New Britain herald., 1924-07-08

Young Coolidge Is. First President Son to Die in White House Since
 Ind Lincoln in White House sinc' Arms of His Father, Abraham Lin coin. More Than Fifty Years Ago.
 Washington, July s.--Death once more cast its shadow today over the White House. claiming Calvin Cool idge, Jr., the 16 year old son of the president.
 A coura geous struggle of five days that stood off the final claim of acute blood poisoning to the utmost ended last night. The younger son of the president died at Walter Reid hospi- tai where he had lain in his desper- ate fight for life since he was re- moved there last Saturday that every resource of medical science might be invoked to save his life.
 Fought Great Fight
 Master in strength by the ravaging spread of the septic poison that re- suited from an almost unnoticed blister which developed on his foot while playing tennis week ago, the youth fought a futile battle through out yesterday. Losing ground steadily, he yet amazed his physicians by the tenacity with which he clung to the slender thread of life and his forti- tude under the suffering of the com plications that attended the spread of the treacheroCs disease. He col lapsed early in the night and death occurred at 10:30 o'clock.
 Forced in the last hours 10 aban- don 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 Cool idged faced the end at their sons bedside. They had kept the long vigil there unbroken save for an occasional hurried return to the White House yesterday and Sunday.
 So plainly showing their ordeal of
  the hospital at once. Mrs. Coolidge had the presidents arm as they walked hurriedly to the automobile to drive to the White House. As the car swung down the long avenue toward the executive mansion they were joined by another with C. Bascom Slemp, the presidents secretary.
 Sadness Darkens Home
 At the White House there was only the respect of withdrawal to pay as the doors were opened to receive the president and Mrs. Coolidge. The mother was joined as she entered by Mrs. Frank w. Stearns a close friend Of the family and a White House guest and 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. John, the elder son, who had been spared the ordeal of the last hours at the bedside of the brother who had been constant companion, was in his room when his parents returned and remained upstairs. Those who watched the struggle of the sixteen-year- lad against the terrific odds of the disease which swept through his system were agreed that oni. a fortitude of will and char acter unusual at any age had kept him | alive so long. It was on Saturday that : the Nenomous nature of the infection q was definitely disclosed. The tri1ing J hra einn that hoI | C blister on Monday was so little r bought of that he had appeared that O light with his father at the public II budget meeting of government off, V ,ials where he saw much to smile and u est about with his elder brother. a
 Rushed to Hospital lt By Wednesday. however, the on- u taught of the infection had com- II nenced, and on Saturday, in a plain M rmy ambulance with his mother at p is side, Calvin, Jr., was hastened to cl Valter Reed hospital on the outside ol Washington, for an operation which ie was hoped might reduce to a new '" ocus the bacteria which were build- =, lg in the tissues of his leg. .
 Upper Wing Reserved
 For the reception of the patient nd also to provide temporary quar- ITS for the president and Mrs Cool ~, e lge, that they might remain con- ~, antly near him, the entire upper Cr ing of the hospital was cleared. The h. peration was performed with gas 1aesthesia. It established drain for ec septic matter. Although fo le youth showed a slight improve m, ent after it, he was said by his tth lysicians to have really been sustain pc in his repeated rallying from an al- ost hopeless progress of the disease wa his determination to live and his un fusal to yield to pain. Intense fever pa
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