The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 14, 1901, Page 3

WIT THE SAN STREAMING EVES FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1901. CABINET MEMBERS TAKE A PATHETIC FAREWELL VICE 'PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, who succeeds to the Presidency, may take the oath to custom the Cabinet will resign in a body, President Roosevelt being left free to form a | | of office wherever he happens to hear the news of the Chiet Executive’s death. According l new one if he so desires. | SUENES N NOMENTS “Nearer My Go lo Thee,” Takes Leave of His Iife, Who Bears ) Bravely. 5 Cand By ond By - Itls God's Way, His Will Be Done,” ILBURN HOUSE. BUFFALO. Sept. | 13.—Before 6 o’clock | it was clear to those | at the * President’s | bedside that he was | g, and prepara- | tions were made for he last sad offices of farewell from | those who were nearest and dearest to | Oxygen 1 been administered but with little effect in keeping he approach of death. The Presi- e out of one period of uncon- ss only to relapse into another. this period, when his mind was ally clear, occurred. a series of events of profoundly touching charac- ter. Downstairs, with strained and tear-stained faces, members of the Cab- inet were grouped in anxious waiting. knew the end was near and that 1e had come when they must see n for the last time on earth. This was about 6 o’clock. One by one they ascended the stair- way. Secretary Root, Secretary Hitch- cock and Secretary Wilson were there. | There was only a momentary stay of the Cabinet officers at the threshold of the death chamber. Then they withdrew, | tears streaming down their faces and s of intense grief ‘choking in ASKS FOR HIS WIFE. 1d the President asked almost imme- se doctors fell back into the shadows of the room as Mrs. McKinley came 3 [+ | through the doorway. The strong face | of the dying man was lighted up with a faint smile as their hands were clasped. She sat beside him and held | his hand. Despite her physical weak- ness she bore up bravely under the cr- aeal. The President, in his last period of consciousness, which ended about 7:40, chanted the words of the hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.,” and his | will be done.” could no longer be felt in his extremi | last audible words, as taken down by |the house at 9:30. He was permitted to | Dr. Mann, at the bedside, were : “Goo_d | go upstairs to look for the last time by, all; good by. Itis God's way. His | upon the face of his chief. Those in the Then his mind began to wander, and | Hitchcock, Wilson and Root: Senators | soon he completely lost consciousness. | | His life was prolonged for hours by the | Day; Abner McKinley, the President’s | administration of oxygen. and the | | President finally expressed a desire to | After they had left the sickroom the | be allowed to die. About 8:30 the ad- | band; Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Duncan, 1vsicians rallied him to conscioucness | ministration of oxygen ceased and the |the President’s sisters: Mrs. Mary | pulse grew fainter and fainter. He was | Barber, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. McKin- ely tirt his wife be brought to him. | sinking gradually, like a child, into the |ley's cousin; the physicians, including d eternal slumber. By 10 o'clock the pulse | lo'clock; John G. Milburn, John N. ties and they grew cold. Below stairs the grief-stricken gath- ering waited sadly for the end. All the evening those who had has- tened here as fast as steel and steam could carry them continued to arrive. They drove up in carriages at a gallop or were whisked up in automobiles, all intent upon getting here before death came. One of the last to arrive was Attorney General Knox, who reached house at this time were Secretaries Fairbanks, Hanna and Burrows: John | brother, and his wife; Dr. and Mrs. Baer, the President’s niece, and her hus- Dr. McBurney, who arrived after 8 Scratcherd, H¥rry Hamlin, all of this city; Secretary Cortelyou and a num- ber of others. Rev. C. D. Wilson, a Methodist minister, who was the Pres- ident’s pastor for three years at Can- ton, called at the residence to inquire whether his services were needed, but did not enter the house. WORD THAT DEATH IS NEAR. Another Methodist minister who has a church near by remained at the Mil- burn residence for two hours, in the be- lief that his services might be desired. At 9:37 Secretary Cortelyou, who had been much of the time with his dying chief, sent out formal notification that L time. His tremendous vitality was the only remaining factor in the result and this gave hope only of brief postpone- ment of the end. Dr. Mynter thought he might last until 2 a. m. Dr. Mann said at 11 o’clock that the President was still alive and* probably would live an hour. Thus moments lengthened to hours, and midnight " came with the President still battling against death. AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. At the midnight hour, the Milburn house was the center of a scene as ani- mated as though it were midday, al- though a solemn hush hung over the great crowd of watchers. The entire +* — READY TO USE THE X-RAY. SCENE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF DEATH AT BUFFALO AND POR- TRAITS OF DETECTIVE IRELAND AND OPERATOR WHO WAS g the President was dying. But the Pres- ident lingered on, his pulse growing fainter and fainter. There was no need for official bulle- tins after that. Those who came from the house at intervals told the same story—that the President was dying and that the end might come at any —% lower part of the house was aglow with light, and the many attendants, friends and relatives could be seen within moving about and occasionally coming in groups to the front door for a breath of air. In' the upper front | PUBLIC S KEP —_— for Lile To lefly. Bullelinggel For the President's Condtion. Follow the Last Sad Chapter, HE story of the last hours of the dying Pres- ident is told in the offi- cial bulletins sent out from the Milburn house. These bulletins begin at -the hour yesterday morning when The Call’s last edition went to press and continue consecu- tively up to 2:15 o’clock (Buffalo time) this morning. telegram_ has just bsen received at the White House from Secretary Cortelyou saying that some improvement has taken place in the Presid¢nt's condition since the last bulletin and/that the next official bulletin_ will, be issued at 8 o’clock. MILBURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 13.—At 10:30 Senator Fairbanks and )gn Day came to the Milburn house. MILBURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 13, 9:40 a. m.—A clergyman arrived at the house at this hour and was admitted. His name or denomination is not at pres- ent known. Hope Not Given Up. MILBURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 13.—Dr. Mann announced that the Preai- | dent was better than he was in the early | morning hours. “We are very anxious.” | said he, “but have not given up hope by any means.” MILBURN' HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 13, 10:35 p. m.—The crowds on Delaware | avenue near the mansion grow larger and | the police and military sentries have their { hands full in preserving the lines. | PITTSFIELD, Mass., Sept. 13.—Dr. Charles McBurney, who left Buffalo yes- terday afternoon for Stockbridge, wili re- turn to Buffalo to-day. He was seen in Pittsfield just as he was taking the train for Stockbridge this morning and said | that from the first the President’s heart i action had ‘caused the Phyllclam some anxiety. From the bulletin issued at 7:40 { this morning, which was the latest he had received, Dr. McBurney said he should Continued on Page Six. Continued on Page Nine. ISTED Sty o Sruggle? RPN Ve Peaple of te Netion WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 7:16 a. m.—A e bl