Evening star., 1938-02-26
PERSH|NC'S DEATH
BELIEVED At HAND;
FAMILY CALLED IN
General Unable to Take
Nourishment as End
Approaches.
HEART STIMULANTS
PROVE ineffective
Bring Only Brief Rally When
Used in Early Morning-Oxy.
gems Use of Little Avail.
By the Associated Press,


By the Associated Press.
TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 26.-Intense
excitement around the hospital room
OF Gen. John j. Pershing shortly after
am. g am, Eastern standard time)
today indicated the weakening warrior
had reached Q new crisis and that the
end might be at hand.
A moment later DR.. Roland David
son sent out bulletin announcing the
general was gradually becoming
weaker.
He IS unable to take nourishment
or drink" DR.. Davisons bulletin said
His kidneys have ceased to function. >
Gen. Pershing had been unconscious
during the greater part of the early
morning hours, but DR.. Dawson said
that at times he regained conscious
ness for brief periods.
Nephew Brings Bulletin.
The bulletin was brought from the
patients room by the generals nephew
Frank Pershing. DR.. Dawson appar-
emily was unwilling to leave the bed
side. 1t was the first time he had
tailed to appear himself.
Gen. Pershing had been under an
oxygen tent most of the night, but
when an assistant arrived to change
the tank he was told no more oxygen
would be needed. The statement was
not amplified by physicians or nurses
Heart stimulants administered to
the 77-year-old commander shortly
after midnight brought favorable re-
action. Physicians, however, an
nounced the rally was short and that
ne soon began losing ground again.
Family Summoned.
The family was summoned to the
generals room q few minutes before
the am. bulletin. The generals sis
ter, Miss May Pershing, had been
sleeping. His nephew Frank appeared
weary.
The generals earlier rally followed
-FOUR hours of Inconsistencies during
which the doctors, weary from almost
constant vigil at the bedside. an
nounced, as on the previous nirht.
tnat ne could not last much longer.
His faint heart grew stronger for a
time and the 77-year-old World War
chief showed resistance that surprised
even his physicians. then started sink.
Ing again.
Old Uniform to Be Sent.
In the belief the end was near ar
rangements were made for the War
Department to send the commanders
old uniform from Washington by
plane. It was understood Gen.
Pershing desired to be buried in it.
In a bulletin issued at las am.
t3:45 am, E. S. T) DR.. Roland Da-
vlson explained the old warrior was
not responding as he should to the
extreme treatment he was receiving.
Everything possible to improve his
condition is being DONE" DR.. Dawson
said. He should be doing much bet
ter than he is"
The generals temperature was
slightly above normal and his pulse
somewhat irregular.
Although the second crisis was past.
DR.. Dawson and 1t. Col. S. U. Mari
eta held little hope for the recovery
Of their patient.
Arrangements have been made with
the Southern Pacific Railroad by Mai.
Gen. Herbert j. Brees, commander of
the 9th Corps Area, for special train
TO Washington in event of death.
Gen. Pershing's son Warren, New
York broker; an only sister, Miss May
Pershing of Lincoln. Nebr., and Frank
Pershing. a nephew. remained at the
bedside or close at hand.
Confer With Physicians.
They had had little or no rest since
the general first lapsed into uncon-
sciousness Thursday night. They re-
ceived condolences from friends, and
IN whisper discussed plans with the
physicians and Gen. Brees.
Ill since February S, the aged vet
eran has been confined to his bed
since February Is. Although his ILL
ness was first diagnosed as rheuma-
tism. his physicians later announced
he had suffered acute damage" to
heart muscles.
Just when the rugged old soldier
was planning to get out of bed, Feb
ruary 81, he suffered a sudden relapse
and was sent to the sanitarium, and
DR.. Dawson, his private physician, re-
quested the War Department to send
Q consultant.
Other Specialists Called,
It was after Col. Marietta had been
assigned to the case from San An
tonic, Tex, that the physicians ad-
mitted the aging generals condition
was serious. Two other specialists
were called from the Pacific Coast
DR.. Verne Mason arrived from Los
Angeles and spent one night, but
when DR.. william J. Kerr, San Fran
cisco, missed plane connections he was
advised not to come.
Thursday night the general lapsed
into a coma that lasted several hours
and the doctors despaired Of his life.
However, he rallied and at times rec
oenised those at his bedside.
But the stout heart faltered again
Aor1v last NIGHT and tho f3cft{,,o ro,,o