The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-16
WASHINGTON.
OUR SPECIAL LETTER.

Ouk offClAb LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 0, 1881.
About twenty minutes after nine O'Clock
just one week to. day, the people on Penn
sylvania avenue were startled by the sight
of team of powerful horses driven at full
speed toward the White House. The first
impressan was that it was a runaway, but
as the team swept by the fact that it was a
War Department covered wagon and the
driver of grim and soldierly bearing, sat
urging the horses to still higher speed,
was puzzle to everybody. The avenue
was thronged with vehicles and the soldier
driver laundering along on the dead run
waved them aside, while the people on the
walks closed rapidly in behind with NUT
tered comment and looks of astonishment
The impression prevailed that the driver
was drunk, but those who saw the mans
grim look knew that he was on some great
purpose. "You are wrong" said my COM
panion to one of these cursing commenta-
tors. Something great has happened or is
going to happen" A few minutes previous
President Garfield alighted from his car
riage to take the cars for the North. Sec
retary Hunt and Mrs. Hunt, Secretary
Window and Mrs. Window, Postmaster
General James and the rest Of the party
had taken their seats in the car. Colonel
Jamson, of the Post Office Department,
who was to have charge of the transporta-
ton of the party, was standing at the gate
leading to the cars. He heard a shot,
quickly followed by another. There was
rush to the ladies' room, from whence the
sounds came. President Garfield was
found lying on the floor, having fallen to
the left. Secretary Blaine came out of the
room following man and calling: "Rock-
well where is Rockwell /" The man was
seized by Officers Kearney and Parks, the
depot policemen. The President was taken
upstairs. DR.. Bliss arrived soon afterwards.
1t was soon discovered that both shcts had
taken effect. One struck him in the right
arm, below the shoulder, the other went in
at the right side of the back, between the
hip and kidney. 1t then passed forward
and went into the groin. 1t was probed for
but could not be found. The shooting oc-
cured when the President and Secretary
Blaine were walking arm in arm through
the ladies' room. Secretary Blaine was
not going with the party, but came down TO
bid the President goodbye. He said =
"The President and | were walking arm-in-
arm towards the train. ] heard two shots
and saw man run. started after him,
but saw that he was grabbed. As he got
out of the room ] came TO the President,
and found HIM lying on the floor. When
Gulteau had fred his second shot and made
for the B street entrance Of the depot where
hack 1914 waited, he found his plan of es-
cape wouldn't work. Depot Policeman
Parks sprang between him and the exit ard
the assassin turned the other way. Here
be was confronted by Officer Kearney, and
both officers seized him at once. As they
dragged him through the crowd he flour
ished sealed letter in one hand, and
shouted in a highly dramatic manner /:
"Arthur is President OF the United States
now. l am a stalwart. This letter will
tell you everything. want you to take it
to General Sherman" He was deprived OF
his pistol on arrest. 1t is an ugly looking
weapon, of what is known as the five bar
relied British bull dog pattern, Of A calibre,
with a white bone handle, and had three
loads undischarged He did not throw it
away, but flourished it in his hand when
he ran, everybody about the waiting room
dodging from in front Of it without regard
to appearances.
l have just returned from the White
House this morning and learned that all
through the night the Presidents condition
was improving as rapidly as could be ex-
peced, and the morning examination de-
veloped such a condition of affairs. The
reduction of the pulse rate, temperature and
respiration was little more than thai
made on Wednesday night. There was nc
i increase OF lever ana no unlaNoraOle deSel
opment of any kind. The morning exami
nation revealed the fact that suppuratior
was already established. Pus matter hac
begun to come, in very small quantities
from the wounds. This the physician
hailed as an encouraging sign. Such an is
sue was expected, and its character wa
such that no danger need be apprehende'
thereirom. It's progress can be fully con
trolled, and, if no accompanying oomplica
.ions work contrary to the doctors belief,
will only work good to the patient.
The confidence Of the attending physi
} clans is growing stronger with every houl
! His progress towards convalescence is ne
cessarily slow, but as long as it leads in ths
direction, there is reason for a constantly il
) ereasing faith in his recovery. Every da
gained without any unfavorabls reactiG
is great gain. The upward tendency {
| the Presidents pulse and temperature yei