Democratic messenger., 1881-09-03
NEWS OF THE DAY
GENERAL ITEMS.


On Thursday, August 25th, the
physicians of the President announced
that they had no more encouraging
symptoms to report, and informed Mrs.
Garfield that, though hope is not yet
abandoned, there is nothing to justify
hope. BY vote of five to one the ply
sicians decided that it would be unsafe
to remove the President from the White
House. The President himself was very
anxious to leave the White House. On
Thursday night the Cabinet felt that the
case was hopeless and Vice-President
Arthur was notified to hold himself in
readiness to return to Washington at
any moment. On Friday morning il
was believed by all that the President
was dying. He was in a stupor most OF
the time during the night and wander
ing in his mind during the day. Once
during Friday he recognized his wife
and asked her to go and take some rest.
When she asked to stay with him he
desired that she might be allowed as
they must soon be separated. At 10
p. M, Friday, the physicians noticed a
slight change for the better, but at mid
night there was little to give the ply
the physicians hope. On Saturday noon
Secretary Blaine telegraphed to London
that the President was sinking fast, and
that it was doubtful il he could live
through the night. During. Saturday the
Presidents mind was more clear than
on Friday and he understood much that
was going on. Early in the morning
he seemed to be very despondent, and
it was then that he asked whether it were
worth while longer to keep up the
struggle. None of his family were al
lowed to see him, save Mrs. Garfield.
Early In the morning he bade fearful
and affectionate farewell to the children.
Toward evening the Presidents symp-
toms were little better, and hope was
once more revived. DIR. Boynton at 10
o'clock Saturday night said he felt en-
couraged, but DIR. Hamilton felt that
there was very little to base hope upon.
At this time Secretary Blaine sent dis
patch to London more favorable than
the one he sent at noon.
The Presidents condition on Sun
day was decidedly improved. The gland.
ular swelling subsided and the wound
was doing well, the patient taking and
assimilating liberal allowance of beef
extract. His pulse had fallen and there
was great change for the better
in his appearance. Sunday night
as he was leaving Washington for
New York DIR. Hamilton said he now
thought the patient wound recover. The
President himself said that he felt bet
ter, and his nurses, who had almost
abandoned hope on Saturday, were con-
fident of his recovery. The President
on Sunday called for his children and
they visited him. Prayers for the Pres
ident were offered in the churches
throughout the country Sunday, and in
many cases the clergymen read the
latest bulletins to the congregation.
The President slept well on Sunday
night, and Monday there was marked
improvement in his condition. He took
and assimilated beef extract freely and
ate some chicken jelly and milk toast.
The gIandular swelling was punctured
again and suppurated satisfactorily.
There were no traces of pus cavities in
the lungs nor of blood poisoning in any
of the organs. The patients strength
appeared to be returning and the doc
tors agreed that the worst was over and
that he would begin to recover, but that
recovery would be slow and gradual.
A Washington dispatch says that
Guiteau will not be removed from the
district jail No attack upon the Jail is
anticipated in case of the Presidents
death, and if one were made, the guard
is quite strong enough to protect the
prisoner. Numbers of letters intended
for Guiteau and opened by the District
Attorney contain threats and rude draw
ings of man being hanged. The pris-
oner is said to be preparing his own
defence, but in case of the Presidents
death the court viii, as is usual in such
cases, provide him with counsel.
-Lieutenant-C Commander B. l.. Edes
and Lieutenant Lyman G.. Spalding
were killed at the Newport Torpedo
Station Monday by the premature ex-
plosion of torpedo.
The Democratic State Committee
will meet in New York on September 7.
Savannah, Ga, was badly wrecked
on Saturday by hurricane which de-
stroyed more than q million dollars
worth and caused the loss of many lives.
I'm the Jennie Cramer case Mr..
Allen, new witness, testified Monday
that he saw the girl in a carriage with a
young man whom he identified as James
Malley, Jr., on the night before her
body was found. Blanche Douglass has
been removed to the Jail.
While making an experimer tai test
with the new electric lights at Union
Square, New York City, the lifting
tackle broke and the lamps fell on five
men, inflicting fatal injuries on two men
and seriously injuring three men.
The corn crop in the West will near
ly equal the average yield.
Northwestern railroad managers say
that business is likely to be larger than
usual in spite of the alleged shortage in
the crops.
Quincy, ILL.,, is excited over an at
tempt made to prevent local editor
from attending a performance at the
Opera House, and when the crowd tried
to burn the editors efligy his friends in
terfered and dispersed the mob.
Navigation on the Ohio is almost
entirely suspended in consequence of
the extreme low water.