DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16348, 4 February 1924, Page 5

DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT.

WOODROW WILSON'S END. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Aim., (Australian sunt N.Z. Cablo Ab»uoui<«<u. NEW YORK, Fe! ii....-v -. Wasted by months of suffering, Dr. Wilson is lighting what the physicians believe may be his last battle. Yesterday he lay throughout the morning hours between life and death, ~ but rallied slightly at noon and talked in whispers. If© seemed to bo resting easier jn the afternoon, but his attendants saw little hope that the end will be long delayed. "You have done the best you can, but I am a- broken machine," declared the ex-President before falling asleep. Then ho added, with a rally of waning strength, '"But I am ready." ,\ Dr. Wilson's pulse is strong and Wart action good, but he was, in such a state of exhaustion late in the afternoon thiH he was no longer able to whisper to his attendants without the greatest difficulty. .His stomach becam-e upset on Monday, owing to indiscreet choice o< food, and this caused the present collapse. Violent, bleeding of (he nose weakened him. No opiates were given, but tlie ex-President responded to stimulants. He J realised that little short of a. miracle can prolong his life for many hours' and said : "It is better that I should go than remain a helpless invalid. - '

Feb. 3.—Dr. Wilson to-day continues to grow weaker and weaker. His physicians arc unable to predict how long his remarkable vitality will hold out. He has taken no nourishment for twentyfour hours, and is disinclined oven to take sips of water. At no time has he been unconscious, and always seems conscious of what is happening in hif chamber. He is able, to whisper "Yes" or "No" in reply to questions as to what may be done to make him more comfortable.

The crisis is expected at any time. His family has been summoned by Mrs. Wilson, who is in constant attendance at his bedside. Three physicians are, in, attendance, as.it is thought an operation might be necessary. Only a few of the ex-President's closest friends are admitted to the house. Mr. Coolidge sent a message of sympathy, including a prayer for Dr. Wilson Js recovery. The physicians' bulletin at 10.20 last night said: Dr. Wilson has gradually lost ground. His temperature is normal, his respiration 20, and pfilse 96. He has iio pair; and/is conscious. Later.—Morphia was administered and oxygen used to sustain Dr. Wilson in his last hours, which are delirious, half comatose. Uraemic posioning is slowing but surely deadening, all his vital functions. ? ' At 4 this morning his condition was unchanged. Later.—Dp. Wilson's condition is unchanged. At 10 to-night he said to hif physician: "This may be my last night," but he added, "Physician, 1 may change my statement soon." ;Dr, Wilson is taking no nourishment and is barely conscious, lie feels no rain and is fully resigned in spirit as though ready to' fall asleep. His heart is faint and there are grave fears that the end is almost jit hand. A PEACEFUL PASSING. '•A CRASH OF SOME .SORT." lAu8l«-ali»n find N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 4. 8.55 a.m.), WASHINGTON, Feb. o. ( Ex-President Wilson died at ll.lt this morning after three days' critical illness. ■ , Physicians describing Dr. Wilsons death said the last moments found him quite serene, and the severance of the thread of life was gentle and peaceful. The. long vigil ceased when Admiral Grayson, Dr. Wilson's friend and physician, stepped from the sick room and said, "The end has come." Tho three physicians who attended the ex-President used peculiar phraseology in describing.the inmicdiate.cause.of the relapse. They called it "a crash of somesort, the.peculiar sudden breakdown coming quickly after slight disgestive disorder which was the first indication he was suffering from a now illness. This crash caused the clotting of the blood vessels and .the complete collapse of the patient'sresistive power. He was a doomed man from tho.moment this occurred, nearly seventy-two hours before his death came."., The ex-President's will alone kept bun alive long after the physicians gave bun up. He was declining food and was too. weak to converse. His body had already, surrendered, but his mind continued to preserve its clutch on J'de. Similarly during tho past four years.he was sorely stricken, and most men would have beep unable to further stand the strain. The physicians during the final hours devoted 'their attention only to making him comfortable. Dr. Wilson's, wife, daughter, and brother were at tho bedside. A NATIONAJ^BEREAtEMKNT, TRIBUTES TO' DEAD STATESMAN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) .Received February 4, 9.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.

Dr. Wilson's two other 'daughters, .Mrs. MoAdoo arid Mrs Sayre, were too far away to reach their father before his death. Mrs McAdoo is coming from Los Angeles with her husband, while ii third daughter lives at Siiini, where her husband is doing medical wort. ft was a truly bereaved, crowd . which filled the streets surrounding the Wilson home. They were not merely curious, for "many times it; was said,the scene resembled' the.fateful death watch for the martyred Lincoln. It was also interesting to note this, as in the case of Harding ,and Roosevelt, when death came very suddenly at unexpected, moments, Wilson's passing cast a depressive atmospherel over the capital audition many hours before it occurred. The National Legislative Chambers, which ..for some, time have been a colisseuni in-which opponents have waged, daily battle over the. oil scandal, grew quieter when Wilson's illness became known, His one-time opponents .uttered characteristic statements upon his death. .. . t . i ' ~ Senator Reid, who although a Democrat,: and showed tho,bitterest enmity when Wilson was President, said-. "The country and world will profoundly regret the death of Dr Wilson. , Ho has been a tragic figure for. four years,, and his sufferings evoked the deep eympathy of all' people regardless of political or other. difference's of opinion." Senator Pepper, a Republican irreconcilable, said : "From time to time he voiced the aspirations of hundreds of millions of his fellow beings, and if failing to bring them ro realisation it was not because his aspirations were unworthy, but because lie failed to appreciate those human relationships through which alone practicable results can be obtained."

! (Received February 4, 12.55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. Dr. Wilson's death came while churches throughout the country prayed for his recovery. Thousands of. church-goers in Washington, on lenv-. ing the services, were Confronted with newspaper extras announcing. Hie death, which by a coincidence occurred on,the seventh anniversary of his momentous severance of diplomatic relations with Germany,. Tho funeral arrangements await the wishes of Mrs.. Wilson, who will decide whether her husband shall lie' buried in Arlington National cemetery among the bodies of thousands of soldiers who died in tho world war. It is indicated that Mr. Weeks, Secretary for War, will gladly assent to such a burial lis a fitting recognition of Dr. Wilson's part in "the war. The Wilson residence was the scene of an. affecting pilgrimage immediately'the death was announced, crowds actually chocking the entire square, and preventing approach. Nevertheless the throng instinctively made wav when the President and Mrs. Coolidgo, within, an hour, drove to' the Wilson residence, being the first caller;; after the death. Dr Wilson, ex-resident, of

tho U.S.A., was aged 66; former president of Princeton University, where lie received some of his education; author of "A History of the American People 0 and Other volumes dealing with political history He was apjsointed Governor of Now Jersey in 19115 elected President of tin- U.S'.A.. 1912. Ho was married to Mrs N. Gall in 1915. lII.' November, 1916 he was re-elected President. Made noble orations on the entry <jt the. U.S.A. into tli,. war in 1917. .He was a leading figure at the Peace. Conference m Versailles, aiid signed the Treaty of Peace. He became seriously ill in October, 1919/ and took no part in public for several months. He resumed law work in Washington in 1921, bat ill-health very considerably* curtailed his activities.