Huntsville gazette., 1881-07-16
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
interesting Incidents Connected With the
Dastardiy Attempt Upon the Life of the
fresident-The Miserable Assassin.

Colonel Rockwell's $ account OF the tragedy
as follows:
q had several pieces OF baggage to dis
pose OF, and so drove directly to the bag
gage-room, and was getting the checks,
when heard a crack, crack, with an inter-
val between the shots as long as it would
take to cock pistol. On the sill ofthe door
leading from the ladies' parlor into the gen.
eral receptions room, or main hall, stood Sec
retary Blaine, calling for me and pointing
to the would-be assassin Guiteau. 1t was a
terrible thought, but nevertheless one which
fsased across my mind. that the President
had been shot, Quickly | had the Presi-
dents carriage brought to the main door,
the cushions arranged to make the President
as comfortable as possible, and was prepared
to take him directly to the Mansion. The
physicians advised against it, and for the
best. After had written from his dctation
a touching telegram to his wife, and hasty
examination had been made upstairs, he
was removed to the ambulance. The Presi-
dent put his right hand in mine and the
driver was cautioned TO proceed slowly over
the cobDle- stone pavement until we reached
the concrete at Seventh street. We had
travelled but two squares from the depot
when he asked: How far are we now? and
in subdued voice said: 1t hurts. oh. it
hurts.' At Thirteenth street he again asked:
'Where are we now!' | told him, and he
urged us to go little faster.
.'You know the ladies' room, where the
shots were fired, is about twenty feet wide
that is from the door sill to the opposite
hail. The aisle-way leading to the main
hail is formed by double row Of seats heav-
ily cushioned and of large frame. work.
When the President entered the depot with
Secretary Blaine, he was in his cheerlest
mood. He passed halfway down the aisle,
Blaine preceding him very few steps.
Guiteau stood at the inside end of the row
4l fha 1pft
when he tired the first shot, which did the
President no harm, for he turned to see
from whence the sound came, and saw
Guiteau advancing. He was preparing TO
leap over the seat, that is he realized when
he turned partially around that the
man had fired at him. He Instant
" determined to attack the man. The
next instant the President would have been
face to face with Guiteau. His confidence
in his ability to spring over the barrier, for
the back of the seats is about four feet high,
flashed upon him, and his whole muscular
strength was strained for the act, when he
fell forward, struck by the second shot.
Guiteau was behind him. The instant he
pulled the trigger the first time he stepped
forward four feet. 1t was but the very
fraction Of second between the explosion
and the Presidents alarm. That fraction
was on the side of the would-be assassin.
His purpose was also to fire second shot,
anu ne SUcppeQ lOIWdIu W SeI hS
near the President possible They were
not six feet apart, so that the instant
the President realized the situation his
intease activity of mind and muscle made
him aggressive, and it was at that instant he
received the staggering bullet and fell for
ward against the wainscoting of the recep-
ton room; at the head of the aisle leading TO
the main hall. Till now the impression
seems to have gained hold that Guiteau's
act was done so quickly that the President
did not comprehend what was going on. 1t
is true, as l told you while ago, that the
reports of the firing were so close together
that it could not have been longer than it
would take to cock pistol, yet during this
time GuIteau was advancing and the Presi-
dent preparing to advance upon his assail-
ant. ANY one who will take his watch and
carefully observe the beats of the see
ond hand will be surprised at the
distance one can get over in a second il
impelled by a strong motive. The position
in which Guiteau stood made it necessary
for him to shoot at nearly an angle of forty
degrees, while the position of the body of
the President was also at about the same
angle with the seats when the ball struck
his right side. With this understanding Of
the position of the two, it is evident that the
ball met with great resistance and was de-
tlected. Its natural course would have been
through the body, passing out over the
pelys, so it is reasonable theory that upon
entering the interior of the body, its force
had been exhausted, and the internal injury
is less than was 1T first supposed. All OF
which gladdens MS with increased hope and
conviction that his recovery is now only "a
question OF time. -
On the day of the attempted assassination,
when informed that there was only one
chance in thousand that he would live,
President Garfield promptly replied: "We
will take that one chance. then,' and it is
the opinion of many that the innate courage
and hopefulness of the wounded President
have had quite as much to do with bringing
him successfully through so far as the un
doubted medical skill exercised in his behalf.
A recent Washington telegram says: "Tel-
egrams and letters from all parts of the
country continue to pour into the White
House and State Department. This morn
ing's mail brought something like a bushel
OF letters to-the state Department, all touch
ing upon the attempted assassination of the
President. Accompanying many letters
were handsomely engrossed resolutions
adopted by city councils or public meetings
of citizens. 1t is the purpose OF the De-
partment to carefully preserve ali these let
ters and kilograms, with the ultimate view
of having them arranged, classified and
printed They will doubtless make several
large Volumes"
Colonel Rockwell, when he went into the
sick-room on the morning of the 9th, found
the President looking decidedly improved.
His voice was stronger, and he manifested a
strong disposition to talk, and had to be re-
strained. AS Col. Rockwell stood by the
Presidents bedside the latter said: II
hear that the Catholics have been saying
masses for my recovery. Is that true, Rock
wel?' at is" responded the latter.
''Were they spontaneous or orderedy'
asked the President. "Both," said Rockwell.
'Wel" said the President, 'when get up
| must make some recognition OF this
Christian act"
The three children Of the President then
in Washington, the eldest boys-Harry and
Jim-and the daughter, Miss Mollie, had
been very anxious to see their father, and so
ON the morning of the 9th they were allowed
to go into the sick-roOm, one by one, speak
to him and then pass out. The President
smiled pleasantly as he grasped his children
by the hand and kissed them tenderly. Hc
spoke a few words to each, and then they
withdrew.
Vice President Arthur called at the White
House on the morning of the 9th. There
were some of the members of the Cabinet
there, and he remained for about fifteen
minutes only, conyersing with them and the
doctors. He expressed his qualification at
the improvement in the Presidents condi-
tion. The Vice President was reported to
be looking better than be had looked during
the previous week, but he was still haggard
ard taaIa Tharo 6nIlbt that The