Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-16
Gen. GarfleId's Narrow Escape.

Frorn the Chicago Time.
WAsHISGToS, Nov 2J.--'Prcsidcnt-
elect Garfield could not forget me, nor
could ! forget him, a. for that matter
said Congressman Springer in a medi-
tativc manner, the other evening, when
asked how well he knew his former
icllowmcmbcr.
Mr.. Springer then went on to rcla'n
an interesting episode III Gen. Gar.
fields life, one known to but icw Df
his frendr Had il not been for thr
active cxertion Of Mc-sr-. Springer
and IIiscock, Of New York, Gen Gar
field would now bc in his grave instead
Of occupying the position Of future
tenant Of the White House. In 1871.
when the Potter investigation commit
tee became roasted out Of their sum
mcr quarters in the Capitol, by the
wicked sun Of Washington, an al
journmcnt Of several days vas taken
70 enable the committee 10 find Coyl-
or place for operations. Atlantic City
was selected. Among the wItnc--c-
summoned for examination at thI-
easy going New jersey watcring-placc,
was Gen. Garfield. He was one Of
the visiting Statesmen, and was one Of
the last Of these gentlemen to be cH-
amined. The next morning after Gen.
Garfield arrival, and the day he vas
to be examined, he, upon invitation Of
Congrcssmeu Springer and Hi-cock,
member. Of the committee, accompa-
MED them 10 the beach for a plunge
in the breakers. The time selected
for the ~ca-bath was early IN the morn
ing, 80 that the water felt quite chill
10 the touch. Gen. Garfield Is a man
of full habit, and inclined TO apoplcXy.
As be wa. not familiar with sca-bath-
ing. he omitted the necessary formula
OF first thoroughly wctting and cooling
his head before entering the water.
He walked into the breakers gradual.
ly, standing up in the waves a. they
broke over his body. The sudden
cooling Of the lower part OF hi, body
drove the blood, a. from a force pump,
to his brain. Suddenly he put his
hand to his head and fell backward as
If shot. As he fell he Law backward
upon the shelving sand-, with the
waves throwing cloud OF foam and
spray over his ,talwart figure. Both
Springer and Hiscock saw him drop
at the same time. In company with
the stcnographcr Of the committee,
who va, bathing with them, they ran
hastily to Gen Garfield, and dragged
him back upon the sand outside Of
the water. To all appearances Gen.
Garfield was dead His heart had
apparently ceased to beat. For scye-
raj moments his excited companions
searched in vain for sign Of life 1t
va. a very serious position. The ho-
tcls Of Atlantic city are fully a quar-
ter Of a mile from tho beach What
ever was to be done for the Generals
relief it was evident should be done
quickly. IN the office OF the main
bathing establishment a small bed was
found. There Gen Garfield wa. car
ricd, stripped and vigorously rubbed.
The bathing attendant fortunately had
some hot water. The feet Of the ap-
parently dead man were thrust into
this, while the three men who had
carried him in worked like slaves rub
bing the body. For long time thev
worked with the energy of despair,
without much hope, for it was fully
twenty minutes before the faintest
semblance of life began to appear.
Then faint warmth about the heart
began to show returning life: and as
the glow spread throughout the BODY
Hiscock and the stenographer retired
to dress and then return to relieve
Mr.. Springer. lie was alone with
Gen. Garfield when he opened his
eyes TO consciousness. The General
looked wildly about the bare room of
the bathing station as he said. in n
bewildered way, What has happen
ed p
"Iou had a sudden attack of yer.
tigo when bathing" said Mr.. Springer.
Gen. Garfield at once said. with
great promptness: This must be kept
from my family. 1t would frighten
them to death"
Mr.. Springer assured him that the
matter should be kept secret So Sc
we're was the attack that Gen. Garfield
was not able to get up from the bed
unasssted. He was carried to the
hotel, where he was obliged to remain
in bed for several days, before he was
able TO 90 home. He never did an.
pear as witness before the Potter
committee. The gentlemen who wit
messed his attack secured the suppress
sion of all mention of it at the time in
the newspapers. A week or ten DAYS
later there was brief paragraph
printed. merely saving that Con Gnr-