr..
Wilson in the White House. made an
examination and prescribed a course
of treatment
When he reached Washington yes.
terday pr. Grayson found the patient
mp and around the house. although
he had Cancelled his daily automobile
rides. The physician ordered him to
bed hui there were further stomach
upsets, accompanied hy violent
bleeding At the nose.
So rapidly had the new cemplca
tion developed that pr srayson spen,
TLo W,o4ho.