The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-23
Lone BRANCH, Sept. 10.

President James A. GafDclu ulou NJ INC
Francklyn cottage, at Elberon, at 80 minutes
after 10 this evening. His death was 30 sud
den and unexpected that when the family was
summoned the President was unconscious.
From lhis he did not rally. He died few
moments after Mrs. Garfield entered the room.
From what can be ascertained, his death
was from sheer exhaustion. At the
Presidents bedside, holding his poor,
emaciated hand in her own, and watching with
anguish unutterable the fast-vanishing sands
of life, sat the faithful, devoted wife during
the closing hours of the Presidents career.
Around him were other weeping friends and
physicians, lamenting their powerlessness in the
presence Of the dark angel Of death. Toward
the last the mind of the sufferer wandered. He
was once more back in Mentor, amid those scenes
where the happiest hours OF his life were spent
He sat in the dear old homestead again with the
loved ones around him, his aged mother SO
proud of her big boy, his faithful wife and be-
loved children. 1t was a bllssful dream that
robbed death OF its terrors and rendered the
dying man Tor the moment unconscious OF the
cruel rending OF his once-vlgorous frame that
was constantly going on. The moan Of the
restless ocean mingled with the sobs OF the
loved ones as the lamp Of life fickered and went
out forever.
Nearly every one around the President chung
to hope to the last, and refused TO believe the
approach OF death until the shadow deepened
and the destroyer's presence could be no longer
unfelt.
Flags hang at half-mast from every house
on Ocean avenue, and the gagety OF this IA
vorite watering-place is followed by the deepest
gloom.
The struggle Is over, and death is the victor
This morning the physicians thought that
the President was little better. He seemed
to have some appetite, and no indication Of any
chill or any disturbance was noted The in
sidious nature of these attacks was again made
manifest soon after o'clock. The President
had been very quiet, and seemed comparatively
comfortable Suddenly he complained of chilli
ness, and, although his body was wrapped in
warm flannels, and within half an hour ne had
been bathed in hot alcohol, 1t was found that
his feet and hands were cold, and,
in moment there was marked rigor. He
shivered and every muscle In his body was
rigid. The pulse went up to 140, and even
higher, but 1t was 80 thready and feeble that it
was impossible to count the beats. After it
had passed that figure there was great danger
that he would sink into comatose state after
the rigor had passed, and every exertion was
made TO induce reaction. Hot tlannels were ap-
piled to the feet and poultices of raw onions
cut fine and stepped III alcohol were placed
were applied TO the head, and the arms and
limbs were rubbed vigorously. The result was
that reaction was established much sooner
than the physicians expected. After fifteen
minutes had elapsed, DR.. Bliss noticed increas-
ing warmth in the feet, and at the same time
the rIgidity of the muscles was observed to be
relaxing. IL was evident that the rigor was
passing away in about half the time which the
first one had lasted. That one, in spite of the
most vigorous treatment, had only yielded I'M
der half an hour.
The vitality of the President once more aston
fshed the physicians-so much so that DIR. Ag-
new said, when he came from the sick-chamber,
AZ he has said before: 1.-THE vitality of the
President is something more remarkable than
have ever met with III all my practice" This
was said to Mrs. Garfield and Private Secretary
Brown. and the great surgeon also added that
" If ii was not for his wonderful evidence OF
constitutional strength, he should feel as
though it was folly to indulge in any hope"
After the rigor had passed the President fell
asleep, and, although his pulse was still beat
ing above 10, yet his temperature had not de-
creased more than tenth of degree or so
below normal point
He awoke in about twenty minutes, and the
first words he said showed that the mind was
more active than his bodily strength. He said
to DR.. Bliss doctor feel very comforta-
BILE, but also feel dreadtully weak. l wish
you would give me the hand-glass and let mo
look ut myself"
Gen. SWAIN said "Oh, no, don't do that.
Mr.. President, see if you can't get some more
Sleep" 81 want TO see myself" the President
replied. Mrs. Garfield gave HIM hand-glass.
He held 1t in position which enabled hun TO
see his face. Mrs. Garfield, DIR. Bliss, DIR.
Agnew, Gen. Swain and Dr. Boynton stood
around the bed saying not word, but looking
at the President. He studied the reflection Of
his own features at length. He YEARLY let the
glass fall upon the counterpane. and with
sigh said to Mrs. Garfield ''Crete, don't see
how 1t is that man who looks as well as / do
should be SO dreadfully weak"
In moment or two he asked for his daugh-
ter, Miss Mollie. They told him that she would
come to see him later In the day. He said,
however. that he wanted to see her then.
Thercupon Rockwell went to the beach where
Miss MOllie was sitting with Miss Rockwell, and
told her that her father wanted TO see her.
When the child went into the room she kissed
her father and told him that she was glad to
zee that he was looking so much better. The
President said '.You think do look better,
Mollie2" She said 81 do, papa"
And then she took chair and sat at the foot
Of the bed a moment or two. After DIR. Boyn-
ton noticed that Miss Mollie was swaying In
the chair, he slipped up to her, but before
he could reach her she had fallen over
in dead faint. In falling her face struck
against the bedpost, and when they raised
her from the floor she was not only uncon-
which she had received. They carried her
out where sho could get the fresh breeze
from the ocean, and, after restoratives were
applied, she speedily recovered from the faint.
The room WIS close, the windows were closed,
and Miss Mollie had not been very well. and all
these causes, combined with the anxiety, in
duced the faintlng hit. The President. they
thought, had not noticed what had happened
to hs petted child, for he seemed 10
have sank into the stupor which char
acteIized bis condition most of tho time.
But when DIR. BOynton went back into the
room he was astonished to hear the President
say Poor little Mollie. She fell over like
log. Wrat was the matter?" They assured
the President that the fainting ft was caused
by the coseness OF the room, al well as the
delicate constitution of the girl, and when he
had that assurance he again sank into stupor
or sleep. which lasted until the noon exanlina-
ton. This stupor was not a healthy sleep.
The President frequently mutterod and rolled,
and tossed his head upon the pillow.
After the noon examination there was very
little change in the Presidents condition, ex-
cept TINT il was noticed that there was more
mental confusion. Tho fear of rigor about
that hour was not realized, but there was
fear that rigor would occur III early evening.
At the same time the President was doing so
well col, nsro tivelv that the phvsicaDs enter