The Baltimore County union., 1881-07-09
Statements of Eve-Witnesses.

The lady in charge of the waiting room at the
Baltimore and Potamac depot, was the person
who first reached the President after he was shot.
In reply to questions asked she said 81 saw the
whole thing The man came in from this door,"
she said pointing to the door at the east, center
ing the ladies' room from main waiting room just
as the President entered the middle dtor from Is
street. When he approached within five feet OF
the President he fred aiming, l thought, at the
Presidents heart, ard missed him. The Presi-
dent did not seem to notice him, but walked right
on past the man. He fired again and the Presi-
dent fell. The man walked deliberately out of the
centre door, where somebody headed him off. He
turned and started back the way he came. and was
seized at the door by the police.
The President was laid on the floor until mat
tress could be procured, and at once was removed
to a room in the second story of the depot. The
assassin attempted to run out of the Sixth street
door, but for some reason turned back, when
special officer Scott and officer Kearney caught
him, and at once took him to police headquarters.
Mr. Garfeld's son was with him at the time, and
as his father fell he burst into parOXysm of tears.
When the shot was fired Mr.. J. w. Wheeler, of
Hampton, Va, was seated with lady so close to
the President that he heard the whizzing Of the
ball uncOmfOrtably near him. lie states that at
the time of the first shot the assassin was not over
seven to eight feet from him.
Dr. Smith TOwnshend was the first physician to
arrive on the scene. He says he found the Presi-
dent had Just VOmlteu ana was IN Il lllnIlnS cOu-
dition. lie could not feel any pulse at the wrist
had his head lowered, which had been held up by
his friends, and administered aromatic spirits of
ammonia and brandy to revive him. This had the
desired effect, and upon his regainng conscious
ness asked him where he felt most pain, to which
he replied in the right leg and foot. Then eX-
amined the wound, introducing his finger, which
caused a slight hemmorrhage, and decided to have
him removed up stairs Shortly after getting him
up stairs Drs. Bliss and Pu;vis arrived, and upon
consultation it was decided to remove him to the
White House.
As the crowd could not be kept back from the
room where the President was lying, Major Brock,
about ten o'clock, after consultation with Gen.
Sherman, ordered out large detail of the police
force, the police ambulance was driven to the
front door of the depot and the President was
borne down the steps to the ambulance, in which
he was placed with difficulty, owing to the surg
ing of the crowd. When they started down the
steps the President appeared to be sleeping and
was deathly pale, but just as he was placed i'll
the ambulance he opened his eyes. The ambu-
lance was rapidly driven to the White House, fol-
lowed by dense crowd. On arriving the Presi-
dent was carefully carried to the northwest cham
Der on the second floor. While he was being car
red up the stairs he smiled sadly and waved his
hand in recognition of the friends who were gath
cred about him. His suaerngs must have been
intense, but he gave no sign of it, and was as
gentle and submissive as a child.
The President deathly pale, and said but
little. Every garment on him saturated with
blood and his shoes were filled with the crimson
fluid. His son Harry, who had exhibited so much
grief when he was shot, was with him, and re-
mained ineonsolable. Before the arrival of the
President, word was sent to the arsenal, and four
foot batteries and mounted detachment ofa light
battery, were ordered duty. Some of the
soldiers were stationed about the depot and others
were sent to the White House grounds.
The physicians present were Surgeon General
Barnes, DR.. Bliss, DR.. Reyburn, DR.. Crook, DIR.
Adams, DIR. Townshend, DR.. Lincoln and Mrs. DR..
Edison. Tho room was cleared, and they had a
lengthy consultation.
Immediately on the receipt of the news ut the
Executive Mansion, Private Secretary Brown de-
spatched word to Mrs. Garfield at Long Branch,
reassuring her, and endeavoring to protect her
from the alarming rumOrs that would reach her.
At II o'clock the physicians in attendance said
that his condition was too weak to allow probing
of the wound. If he rallied in temperature ten
degrees, when it would be seventy, an examina-
ton would then be safe, and it could be told ex
actly what the chances of recovery were. If the
ball, which from the rear passed down into the
groin escaped the bladder and dintestines, he would
recover without any doubt. At noon Attorney
General MacVeagh said that the life Of the Presi-
dent depended upon the course the ball had taken,
and that could tell until after an examina-
tion had been made what the result would be-