The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 18, 1901, Page 1

VOLUME LXXXIX—NO. 169. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1901. WIFE OF THE PRESIDENT SLOWLY GROWS STRONGER PRICE F1VE CENTS. AND THE ANXIETY OF THE NATION IS RELIEVED BY HOPES HELD OUT OF THE ULTIMATE RECOVERY OF THE PATIE&F - | i | MRS. McKINLEY GONTINUES TO IMPROVE AND PRESIDENT HOPES FOR RECOVERY. RESIDENT McKINLEY was seen just before midnight by an intimate friend and said that Mrs. McKinley had suffcred no relapse from the improve- ment secured in her condition the night before. The President acted and- conversed in a most cheerful manner and said that he will attend the launching of the battleship Ohio to-day at the Union Iron Works if the improvement in his wife’s health is maintained. The Chicf Executive said also that he is not as anxious to be present at the launching of the battieship as he is to meet the werkmen who have buiit so many powerful en- gines of war for the country. The President was in good spirits and talked of old friends and recounted many incidents of his carcer while h.e was in Congress. The President said the reports of physicians as to the improvement in his wife’s condition have given him considerable hope for her recovery. At an early hour this morning it was learned at the Scott residence that Mrs. McKinley was resting comfortably and that her strength is increasing. words ray of gladness From the Pre; s temporary resi- dence a2t the co streets, i r of Clay and Laguna he news was flashed country and to all of the iful cious the White House. ning the attending physi at the Scott their delib- far and wide. i held her own on n the critical f yesterday the pa- ement. the bedside ed that her the Presi- to the ythe the before noon it new d when would not re- icitation of his e e induced to be for a brief was Pre- om the ternoon the President se few sleep, as he had rest for twenty-four ges to f the i e some light and her ir. nding physi- Kinley and his wife was e conditions of intained dur- before retiring for the he would visit the this morning pro- iley continued to im- and in the early y. Secretary Cortelyou the President the was most workmen of the on Works at the reception they ed, but that the chief execu- ot stay for the launching of ip, unless Mrs. McKigley ly better. meet a question Secretary Cor- at if Mrs. McKinley con- ove the President would wife to Washington at nity. telyou sa tinued t return w: the first opport Secretary Cortelyou said that it was impossible at the present time so say when the President could go home with his wife, but that it would not be for a week or ten days When President McKinley retired to his rest last evening he did so relieved of the enormous strain of the previous forty-eight hours and with the prayers of the entire country that Providence TRESIDERT - MERINLEY RETURNING TO THE SCOTT RESIDENCE AFTER HIS MorNING DRIVE~ 2. e~ EsxDEHT MR LTy NTERWG %OR H1S KIS ‘GARRIAGE MORNING DR TecreTARy COBTEYoU Eeom T FAYCRABLY ON s P IKINLEY S Zonormon,, Fia E3 THE. X PRESDENT S| 7 X \ EcrEar, mfi Ferco CoRTALYED ARG <IN FRONT R kS PRESIDENT McKINLEY GOES FOR A DRIVE AND SCHOOL CHILDREN RUSH TO SEE HIM. - might spare to him for many years the gentle lady he calls wife. Erras ok IMPROVEMENT IS MARKED ALL DAY Mrs. McKinley Gains Strength and President Hopes for Her Recovery. From early morn till late at night hundreds of men, women ‘and children gathered yesterday in the park facing the house where President McKinley watched by the - side “of ~his stricken wife. During the hours preceding the dawn groups of men and 2 few women kept vigil with the detective and police guards and newspaper representatives in front of the Scott residence. The morning was a bitter. one, and dense masses of wet fog hung over the vicinity like a gray pall. No word came from the house where the head of the nation devotedly waited for the issue of the battle between life and death. Only the glimmer of the light from the sick- room told of the momentous vigil within the house. The heavy fog was dispelled by the rising sun, and there was every indica- - tion of a warm, clear day. For the first time since the brought to San Francisco the sky was President's wife was’ cloudless, and the bright weather seemed to give promise of cheering news from the temporary home of the nation's head. At 8 a. m. Henry T. Scott came from the house and informed those waiting that Mrs. McKinley had passed a com- fortable night and had just awakened. It was learned that the patient had asked for a cup of coffee and that she seemed stronger than on the preceding day. —— PRESIDENT TAKES A MIDDAY DRIVE Before 9 a.-m.- Drs: ‘Hirschfelder and Gibbons called at the house and ' re- mained there for some hours. - A con- sultation was held with Dr- Rixey and a bulletin was issued by Secretary Cor- telyou telling of a marked improvement in Mrs. McKinley’s condition. The improvement was so marked that the physicians decided that they would not hold another consultation until the evening. The cheering news lifted a weight from the hearts and minds of those within and without the house. An air of gladness pervaded the atmosphere and the police guards allowed the chil- dren to romp*in the park, though at a considerable distance from the house. © When the physicians left the house they were smiling, and this was taken as a'good’ommen. As on the previous day, g residence, and all travel was diverted from the entire surrounding block. The crowd of people assembled in the park were kept a good distance away from Laguna street, and only newspaper rep- resentatives had access to the street facing the Scott house. Shortly before noon ‘the President was induced by his friends to go for a drive. It was learned that Mrs. Mc- Kinley was resting comfortably and had taken some. chicken broth during the morning. Chief of Polige Sullivan was requested by the President to dispense with the mounted escort during the drive, so that v G HYSICIANS attending the President’s wife are inclined to believe that she will soon re- cover sufficient ength to travel by rail to her home in Canton or to Washington. Her recu- perative power is something regark- able. The crisis in her case was passed dur- ing the earlier hours of Thursday morn- ing. The doctors did not believe then that she would rally. They feared that she had but a slender hold on life and must succumb to the prolonged prostra- tion. It was fortunate for the patient that Dr. Hirschfelder was able to bring quickly from the hospital near by just such appliances as were needful in re- storing vitality. The management of the case by the doctors attending has been highly com- mended by physicians who have been apprised of the treatment. The absorp- tion of salt water was timely, and its infusion in the blood by hypodermic process was successful Leading physicians not only entertain the hope, but have confidence in the prediction, that the patient will have better health in the future than she has had for many years. Yesterday morn- ing she talked to her attendants and smilingly told one of her physicians that she wanted fried chicken. She made an effort to get up, contrary to the advice of her physicians. The patient was bles with several hours of natural sleep rly vesterday morning, and awoke reireshed and con- fident of renewed strength. Opiates were not administered to invite sleep, but a powerful stimulant was given to reinforce the action of the heart. The expressed desire for solid nourishment was accepted as a hopeful sign, but the doctors believe that it is not prudent to oblige her in this respect. For the pres- eat she will have to get along on such - rations as rice in chicken broth and whites of an egg beaten specially for the occasion. MANY VISITORS CALL AT HOUSB McKinley R:ceives Few Friends and Talks to Them in Hopeful Tone. During the morning and afternoon a number of d‘itinguiahrd persons called at the house. Some were received by the President, while others were re- ceived by Secretary Cortelyou. General Shafter and Secretaries Hay, Hitchcoclk, Wilson, Long and Postmaster General Smith were closeted with the President in the afternoon, and their faces bore a cheerful look when they left the house. Many of the foreign Consuls leit mes- sages at the residence during the day, each conveying sympathy to the Presi- dent. Secretary Cortelyou went for a short walk in the morning and took a car- riage drive in the afternoon, accompa- nied by Mrs. Cortelyou and the wife of Dr. Rixey. The improvement in Mrs. McKinley’s condition enabled the Presi- dent’s secretary to leave the house for the first time this week. Congressman Kahn also called at the Scott. residence and some of the Presi- dent’s relatives who reside in San Fran- cisco were also at the house. During the afternoon the President was able to leave the sickroom for a considerable time and word was sent out from the house that he was taking a rest and had fallen asleep. The President enjoyed a hearty din- ner and awaited the coming of the phy- cians in the evening. The report of the consultation was so cheering that the President announced to a few intimate friends that he would visit the Union Iron Works this morning if Mrs. Me- Kinley continued to improve. Hour after hour last night the im- provement in.the condition of Mrs. Me- Kinley continued, and at a late hour the most reassuring news was sent from the house. DIRECT WIRE TO THE SCOTT HOUSE WASHINGTON, May 17.—Although the White House is connected directly by telegraph with the Scott residence in San Francisco, but little information .mfimmmam Continued on Second Pages