Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-05
THE SHOOTING OF THE PRESI-
DENT.
A Thrilling Account of the Tragic
Scene as Given by Eye Witnesses.

A Thrilling Account of the Tragic
Scene as Given by Eye Witnesses.
Nes0 York Herald of Sunday.
Policeman Keaney, of the Island pre-
cinct, who first tried to arrest the assassin,
makes the following statement of the shoot
ing: "Guitean arrived at the depot about
half an hour ahead OF the Presidential party,
and moved about and acted quite restless.
The officers attention was attracted by his
movements, but he did not watch the assas-
sin particularly until he heard him ask a
hackman at the Sixth street depot IL he
could drive him off in hurry II required.
4 thought said Kearney, that that was a
peculiar thing, but before could follow 1t
up closer saw the Presidents party driv-
ing down Sixth street to the depot, and
| had to go and look after them. They
drove to the b street entrance. Secretary
Blaine was with the President, and the two
entered the depot together. The President
walked up to me and asked how much time
he had before the train left. 1t was twenty
minutes after nine o'clock, saw by looking
at my watch, and told the President that
he had ten minutes. Just as he thanked
me l heard a pistol shot, and, turning, l
saw the man that l had been watching
previously standing about ten feet away,
in the shadow of the main entrance to the
waiting room, levelling his pistol across his
arm. He fired a second shot before l
could speak to him, and darted between
myself and the President and Secretary
Blaine into the street. The President reeled
and fell just in front of me. As he fell he
said something l could not exactly under
stand, and Secretary Blaine, with terrified
look, pushed toward him, exclaiming, my
God, he has been murdered. What is the
meaning OF this?'
"In Gods name, man, shouted, "what
did you shoot the President for?n
MIR. James K. Young, of the Philadelphia
Star, says OF the occurrence: 81 reached the
depot of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
road at ab0ut nine O'Clock, intending to
take the limited express train for New York.
l passed through the ladies' reception room,
where the shooting took place, to the main
or general reception room, where the ticket
office Is located. After purchasing my tick
ct proceeded Immediately to the train.
After locating my seat In the car / descend
ed to the depot platform. There met Mr..
Barclay, the old Journal clerk of the
House, and Messrs. Kilburn and Adams, of
the newspaper press of the city, who were
about to leave with their families for the
North. We stood just opposite the special
train which was waiting for the President.
In 1t were some dozen people, more than
half of whom were ladies', the wives, sons
and daughters of Secretaries Window and
Hunt, Postmaster General James, Colonel
Rockwell and others of the Presidential
party. They were a merry party, laughing
and joking with the numerous friends who
had come down to see them off for fort
nights holiday and frolic. Soon Secretaries
Window and Hunt came out OF the car and
began promenadiDg up and down the plat
form, quietly smoking their cigars. Later
Postmaster General James alighted from
the car and Joined our party.
eve began congratulating him and our
selves that we were to escape the fearfully
hot weather, and were trying to joke him
about the administration leaving business
for pleasure, when young man stepped up
to Mr.. James and said to him, excitedly,
that the President had been shot.
"Mr. James turned and said, 'Whatl
There is no Joke in thing like that
ellis informant, almost scared to death,
replied, Il assure you it is tTue.'
"Without another word Mr.. James turned
and ran to the depot building, and we all
naturally followed him. When l reached
the ladies' reception rooms the doors were
being closed. There ere at least two hun
dred people in and around the building,
and l began TO inquire If the news I had
find out that 1t was. could not gain ad-
mission at the inside door of the room
where the President was, SO ran out into
the street, hoping to be more successful at
the street entrance. There l found
a big crowd already gathered, and
policeman and some others
hurriedly hustling a man outside. This
was the assassin. l did not follow, as my
desire was to learn the extent of the Presi-
Wnnnd nf hafnnp % IN oafn oA
mittance at the door, saw an open window,
say about ten feet from the ground. A col
ored newsboY was climbing in, and con-
cluded to follow suit 1t was not more than
a half minutes work before / got inside
The first person l saw was Secretary Win
dom. He was standing alone, as pale as
death, and the tears were trickling down
his cheeks. Knowing him well, | said:
4" Mr.. Secretary, where Is the President,
and what does this mean?'
"He replied: There he lies in yonder
corner in that group. 1t is as much of a
mystery to me as 1t is to you
81 moved over about two yards, and
there | saw the President lying on a mat
tress, which had been hastily brought from
the sleeping apartments of one of the depot
employees. There were probably thirty peo-
pie around him, many of whom were
women, who had been waiting for the
Secretary Blaine had hold of one of the
Presidents hands and Postmaster General
James was assisting to get him into a sit
ting posture. His face showed a deathly
paleness, and he had look of surprise, as
IL caused by pain and despair. He was
vomiting and seemed to have no control of
himself. His coat and vest had been ripped
from him and his trousers loosened The
matter he had vomited had fallen on his
shirt below the bosom, which made It seem
as IL the ball of the assassin had penetrated
the intestines. Near him was his son, lad
of sixteen. Poor boy, be was almost beside
himself. He wrung his hands and cried In
a piteous manner.
"With him were the son of Colonel Rock
well, and Secretary Hunt, who, in every
way natural to human beings, were trying
to comfort him. In less than ten minutes
Secretary Blaine gave orders to have the
President removed to the upper floor of the
depot, to the officers room, where there
would be plenty of air and freedom from
the mob which was rapidly gathering.
Colonel Rockwell and Adiutant General
COr6fn soon made a passagewsy, and ,he
President was borne by a number of the
eolored porters Of the depot to the upper
floor. ! waited down stairs, and in about
half an hour he was carried down, placed
in an ambulance, and under a strong guard
OF mounted police was driven to the White
House."