The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-07-07
SCENES IN THE STREET.

wAsuISGToS, july 2-The scenes on the streets
when the news of the assassination WAS received.
beggar description. Pennsylvania Avenue from the
Capitol to the Executive Mansi0n filled with
people. Business entirely suspended. The peo-
Pile formed in little groups and listened to the latest
reports brought from the scene of the attempted mnr
der. Persons who were seen coming from the direc-
ton of the depot, were stopped and compelled to
give the latest news. Mounted messengers from the
different Departments galloped furiously up and
down the avenue, shouting words ow and then
to acquaintances the sidewalk. The first re-
port was that the President had been killed ont
right, and this story was eorroborated by White
House messenger, who exclaimed at intervals as he
rode along. He is dead Vehicles of every descrip
tion were pressed into service by the excited crowds
and the horses galoped back and forth between the
depot and the business houses up town. Men, wo-
men and children were assembled upon street cor
ners, and tenterest sympathy and most feeling
grets at the sad occurrence were heard on every
hand. IL seemed singular that violent outburst
of wrath against the ASSASSIN were heard. The COM
munity appalled,, and notwithstanding the state
ments which showed the probable murder to have
been deliberately planned, there was general feel
ing that the criminal must be insane The hope that
pressed although but few people talked of taking the
prisoner out Of the hands of authority. Later and
more authentic reports proved that the President
drowned IN anxiety for the ultimate fate Of the Chief
Magigtrate At 2 o'clock cheer went up from the
crowds on Fifteenth street body Of mounted
tiery from the Arsenal filed into the White House
grounds through the east gates -Four foot batteries
end detachment of light infantry, numbering in all
about lto men, had been summoned frem the arsenal
and were placed duty. Scntinels, with guns and
bayonets, patrolled the grounds. 0ficers in full
uniform were present, and the White House grounds
presented an unusual and imposing appearance. A
correct diagnosis of the President's wound made
public at this time. The ball, which vas of very
large size, having been shot from "A ealibre En-
glish bulldog pistol entered the right side of Prcsi
dent Garfield. about three and n half inches to the
right Of the spinal column n short distance below
the ribs Its course was not then determined, and
the doctors thought that the fatality Of the wound
depended on wether il would open the cavity Of the
abdomen or injure the spinal column. liz had not
done either there fair prospect of his recovery
Crowds of people lined the sidewalks in front Of
the Executive Mansion Men hung to the pickets of
the fences. and every person who left the grounds
was besieged for news. The bulletins from the
physicians were eagerly watched for and the siprits
Of the crowd rose or fell according to the nature Of
the reports.
Men and women elambored impetuousy for ad-
mission to the grounds Some wept and begged to
be allowed to go the house. All were refused except
ing they had urgent business with some Of the IN
mates