The President’s Last Words Attested

     As a matter of historical accuracy we desire to record a recently published communication from Dr. M. D. Mann, who was the President’s operating surgeon.

BUFFALO, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1901.     

     MY DEAR SIR:—As President McKinley was [105][106] dying I stood behind a screen in his room and heard him say his last words. His wife came into the room, and he said to her, “Good-bye, all; good-bye. It is God’s way. His will be done, not ours.”
     There was some further conversation with his wife in the way of leave-taking, but this should not be repeated. About an hour later he said to his wife, “‘Nearer, my God, to Thee, e’en though it be a cross’ has been my constant prayer.” He tried to say something more, but I could not catch it. I gave out at the time the first sentence as being the most appropriate to be remembered as his last words. I wrote them down at the time so that there can be no question about it.

Yours very truly,                       
M. D. MANN.