with two reporters. The government levied upon one of the three working wires at 2 o'clock, while rush messages were sent to the Western Union and Postal headquarters down town for extra men. Every messenger who slipped away from the dark portals of the Milburn house was told to hurry.

During the time from September 6th, when he was shot, to the 14th, when he died, the chart of his temperature was from 102.6 on the 8th in the evening to 99.2 when death occurred-94.6 being normal.

The pulse was 130 on the 6th when shot, fell to 110, rose to 146, and declined to 120 on the 7th, and was 100 the night of 9-10th, and was 115 at death.

Respiration was 32 when shooting occurred-24 at lowest point, and was 26 at death.

The chart was prepared by Dr. S. C. Stanton of the editorial staff of the Journal of the American Medical Association from the bulletins

24

as they appeared in the Record-Herald. Dr. Stanton prepared a similar diagram at the time of Garfield's death. Bulletins were issued by surgeons and attendants several times a day, so a continuous line and one fairly even was possible. Although the chart is of especial interest to medical men, it is also worthy of consideration by the layman.

The Coroner of Erie County, N. Y., issued, September 15th, the fol lowing certificate of death of the late President:

"City of Buffalo, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County of Erie, State of New York. Certificate and record of death of William McKinley.

"I hereby certify that he died on the 14th day of September, 1901, about 2:15 o'clock a. m., and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the cause of the death was as here underwritten:

"Cause-Gangrene of both walls of stomach and pancreas following gunshot wound.

"Witness my hand this 14th day of September, 1901.

"Date of death-Sept. 14, 1901.
"Age-58 years 7 months 15 days.
"Color-White.

"Single, married, etc.-Married.

"H. R. Gaylord, M. D.,

"H. Z. Matzinger, M. D.,
"James F. Wilson, Coroner.

"Occupation-President of the United States

"Birthplace-Niles, O.

"Father's name-William McKinley.

"Father's birthplace-Pennsylvania, United States.

"Mother's name-Nancy McKinley.

"Mother's birthplace-Ohio, United States.

"Place of death-1168 Delaware avenue.

"Last previous residence-Washington, D. C.

"Direct cause of death-Gangrene of both walls of stomach and pancreas following gunshot wound.”

CHAPTER II.

THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

The Parting of the Dying President and His Wife-The Scene of the Death of the President— The Emotion of Senator Hanna-The President's Last Words-The Historical House Where He Died-The Shadows That Fell When Lincoln Fell.

During the days of confidence that the President would recover, he was so brave and patient and kindly that his very calmness and courage the fortitude of his composure-seemed to deceive the physicians themselves and they misinformed the country. In this period of suspense, apprehension and hope, there were many troubled minds, that the recovery of the President would result in setting free the bloody scoundrel, but the President's death changed the scene for the murderer and his accomplices, and there will be a law for the preservation of Presidents rather than to avenge their death when victims of the groups of demons whose rising impudence has been long enough a menace and scandal.

The tenderest scene of the terrible drama at Buffalo was the parting of the dying President and his wife. At the same time, the assassin was informed he had killed the President and said it was what he "tried to do," and he was hurried away from the station house and placed behind the strong walls of the penitentiary.

It was early in the evening, September 13th, that the administration of oxygen aroused the President from a comatose condition, when he opened his eyes and looked about with that kindly, gentle expression which has made all who have been in the sick room love him. They saw that he was trying to say something. They bent over him. "Mrs. McKinley," he almost whispered and then he closed his eyes wearily. It was evident that he knew that the end was at hand, that the time for leave-taking, for everlasting farewells, had come.

She was helped into her husband's room by Mrs. McWilliams, but Mr. McKinley had again fallen into unconsciousness. After waiting a few moments she obeyed the suggestion of those about and went back to her room.

About 8 o'clock Mr. McKinley recovered consciousness again and again he whispered Mrs. McKinley's name. Once more they brought her

and put her in a chair beside his bed. They saw that he was conscious and then turned away-all except the nurse and one doctor.

When Mrs. McKinley had seated herself she took his hand. His eyes opened. He whispered several sentences. Those near caught only one, "Not our will, but God's will, be done."

It was a long leave-taking and the news that it was happening went downstairs and out into the street. It was received everywhere with tears. It was for the moment not the President of the United States, the head of the mightiest nation on earth. It was a husband and lover standing in the dark river and receiving the last look of love from that sad, lonely, woman to whom his touch and his smile and his cheerful words were literally the breath of life.

The first time she had borne up well, but now they carried her, half fainting, wholly overcome.

There is another account:

The physicians rallied him to consciousness and the President asked almost immediately that his wife be brought to him. The doctors fell back into the shadows of the room as Mrs. McKinley came through the doorway.

The strong face of the dying man lighted up with a faint smile as their hands were clasped. She sat beside him and held his hand. Despite her physical weakness she bore up bravely under the ordeal.

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 last audible conscious words, as taken down by Dr. Mann at the bedside, were:

"Good-bye, all; good-bye. It is God's way. His will be done." And this should not be lost.

As Mrs. McKinley entered the room the President emerged from the stupor and smiled at her, the tense lines in his face softening as he did so. He slipped his wasted hand into hers and with his last strength drew her to him. Then there were said words too sacred for human lips to repeat-too holy for human ears to hear again. The white-robed nurses stepped back into the shadows, the faithful physicians turned away and bowed their heads. The President was saying farewell to the woman he loved best.

For several minutes the scene continued. Mrs. McKinley, despite her weakened condition, passed through the ordeal in a way befitting

the first woman of the land. Her white face was set with despair as she was led out of the chamber, but she stifled the sobs.

"For his sake. For his sake," she whispered as they took her away.

She never saw him in life again.

After Mrs. McKinley disappeared into her own apartment the shadow overspread the President's features again. It was the time of supreme anguish, the acme of human pain. His lips moved feebly.

Nearer, my God, to Thee," he said, and the watchers listened, breathless:

Though like the wanderer,

The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,

My rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

The passing of the life of the President was almost imperceptible. He had been unconscious for hours when he sunk into his last sleep. Gradually his pulse became fainter and fainter. Relatives who had been dear to him in life stood by the bedside watching and waiting.

At 2 o'clock the end was near. Dr. Rixey, a life-long friend, stood with his finger on his pulse. His head was bowed.

At 2:16 a. m. he raised his face. The tears were streaming from his eyes.

"It is over," he said. "The President is no more."

In this trying period, when the President's mind was partially clear, occurred a series of events of a profoundly touching character. Downstairs, with strained and tear-stained faces, members of the Cabinet were grouped in anxious waiting. They knew the end was near and that the time had come when they must see him for the last time on earth. This was about 6 o'clock.

One by one they ascended the stairway-Secretary Root, Secretary Hitchcock and Attorney-General Knox. Secretary Wilson also was there, but he held back, not wishing to see the President in his last agony.

There was only a momentary stay of the Cabinet officers at the threshold of the death chamber. Then they withdrew, the tears stream