Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-09
JAMES G.. BLAINE,
Secretary of State.
THE FATAL SHOT.

eve had not long been at the depot, :"
said Secretary Blaine, who was ut the
Presidents side when the assassination
took place, "when / heard q pistol fired.
/ did not dream that any one had fired
at the President or at any of us. knew,
however, that it must be near, as the
noise was deafening in my ears, like the
reverberation from a cannon shot when
one stands near it. | thought this is a
town where pistols are used freely.
Some row is going on in the depot
building, and stray shot might hit the
President. L looked around, turning
from the President, to see where it was.
| did not even then comprehend that the
shot could have been aimed Mt him. As
/ did so / heard the President say,
My God !! and, turning quickly, / saw
him falling by my side, and heard an
other shot / instinctively rushed
toward the assassin. 1t was too late,
and needless. Strong arms had already
pinioned him, and / turned to lift the
poor bleeding President beside me. We
placed him en- a mattress, and carried
him to the superintendent's room in the
second story. You know the rest 1t
was all over In two minutes, but the
villain understood his work. The heavy
ball did not MAIN limb or miss its
mark. 1t had lodged in the vitals."
WHERE THE BULLET LODGED.
DIR. Bliss states that the examinations
made disclosed the fact that the bullet
entered the Presidents body between
the tenth and eleventh ribs, on the right
- i e 81
forward and downward into and through
the lower end of the right lobe of the
liver, finally lodged in the anterior por-
ton Of the abdomen.
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
Tt became evident that there was one
thing to do, that was to remove the
President from the inconvenient room
in which he was placed. The police
ambulance was sent for, as being the
most convenient vehicle for carrying the
President A mattress was placed in it,
and then when it was eldy IN open
pathway was made between the dense
throng of people, and the President
was brought down and placed within
the conveyance. It was a sight to make
those who saw it weep. Many had seen
the President fifteen minutes before in
the full picture of health, and now he
lay with blood stained clothes, with
paled face, half-parted lips, and half
closed eyes. Two physicians were at
his side. The ambulance was driven
rapidly, followed by large throng, over
the smooth pavements to the White
House. The President said nothing as
he was being carried along, until a
rough place on Fifteenth street was
reached, where the iolting evidently
caused him great pain, for he moaned.
On arriving at the White House he was
carried to the upper chamber, on the
southwest corner, and there more
careful examination OF the wound was
made. Surgeon. General Barnes, Drs.
Bliss and Harris, and Secretary Lincoln
stood around the bedside of the Presi-
dent.
THE PRESIDENTS CALMNEss
When DIR. Bliss Informed the Presi-
dent that his condition was critical the
President said doctor, l am not
afraid to die. / want to know what you
think about my condition. Tell me the
worst" The Doctor replied that his
condition was very serious that he had
some chances of life, but that he would
do well to prepare for the worst. One
Of the ladies of the Cabinet afterward
cheerfully said TO the President We
expect to pull you through, Mr.. Presi-
dent" Mr.. Garfield answered "And
] sm going to try to help you pull me