The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-07-15
sLAsyE ANDARruUR.
How tue Shooting OF the Pres
ident Erected Taem.

n WrlleT, speaking OF oecfetcfN
Blaine and Vice President AR
thur, says: Blaine has suffered
the keenest of mental anguish
since the President was shot, and
his suffering has told upon him
terribly. He was q witness of the
assassin's deed, and the shock un,
nerved him then. He has been Il
close and intimate friend of the
President Tor years. They have
stood by each other in the trying
aud stormy times of the past,
when both were in Congress to-
gether. This bond of affection
between them has strengthened
with each succeeding year. Sec
rotary Blaine called upon Vice
President Arthur at the home of
Senator Jones, where he has been
staying since his arrival here.
Mr.. Arthur's usually fresh com
plexi0n was pallid, and his eyes
were red with the sleepless grief
ofthe past two days. He was
dressed in dark clothes of light
texture. He showed the pitiless
traces of overwhelming grief.
He seemed bowed by the appall-
ing suddenness of the great trial
that overshadowed him. When
Mr.. Blaine drove up he alighted,
and barely nodding to the attend
ants that stood outside Ofthe door
passed in without a word. His
face was the picture of unuttera-
BILE woe, and he appeared to be
distracted in its contemplation.
Senator Jones and General Ar
thur sat in the library. awaiting
the arrival of the messages that
came by hurried messengers al
most every five minutes. When
the servant opened the door the
stately secretary walked in, and
General Arthur rose hurriedly to
meet him with extended hands.
For an instant neither spoke, and
tears sutfused the eyes Of both.
There was a cordial grasp Of the
hands, and then Mr.. Blaine in
husky tones said gently: Il fear
we can reasonably hope no Ion
ger. | am afraid our President is
at the point of DEATH" General
Arthur let go the seeretary's
hand and dropped back in achair.
Till then he had hoped against
hope. Suffering from nervous x-
haustion and hours of poignant
grief, his strength almost failed
him at the announcement of what
he had longed not to hear, and
had prayed might not happen. In
Il few seconds he mastered his
feelings enough to ask i'm broken
tones for the particulars. The
secretary gave his reasons for his
fears and in tones of horror de-
clared that he saw no reasonable
grounds on which to base IN ex
peetatirn for which he had longed
and looked since the pistol Of the
assassin had done its work. Gen.
Arthur would talk OF nothing else
but the fate of the President, and
when it was mentioned that he
might desire to summon Congress.
he could not listen to anything
but said in a choking voice,
There was time enough for CON
suItation about that if the worst
must happen" He still could
not bring himself to realize that
he must be thrust by violence in
to the Executive chair of the Ma
ton. He said he should rely up
the advice OF the Cabinet,
whom he trusted to do what was
best when the necessity was upon
them. Mr.. Blaine rose to 30, and
Mr.. Arthur again preSsedhis hand
and thanked him for the kindness
he had shown him in this atiic-
ton, and the mindful considera-
that he had manifested at all
Thus these two men par
ted, with the trustingfondDess of
brothers, the Vice President
leaning upon the master will of
the Secretary for guidance in the
Of his life.