medical skill and science could provide were within reach. The beating of the pulse was sufficiently strong to enable the physicians to permit the President to have his sleep out.

Dr. McBurney arrived at the Milburn House a little before 8 o'clock. Shortly after his arrival, oxygen was administered to the President, and under its influence the patient aroused. The Rev. C. V. Wilson of North Tonawanda, pastor of Mr. McKinley's old church in Canton, was with the President and prayed with him. Mr. Wilson left the Milburn house shortly before 9 o'clock. Tears were streaming from his eyes and he was almost completely overcome by grief.

CONSCIOUS THAT THE END WAS NEAR

whispered to Dr. He asked to see

The President was fully conscious, and Rixey that he knew that the end was at hand. his wife, and she was sent for. She entered his room, and it was apparent to those present that of the two principal figures in this intense drama President McKinley, about to solve the great mystery, the more fully realized the significance of the awful moment. There was no show of fear in the attitude of the nation's Executive.

Mrs. McKinley sank to her knees at the side of the bed, her husband's hands clasped in hers, and her head bowed and buried in the bed covering. Sobs shook her for a moment, and then she looked at Dr. Rixey, and with almost a smile on her face, said: "I know that you will save him. I cannot let him go; the country cannot spare him."

THE PRESIDENT'S LAST WORDS

The President, it is said, roused himself sufficiently to recognize her, and whispered: "Good-bye all, good-bye. It is God's way. His will be done." He made a feeble movement, as if he wished to clasp her hand, and lapsed into unconsciousness, and the physicians assisted Mrs. McKinley to her feet and led her from the

room.

A little later Mr. Milburn explained to Mrs. McKinley that the President was dying, and that he could live till morning only in the event of the direct interposition of Providence. She then came to a full realization of the loss that was upon her, and she showed symptoms of a collapse. Herbert P. Bissell rushed to the assistance of the sorrowing wife, who was being literally supported by Mr. Milburn. Word was sent to Dr. Wasdin, who came from the President's chamber and administered a restorative. Little by little she came back to her normal condition. Several women friends were with her, and in their sympathy she found surcease. To one she whispered: "I will be strong for his sake.'

An attempt was made to persuade Mrs. McKinley to retire and get some rest. She refused. She said that her duty was there, and there she would remain within call of those who were with her husband. She said that she hoped that the President would arouse, and she might then have the comfort of a last word with him.

LAST DESPERATE MEANS EMPLOYED

As soon as it was known that oxygen was being administered, all knew that the beginning of the end had come. Then a bulletin was posted as follows:

at this hour.

"The President's physicians report that his condition is grave He is suffering from extreme prostration. Oxygen is being used. He responds to stimulation but poorly."

With a sublime display of Christian fortitude, the President soon after lapsed into unconsciousness. The members of the Cabinet, grief-stricken, were gathered in the large drawing-room of the Milburn house. The time had come when they, too, were to look upon the President for the last time in life. They ascended the stairway one after the other, noiselessly approaching the threshold of the chamber where the dying man lay, and gazed within. Those who came first turned back appalled and overwhelmed, and did not pass within the chamber.

Secretary Long, who arrived on a late train, went at once to the chamber and passed directly to the bedside of the President, grasping the hand that was already clammy with approaching death. Meantime the President had lapsed into a state of complete unconsciousness, and it was only a question of hours, perhaps minutes, when the end would come.

By 10 o'clock there was no perceptible pulse. The extremities. had grown cold and the rigidity of death was fast falling upon the sufferer. The physicians who remained at his side detected only the faintest heart-beats. Some of them, knowing that all was over, departed, while others remained, not because there was any further need of their ministrations, but because of respect for the expiring President. Dr. Janeway, the eminent heart specialist, who had been summoned from New York, arrived shortly before midnight and proceeded at once to the bedside of the President. An instant's glance told him the time had passed for the slightest hope; he turned away, telling the assembled relatives and officials that the end was very near.

Midnight came, and still the tremendous vitality of the President was battling against dissolution. Another hour passed so, and still another. At 2 o'clock Dr. Rixey was the only physician in the death chamber. The others were in an adjoining room, while the relatives, Cabinet officers and nearest friends were gathered in silent groups in the apartments below. As he watched and waited, Dr. Rixey observed a slight convulsive tremor. The President had entered the valley of the shadow of death. Word was at once. taken to the immediate relatives who were not present to hasten for the last look upon the President in life.

They came in groups, the women weeping and the men bowed and sobbing in their intense grief.

Grouped about the bedside at this moment were the only brother of the President, Abner McKinley, and his wife; Miss Helen McKinley and Mrs. Sarah Duncan, sisters of the President; Miss Mary Barber, niece; Miss Sara Duncan, niece; Lieutenant

James F. McKinley, William M. Duncar and John Barber, nephews; FM. Osport cousin. Secretary George E. Contelyou. Charles G. Dawes Comptroler o. tat Cumeno : Colonel Web C. Hayes and Color Man C Brown. Wat these direct and indirectly

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wah the tamil i were these others who had kept ceaseos 15. the wittesgurbed nurses he the Litormed marine In the atoming room were Irs. Charles Dusun Kosil bank Cares a Stockton

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CHAPTER XXI

Obsequies of the Martyred President

URING the day that followed the sad death of the martyred McKinley preparations were made for the last sad rites. These, as in the similar instances of Lincoln and Garfield, and of the more recently deceased Victoria, were to consist of public ceremonies and private obsequies. The people demanded the right to gaze upon the lifeless features of their beloved leader, and the request, dictated by respect and affection, could not be ignored. From Philadelphia came an earnest solicitation that the body of the dead President should lie in state for an interval in the Hall of Independence, the hallowed scene of the nation's birth, where the body of Abraham Lincoln had reposed thirty-six years before. But the request came too late, the plans for the funeral ceremonies had been made, and it was deemed best not to change them even for this added honor to the nation's martyr.

Before beginning the preparations for the funeral, it was deemed right and proper that an autopsy should be made to satisfy the family and friends as well as the public that all had been done which could be done to save the President's life. The following is the report of the doctors who made the autopsy:

WHAT THE AUTOPSY TOLD

"The bullet which struck over the breast bone did not pass through the skin and did little harm.

"The other bullet passed through both walls of the stomach near its lower border. Both holes were found to be perfectly closed by the stitches, but the tissue around each hole had become gangrenous. After passing through the stomach the bullet passed