Connecticut western news., 1881-07-13
CANAAN, CONN.,, WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1884,

Secretary Blaine, with the evident in- tention of shooting him also, but was prevented by Benson, formerly of the Secret Service Division. The story is denied by ticket agents Smith, Parke and others, who saw G-uiteau shoot the President. They Say that Benson in- stantly grasped Guiteau by the throat and bore him to the floor. MT. Parke says that Guiteau made no demonstra- tion whatever towards Secretary Blaine, and further that no man caught him by the throat and bore him to the floor MT. Smith was asked whether he saw the revolver turned toward Blaine.
 "I did not" was the reply; "the man paid no attention whatever to Sec- retary Blaine" "No," said MT. Parke; Gas soon as be had fired the second shot he attempted to pass out. I saw distinctly his every notion" b., y,' sa47.,s. ~
 MT. Parke was the first to seize Guiteau, and he says there was no man of Benson's description in the ladies' waiting room at the time of the shoot ing. Smith confirms the statement. | ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE.
 A newspaper correspondent, writing of the scene about the Executive Man sion, says: Under the trees, by the winding northwest walk, was bivouacked a company of infantry, all sleeping on their arms, and all over the grounds sen- tries were doing picket duty. They traversed the lawn in dozen different directions, and their soft-shod feet emitted no sound from contact with the well-kept grass. So silent were their movements that their presence could be observed only when passing the radius of light thrown out by one of the gas lamps. At the entrance gates additional sentries were on duty, one without and one within, and they never paused for 8 moments conversation without address, ed b, the officer of the night, or one su- perior to them in command. On the grand old stoop at the main entrance of the White House two officers of police were stationed, and they either sat 1 quietly in chairs or rested their limbs by waking quietly and cautiously to and | fro.
 Within the White House the stiffness was intense. Two of the family ser wants sat at the door, permitting no one | to pass who was not entitled to the cour- tesies of the man>ion. In the reception room to the right of the entrance, there were at all times some officer of State or foreign representative anxiously await ing bulletins from the sick room. The reception-room to the left was accorded to few members of the press and unto them came tidings of the Presidents true condition at intervals of every few minutes. A messenger would come from the physicians chamber, moving as quietly as nurse in attendance upon a patient, and impart his information in a whisper, to the effect that there was no change, or that the wounded mans s pulse had increased point, or that the Presidents feet were still as cold as ice. These statements would be swiftly trans mitted to. telegraphic blanks, and in @ few moments time would be on their way, apprising the nation of its ruler condition.
 In the physicians room the Cabinet members and more intimate friends oi the Presidential family were pretty con- stantly in attendance, and to these the latest information was at all times given out. Some of th1s party would be at times inquisitive and close in their ques- tioning, but their queries were always answered patiently. Apart from the physicians and nurses, Mrs. Garfield was the only person admitted to the sick chamber. She would move about the grand old house like one in dream. For brief time she would be absent in the Nellie Grant room on the east side then she would join the party, remain for 8 few moments, asking no questions, and paying no heed to the whispered consultations of the physicians, and then enter the large room where her husband lay. She would sit down on the bed at hls side, clasp his hand gen tly or stroke his hair as tenderly as a mother would that of her babe. She manifested impatience only on one occasion, when Drs. Agnew and Hamil- ton consulted as to the Presidents con- dition.
 When the consultation had been concluded she walked quickly to Dr. Agnew's side, and, clasplng his arm, sald hurriedly:
 "My husband, Doctor-tell me all"
 The physician replied evasively that he hoped for the best.
 "Yes," answered Mrs. Garfield, "you all speak in riddles; but he will not die he shall not die P
 Then she retired from the room, with her eyes filled with tears, and the as- sembled company, who had overheard her remarks, shared keenly in her great grief.
 The deathlike silence which pervades the atmosphere of the White House is only marred one hour out of the twenty four That is at daybreak, when the birds awake aud pipe forth their sweet morning carols in the dew-laden branch es of the grand old trees on the lawn.
 GEN. aARFIELD's FATALIsM.
 Those who are most familiar with Gen. Garfield say that for many years he cherished the belief that he would not live to be older than his father was, and that he would die in some sudden and violent manner. His friends with all their persuasion, were not able to make him dismiss this thought. He would say, in answer to their claims that such & belief was foolish: "lt seems to me as foolish as it does to you. do not know why it haunts me. h. deed, it Is a thing that is wholly invol- untary on my part, and when I try the hardest not to think of it it haunts me most. It comes to me some- times in the night, when all is quiet. I think of my father and how he died in the strength of his manhood and left my mother to care for a large family of children, and how have always been without his assistance and advice, and then feel it so strong upon me that the vision is in the form of & warning that I cannot treat lightly For many years he believed that he should some time fall between cars or be killed in some way while travelling. When he reached the age of his father at death and passed that point safely, he seemed to forget the idea that had given him so much trouble. He is now forA,r-,,ino ,anrlu five years nldar than