Middletown transcript., 1881-07-08
SHOOTING OF
SHOUTING UF
President Garfield.
A VAGABOND, WHO CALLS HIM
SELF A " STALWART OF THE
STALWARTS,' THE AS
SASSIN.
THE DEED PRE1IEDITATED.

On Saturday morning the country
was startled by the announcement that
President Garfield had been shot down,
in the Baltimore and Potomac depot,
at Washington, by the pistol Of an as
sassin. The first dispatches were vague
and conflicting in regard to the nature
of the wounds inflicted, and it was late
in the afternoon before any coherent
details of the dastardly act were given
to the public, even in the large cities
possessing the most perfect telegraphic
facilities. The news Of the shooting
produced intense excitement and the
most profound regret throughout the
country. In cities and towns business
was almost entirely suspended, while
the telegraph offices and bulletin boards
were surrounded by sorrOwing crowds
eager for the latest dispatches from
Washington.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Baltimore Sun gives the following
graphic details Of the great crime:
1t was announced several days since
that the President would start Satur-
day morning on an Eastern tour, to as
sist in several college commencements.
He arrived at the B. street entrance OF
the Baltimore and Potomac Road
about 9:30 O'Clock, the others Of his
party having arrived shortly before him.
They consisted of Secretary and Mrs.
Hunt, Secretary Window and Mrs.
Window, Postmaster-General James
and others, all of whom had taken seats
in the cars. The President was accom-
panied by Secretary Blaine. They came
in the same carriage, the President en-
tering the depot in the lead. AS he
stepped out of his carriage he asked po-
lice officer Kearney, the depot officer, If
he had any time to spare. Mr.. Kear-
ney answered, @ Yes, few minutes. "
The officer then turned his back, and
in an instant the reports of two pistol
shots, the one following close upon the
other, were heard Chas. Guiteau, the
assassin, had been seen to enter the
depot a few minutes before the Presi-
dent arrived, though his actions were
not of character to attract the atten-
ton of those who were in the depot.
/ IT. z4oo1 - ol,,,,E tho ooOfrn of fbn
hall leading from the B-street entrance
or ladies' room, and advanced towards
the President as he entered. Without
giving any notice whatever of his in
tention he fired, the bail from the first
shot entering the right sleeve of the
Presidents coat, passing up the same
and out at the shoulder. This ball did
no injury, except to scratch the flesh OF
the arm, though it was thought at first
that it had entered the shoulder. The
President at this juncture turned, when
Guiteau fired the second time, the ball
entering the back, and the President
fell to the floor. Mrs. White, the
ianitress of the ladies' room of the
depot, first ran to the President. Sec
retary Blaine was 50 shocked by the
occurrence that he first ran after the
assassin, and finding that he was in the
custody of officer Kearney, returned to
the side Of the President, who was
taken up stairs to the superintendent's
room, where i'll few moments several
surgeons were in attendance upon him.
They expressed the gravest doubts the
moment they saw what direction the
ball had taken. The wound bled freely,
though the hemorrhage was at no time
very profuse. The President vomited
slightly and tainted, but in short time
recovered consciousness and talked
freely to those around him. In an hour
it was thought better to remove him to
the White House, which was done by
means of the police ambulance, Drs.
Bliss, Wales and Surgeon-Gene
Barnes riding with him, Col. Corbin
sitting with the driver, and Col. Rock
well, the superintendent Of public
buildings and grounds standing on the
rear step. DR.. Lincoln and couple
Of the other physicians followed in the
wagon of the chief of the fire depart
ment, which happened to be near the
depot at the time.
A gentleman who was present imme-
diately after the President was shot
says that Postmaster-G General James
held him up an unloosed his clothing so
that he could breathe easier. The
President, who had just partaken of a
hearty breakfast, vomited freely from
nausea, but there was no blood. Secre-
tary Window looked at him, the tears
coursing down his cheek. The Presi-
dents son James, manipulating lad,
stood by crying softly, and uttering be-
tween his subdued means, "Oh, my
dear father Oh, my dear father 70
Mrs. Grant, the lady with whom
Guiteau boarded, took to one of the
newspaper offices this morning an ad-
vertisement inquiring for information
of one Guiteau, who professed to be
| friend Of President Garfield and Secre-
tary Blaine, and had left forgetting to
pay his board. The clerk looked at the
advertisement and said, "Why, this is
the man who has just shot the Presi-
dent"
1t is wonderful how the news of the
assassination got abroad, and in a few
minutes after the shooting took place
several hundred had gathered about the
depot. Five minutes afterwards the
number had quadrupled, and by the
time the ambulance started to the
White House several thousand had col
lected about the depot. A platoon Of
mounted police kept the larger part Of
4bn crowd from following Init as they