New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-03
STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.

STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.
TIE SHOOTING OF THE PRESIDENT DE CRIDED BY
TIE VENEZUELAN MINISTER, WHO WAS IN THE
DEPOT
Simon Camacho, the Minister of Venezuela to the
United States who is personal friend of both
President Garfield and Secretary Blaine, was an eye
witness of the shooting of the President.
Mr.. Canacho arrived in Jersey City from Wash
ington yesterday at $40 p. H.. on the train which
was to have carried the President from Washing
ton. A TRIBUNE reporter met Mr. Camacho who
told the following story of the attempt to murder
the President:
clso TO escort some OF the members of General
H LAKES faWny, who were On their way to Long
containing President Garfield and Secretary Blaine
driven up to the depot They remained in hccarrage
Of She trains dcpar,urc. when the President and
s.crStary entered tho depot arm in arm"
a, How many persons were there III the room at
Only three or four At the sound of the bell all
upon the platform where the train was about to
start was waiting for my party: A gentle
" ~a iSe by tSo ladies' fol
The ticket Office had just bowed to the President
and Secretary when suddenly the man called Gut
tSau appeared, from where could not see. He took
The pistol from his pocket, and in crouchng attI-
tude. stealthily approached President Garfield, who
was UNCONSCIOUS of his presence"
" Why did you not give warning, or rush
upon the in and disarm him 7"
The man moved SO rapidly that scarcely had
time to comprehend the situation before the shots
were fired. c;ideavcrcl to knock the pistol from
his hands hut the large St am heater which scpa-
rated prevented me from reaching him in
,lme to frusrate his murderous designs.
t net sos were nr fired the assassin was
victim. The hrst SLOT took effect just above the
hight hip When the report OF tie pistol was heard
secretary Blame jumped from the side of the Pres
3dent at the second shot, when rapidly followed,
r. returned, but before he reached him the
!" the door OF the B-Street entrance of the depot
but prevented his escape there. Then he turned
,arcd. immediately gave my assistance to he
president, AMI hurr1ediy told Secretary Blaine
my attending to my business / would remain
III washington. then went on board the train and
came to New-l0rk, but had known that the inju-
ries would prove fatal would not have come
Mr. Canacho, who mad been i'll Washington for
feyeral days aJten,img to business with Secretary
banc, said that ia assassin was perlecty cool and
without strong emotion; although he moved
rapidly, there were no signs of excitement
Snout him, and he seemed to be perfectly sane.
When telling the story of the affair Mr.. Camacho
colid scarcely restrain his stiong feeling of anger
az the man wno attempted the life of the President
and the SORROW which moved hI.n IN consequence of
The occurrence.
THE NEWS AT THE HOTELS AND CLUBS.
FIRST DISPATCHES FOLLOWED BY EXC TEMENr AT
THE FIRTH AVENUE HoTEL-CROwDs READING
THE BULLEIiNs-sYMPATHY OF THE WOMEN
EVENING SCENE FEELING AMONG CLUB MEN.
The news of the attempted assassination of the
President was circulated in the corridors of the
Fifth Avenue Hotel about 9:i5 a. H. At
that time only few persons were present
Among them number of brokers'
who Immediately discreditei the news as
@ stochjobhing canard. 4 few minutes later. how
ever n bulletin displayed at the Office of the
Western Union Telegraph, which was dated Wash
ingtOn, and read
President Garfield was shot by an assassin at the BAL
al
The bulletin was Immediately surrounded by a
crowd. hotel pOrtcrs walters guests and every
body rushing forward to read the news About the
same time the news came over the stock Indicator.
1T did not take MANY minutes for crowd 10
gather in the hotel corridor. Everyone talked as if
u terrible calamity imp ,nling. Some rcferre
to South American republics and limited nj dark
things that might happen. In the street crowds
coon coilectedana much excitement was manifested,
Some persons talked in q wild way about the poiti-
clans, cXcianing that there would be a revolution
ana that The country would not stand it," Hap
liiy. however, there opportunity for trouble.
Fora tine business seemed to he entirely srs-
pended uptown. Merchants and their clerks either
hrricd 10 the bue inns to hear the news or gathered
i'll knots and discussed the crime
Ii was not long before Il second dispatch from
Washington bulletincl stating that "a. Presi-
dents wounds lot necessarily fatal. This was
information that brought great relief. An old man
Who stood in TIE thgoag in the corridor of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel when he read this second dispatch
threw up his hat AMI excaiuel:
Thank God for that ~
1t was only u monentary relief however. Soon
after tins telegram was posted, stating that
the President in very critical conGi-
ton. Men and women went about with faces
that Indicated the they felt. Al the Western
Union office IN Tweuty tlrd-St, opposite thc Fifth
AvNiuc Hotel, bulletins also DISPLAYED in the
window. The place surrounded by Wonen all
the afternoon. and more than turned away with
tears IN her eyes.
Poor Mrs. Garfield. This will kill her' OK
claimed one. Il SAW her yesterday, and she fet 50
much better, and was looking eagerly forward 10
joining her husband to-day. And only to think that
she may never see him alive again." Saving his the
woman with her companion walked away, their eyes
filled with tears.
H. the e.e. at,d trains. the street ears everywhere
the only topic of ersatiOn the assas,ina ION
Of the President
lit is than the murder of Lincoln" said
more than one person. =" lu a time of peace and
man who, above all other public men of the day.
bears DO iii-Wi!i to amy onc W ho can be safe 2"
Tie Presidents family was the object of q. at So
licituie. Poor Mrs. Garfield! How she must re-
greet thai tlicy ever left Mentor said a woman
POLITICIANS no longer talked of the struggle at AL
baiy. Ii not even referred Ia in the corridor OF
tie Fifth Avcnae Hotel. Mir. platts name was not
mentioned, and no one asked after the vote Of the
Joint Convention.
There were spccuatons about the future but
they came from few individuals. 1t was generally
agreed that the Government OF this country wa TOO
nrnly rOoied TO be upset by the hand Of an assassin
Men talked of revenge, but when asked hat they
meant they were unable TO give intclhsibio
answer
AT THE UNION LEAGUE.
The Union League Club House was unusually
quiet yesterday afternoon. Many Of the members
have left the city ,or the summer, and others had