EX-PRESIDENT WILSON

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1924, Page 3

EX-PRESIDENT WILSON

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WASHINGTON, February 2. Ex-President Wilson to-dav eontinuo<l to grow weaken and weaker. Min ])liy-;iel'jjn> are unable to predict bow long liis ‘Remarkable vitality "ill bold out. lie lias taken no nourishment for twenty-four hours, lie is disinclined even to take sips of water. At no time bus lie been umoiiseions. lie always seems to be conscious of wbat is happening in bis loom. He is able to whisper ‘yes" or “no" in leply to

questions us to v.imt, may lie done to make )iiin more comfortable. A eri-r----is expected ut any time. II is family has been .summoned by .Mrs Wilson.

who is in constant- attendance at lus bedside. Three physicians are in attendance as it is thought an operation might be necessary, Only a few of the cx-ITcsidont’s closeist friends ale admitted to the hr. use. President Coolidge lia.s sent a message of sympathy, including a prayer for Mr Wilson’s recovery. The physicians’ bulletin at 10."0 last night, said .Mr Wilson had gradually lost ground. Ili.s temperature wiv; normal, bis respiration twenty, and his pulse, ninety-six per minute, lie had no pain, and is conscious. A later ;eport stated that morphia was administered and oxygen was used to sustain .Mr Wilson in hi, last hours, which are delirious and half comatose. (.’runic pnisot/ing is .slowly, but surely deadening all bis vital functions. At lour o’clock this morning, las condition was unchanged. WILSON SINKr.\H SLOWLY. NEW YORK, February 2. Wasted by mouths of .suffering, Mr Wilson is lighting what bis physicians believe may lie his last battle. Yesterday be lay through the morning hours between life niitd death. He rallied slightly at noon, and talked in whispers. Pc seemed to be resting easier in the afternoon, but his attendants saw little hope that the end would be long delayed.

“You have done the best: you can, but I am a broken machine,” declined the cx-Presiflent, before falling asleep. Then be added, with a rally of waning strength: “But I am ready!”

Mr Wilson’s pulse is strong, and bis heart action good, but he was in such a state of exhaustion late in the afternoon that lie was no longer able to whisper to bis attendants without Hie greatest difficulty. His stomach became upset on Monday owing to indiscreet choice of food, and this caused the ex-President to collapse. There was violent bleeding from the nose, which wakened him. No opiates were given, but the ex-President responded, to stimulants. He realises that little short of a miracle can prolong Ids .life for many hours. He said: “Tt is hotter that I should go Hum remain a helpless invalid.”

THE END N EAR TNG. [Received this dav at S A.m.) AVAST 11NGTON, Eobruary

Mr AVilson’s condition was unchanged at ton to-night. His physicians said ho knew it was bis last, night, but, added the physician —“I may change the statement soon. Mr Wilson is taking no nourishment and is barely conscious. He feels no pain and is fully resigned in spirit as though ready to fall asleep. His heart is faint and there an grave fears that Hie end is almost at hand.

9 DEATH OK .Ml! WILSON. (Received this day at 8.30 a.mi.) WASHINGTON, Feb. ;i. Ex-president Woodrow Wilson died 1 at LRIS this morning alter three days criticvi-lf-.illiicsi. A physician deuxthjji" Air AVjh.oii - :, death . aid the last moments found him quite serene ar.:l the severance of tho thread of life tra* gentle and peaceful. The long vigil ceased when Admiral Trayson, Wilson’s friend, and physician stepped from the sick room and said, “The end has come.” Three physicians who attended the cx-President, used peculiar phraseology in describing tin: immediate cause of the relapse. They called it a crash of some sort, a peculiar sudden breakdown coming quickly after a slight digestive disorder, which was tho first indication that he was suffering from a new illness. This crash caused the clotting of the blood «=>* vessels and a complete collapse of the patient’s resistive power. He was a doomed man Irom the moment this occurred, nearly seventy-two hours liefore death came. The ex-Presidont’s will alone kept him alive long alter the physicians gave him up. ITe was declining food and too weak to converse. His body had already surrendered but his mind continued to preserve a clutch on life, similar to the past four years when lie was sorely stricken and most men would have boon unable to further stand the strain. Physicians during the filial hours devoted their attention only to making him comfortable. Air Wilson’s wife, daughter and brother were at the bedside.

AIR AVTLSON’S FAMILY

OPPONENTS’ TRIBPTES.

flteceived this day at 9.0 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. Mr Wilson’s two other daughters. Mrs McAdoo and Mrs Sayre, were too far away to reach their father before death. Mrs .Mcatloo is coming from Los Angelos with her husband, while a third daughter lives in Siam where her husband is doing medical work. It was truly a bereaved crowd which . (tiled the streets surrounding the \\ ilhome. They were not merely curious for many times it. was said that the scene resembled the fatetul death watch for the martyred Lincoln. It was also interesting to note that, • • as in ease of e\-Presidents Harding and Roosevelt, death came very suddenly at an unexpected moment. Mr Wilson’s passion cast a repressive atmosphere over the capital and the nation many hours before death occurred.

'flio National Legislative Chambers ■which, for some time, have been a coliseum in which opponents have watched daily the battle over the oil scandal grew quieter when Air W ilsoil’s illness became known. His one time opponents uttered characteristic statements'upon his death. Senator Reed who, although a Democrat, showed the bitterest enmity when Air Wilson was President. He said: “The country and the world will sijSiprofovindly regret the death of Mr Wilson. He lias been a tragic figure for four years and bis sufferings evoked the;deep sympathy of all people regardless of political or other dillcrences of opinion.” Senator Pepper, the Republican irrcconciliable, said: “From time to time he has voiced the aspirations of hundreds of millions of his follow hei„£s and if he failed to bring them to realisation it was not because the as•*r""'pirations were unworthy, hut because be failed to appreciate those human relationships through which _ alone practicable results can he obtained.”

A COINCIDENCE. (Received this dav at 13.45 p.m.) AV ASHING TON, Feb. 3. Jlr Wilson’s death came while the

churches throughout tho country prayed for Iris recovery. Thousands of churchgoers in AA'ashington on leaving the services were confronted with the newspaper extras announcing the death, which. !>v coincidence, occurred

on the 7th. anniversary of bis momentous severance of diplomatic relations

with Germany. The funeral arrangements aivait the wishes of Mrs 'Wilson, who will decide as to whether her hiishaml shall be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery among the bodies of thousand, of soldiers who died in the world war.

11, is irup'eated that Afr AYeeks. Secretary for AA'nr. will gladly assent t,i •such a burial as a fitting recognition of Mr AA'ilsou's part in the AYar.

The Wilson residence »in the scene of an affecting pilgrimage imincdialcly the death was announced, crowds actually choking the entire square, and preventing the approach. Nevertheless the throng instim tivelv made way when the President and .Mrs Cnolidg". within an hour, drove to the \A ilson residence, they being the first callers after death.