Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-29
The Matiuu'5 Grit.
OUR DEAD PRESIDENT.
THE DEATH. BED SCENE.

shot, and who was the only one with the
President when he commenced sinking last
night, made the following statement to rep
resentative of the Associated Press: 1t was
nv night to watch the President. had been
with him a good deal of the time from 8
o'clock in the afternoon. A few minutes be-
fore 10 o'clock left Col. Rockwell. with
whom I had been talking for some minutes,
in the large hall, and proceeded up stairs to
the Presidents room. On entering l found
Mrs. Garfield sitting by his bedside. There
was no other person in the room. | said to
her, "How is everything going? She re-
piled, "He is sleeping nicely" | then said,
II think you had better 60 to bed and rest.
l asked her what had been prescribed for him
to take during the night. She replied that
she did not know that she had given him
milk punch at o'clock. then said, "If you
will wait moment l will 60 to the doctors
room and see what is to be given during the
night. She then said, "There is beet tea
downstairs Daniel knows where to get II" ;"
| then went to the doctors room found
DIR. Bliss there and asked him what was to
be given during the night. He answered: 81
think had better fix up Il list, and will bring
it in to you presently" then went back H.
to the Presidents room and had some little
conversation with Mrs Garfield. She felt of
the Presidents hand and laid her hand on his
forehead and said "He seems to be in good
condition." and passed out of the room. l
Immediately felt his hands, feet and knees.
thought that his knees seemed little cool
and got flannel cloth, heated it at the fire
and laid it over his limbs. | also heated an
other cloth and laid it over his right hand
and then sat down in chair beside his bed
was hardly seated when DR.. Boynton came
in and felt the Presidents pulse. | asked
him how it seemed to him. He replied ut
is not as strong as it was this afternoon, but
very good" said, "He seems to be doing
we'll" "Yes," he answered and passed out.
He was not in the room more than two min
Ites.
Shortly after this, the President awoke.
AS he turned his head on awakening, | arose
and took hold of his hand was on the left
hand side of the bed as he lay. | remarked.
"You have had nice, comfortable sleep"
He then said: ooh! Swain, this terrible
pain !" placing his right hand on his breast
over the region of his heart. asked him if
1 could do anything for him. He said, "Some
water" l went to the other side of the room
and poured out about all ounce and half OF
Poland water into glass, and gave him to
drink. He took the glass in his hand, | rails
ing his head as usual, and he drank water very
naturally. | then handed the glass to the
colored man, Daniel, who came in during the
time I was getting the water. Afterwards
took napkin and wiped his forehead, as he
usually perspired on awakening. He then
said, "Oh! Swain, this terrible pain press
your hand on it." I laid my hand on his
chest. He then threw both hands up to his
side, about on line with his heart, and ex.
claimed, "Oh Swain, can you stop this;
and again, "Oh Swain" | then saw him
looking at me with staring expression. l
asked him if he was suffering much pain.
Receiving no answer, I repeated the question,
with like result then concluded that he
was either dying or was having severe spasm,
and called to Daniel, who was at the door, to
tell DR.. Bliss and Mrs. Garfield to come in
Immediately, and glanced at small clock
hanging on the chandelier nearly over the
foot of his bed, and saw that it was nearly
ten minutes past 10 o'clock.
DR.. Bliss came in within two or three min
utes. I told Daniel to bring the light
little candle which habitually sat behind the
screen near the door When the light shone
full on his face l saw that he was dying.
When DR.. Bliss came in moment after, l
said doctor, have you any stmulant! he
seems to be dying" He took hold of his
wrist as if feeling for his pulse and said, "Yes,
he is dying" l then said to Daniel, run and
arouse the house. At that moment Col. Rock
we'll came in, when DR.. Bliss said, "Let US
rub his limbs" which we did. In very few
moments Mrs Garfield came in and said
"What does this mean ?" and a moment after
exclaimed, "Oh! why am | made to suffer
this cruel wrong?' At l035 P. M. the sacri-
fee was completed. He breathed his last
calmly and peacefully.
At the final moment the following persons
were present: Mrs. Garfield and Molly, Drs.
Bliss, Agnew and Boynton, Gen. Swain,
Col. and Mrs. Rockwell, j. Stanley Brown,
G. o. Rockwell and Daniel Spriggs.
THE PRESIDENTS BODY.
On the early train this morning came
from New York the person into whose hands
has been placed the duty of embalming the
dead President On his arrival the wagon
was Immediately driven to Francklyn Cot
tage, when the embalner entered and was
soon shown to the room where lies the de-
ceased The operation of embalmiDg will
be begun after the autopsy has been COM
pleted this afternoon. The remains will then
be so preserved so as to render it possible for
the body to lie in state until the interment,
which is expected to take place earl y next week.
DR.. Curtis, prominent surgeon of Wash
ington, has been summoned to attend the
autopsy, and is now here He was notified
by wire last night Immediately after the Pres
ident's death, and he arrived here shortly
before II o'clock this morning The three
physicians who left the case after the late
Presidents removal from Washington are
also here, having arrived on the same train
with Dr.. Curtis. Thus there will be present
at the post-mortem examination the follow
ing surgeons: Drs. Bliss, Hamilton, Agnew,
Woodward, Rey burn, Surgeon General Barnes
and DR.. Curtis. The duties of the autopsy
will be performed by DR.. Agnew, who has
held the knife in all the operations in the
course of the Presidents sickness. The ball
will be found, and the condition of the lungs
aud wound will at last be definitely known.
THE INQUEST ABANDONED.
LONG BRANCH. September 20.-The coro'
ner's inquest upon the Presidents remaius
has been abandoned by the local authorities
THE PRESIDENTS ESTATE.
WASHINGTON, September 20.-The agent
of tho Ennitah hle ifp Insurance COmDany OF