Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-09-01
The Sad Hours of Saturday i'm
Washington.


all the sad ones which have passed since
the President first rallied from the
shock of the shooting. Friday night
closed inside the White House with
strong hopes that the night would show
slight gain of strength for the Presi-
dent. Those who had watched him most
caaefuliy and continuously felt that a
slight improvement had begun at four
o'clock in the afternoon. The physi-
clans all saw slight grounds for encour-
agement. Even Or. BOynton, who was
falsely represented as expressing him.
self without hope, said decidedly, even
at the worst hour yesterday, that he had
noticed change at A o'clock the day
before, and further. that he thought the
first bulletin of yesterday mornings lit
tie more discouraging than the facts
made necessary.
In spite of these facts, there was on
the outside panic which no assurances
of any kind that good grounds for hope
yet existed could allay. Crowds swarm
ed everywhere. and the rumors which
they fed on were not for enc moment
exhausted. Only the few who had means
of communicating with the brave and
steady ones about the President found
any sources of comfort, or really believ-
ed that the morning could bring any bet
ter things.
The cityaw.Oke yesterday morning ready
for complete panic,and prepared for the
very worst. The morning bulletin to
all outside WAS regarded extremely bad
in all respects, as holding out no ground
for hope, and us almost equivalent to an
announcement of impending dissOlu-
tiOn. The one ascertained fact that DR..
Bliss was exceedingly discouraged was
at once exaggerated into Il report that
he had
ABANDONED ALL HOPE,
and alInost in the next breath the story
followed that all the surgeons had given
him up. In the crowd and confusion of
the coming and g1ing about the corri-
doris of the White House, it was impos-
sible to reach those attendants who nev-
or have for one moment stampeded since
the terrible ordeal began. 1t had been
properly deemed best to close even the
Secretary's room to the general askers
for a time. During this necessary de-
lay in reaching those who could explain
the full and exact facts of the case
which no bulletin co I'D cover, the only
ground for encouragement which the
hopeful ones of The night before could
find WAS the fact that the President was
alive, and that the gland. which was de-
scribed as indicating very serious con-
dltiUn, might still he relieved. But in
the meantime the city had been reused,
I'D only the worst reports found lodge
A n..sn ,r,l,
accustomed to give only the information
which CONES from the inside, when
speaking with definiteRess of the serious
points of the case, were able to reach
Gen. Swain and obtain his views and
the general opinions of the surgeons.
Then it was found that while the case
was, beyond question, critical, that nO
one of the surgeons. or of the family Or
OF the attendants had given the Presi-
dent up. They had all been disappoint-
ed, and to an extent discouraged, over
the fact that the morning situation was
more unfavorable than they had hoped
for. But none of them had abandoned
hope. The Presidents mind was clear,
and he
=. HAD NOT GIVEN HIMSELF UP,
D.
ed her confidence. DR.. Bliss, who was
represented outside as having abandon
ed hope, went no further in that direc-
tion than to express the opinion that
unless u favorable change came before
the morning hours he could see little
ground for hope. Gen. Swain felt con-
ident that a rallying would come during
the forenoon. There were still signs of
the gland beginning more general dis
charge, and the least relief he felt would
stay the tendency in the wrong direc-
tion. These various features afforded
restricted ground for hope even to those
who have constantly resisted the tide
of rumor and panic. and tried at every
stage to write. giving the full truth ard
the worst of all for the moment, to ST ]
borrow nothing of their -apprehensiOns.
The few who thought these inside re-
ports of hopes not abandoned, and the
irm beliefs In better things, later in the
day were scarcely needed by the great
crowds who had given way to despair.
they were sneerea at even by most who
were flooding the country with stories
which pertained only to sick bed
where the lamps ftfeath we're gathering
upon the President and chilling all
hearts about him. THE reports at eve
ry corner, at the White House gates, on
he porch, and in the lobby of that man.
sion told only of utterly dtad hopes and
a surely dying President.
THE NOON BULLETIN
gave no encouragem, y. AS it was 81
.ent Oh the subject Of improvements, it
was held by the crowd tJ thus silently
announce the worst. Business stood
still. The city was breathless with its
keen watching. The crowds seemed to
feel that they were standing in the very
presence of immediate death. With the
mass all hope had lied. There was On
Ill sides listening for the >tolling bells.
,nd eyes open wandered toward the
staffs on the public buildings, in sxpee-