Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-01
OUR DEAD PRESIDENT.

OUR DEAD PRESIDENT.
JAMES A. GARFIELD, twentieth Presi-
dent of the United States, died Septem-
Der 10Th, at 1895 o'clock, p. NJ, at
Elberon, near Long Branch, N. j.,
whittier he was removed from Washing
ton city on the 9th inst, from the
wounds received on Saturday, the End
of Jaly, at the hands of the assassin,
Charles Guiteau. President Garfield
has fallen with his robes of office yet
new upon him, less than seven months
fir ON the day when, amid the salvos of
cannon and the applause of thousands
of his fellow citizens and the good
wishes of millions, he took the oath of
office and was formally inducted into
the chief magistracy of the Union. The
weeks Of anxious suspense, of hope al
ternating with fear, which have elapsed
since the electric wire flashed to the
ends of the country aud over the CIV
1lized world on the fatal morning the
startling intelligence that the President
of the United States had been ruth
lessly, wantonly shot down in the city
of Washington, and lay PROSTATE in the
executive mansion, will hardly lessen
the shock of the terrible reality of his
death. It seemed so unnatural, so cruel,
that people hardly comprehended at
first that it could be true. And when
the particulars of the shooting became
known, and the grave, almost desperate
character of the wounds was understood,
the President was SO vigorous, so strong,
so brave, that although hoping almost
against hope, everybody eagerly fastened
upon the least indication that seemed
to augur favorable result, and clung
to the smallest encouragement. But
that result was not to be, and to- day the
President lies dead at Elberon, and the
American people are face to face with
the bloody, shameful horrible fact that
for the second time in sixteen years the
freely chosen ruler of free people has
fallen by the hand of an assassin.
Vice. President Arthur was sworn in
as President of the United States, i'm
mediately upon receipt of the news OF
the death of the President.
THE PRESIDENT LAST HOUR.
Gas he turned his head, in awaking,
I rose and took hold of his hand. l was
on the left-hand side of the bed, as he
lay. I remarked, You have had nice
comfortable Sleep He then said, oh
Swain, this terrible pain - placing his
right hand on his breast, about over the
region of the heart. I asked him if
could do anything for him. He said
Some water went to the other side
of the room, and poured about an ounce
and a-half of Poland water into glass
and gave him to drink, He took the
glass in his hand, raising hi head a'
usual. and he drank the water very
naturally. then handed the glass tt
the coloredman, Daniel, who came il
during the time was getting the water
Afterward took napkin and wiped
his forehead, as he usually perspired OF
awaking. He then said: 'Oh, Swain
this terrible pain; press your hand OF
it. I laid my hand on his chest. HI
then threw both hands up to the side
and about on line with his head, and
exclaimed: 'Oh, Swain; can't vol
stop this !? and again, oh, Swaim.'
then saw him looking at me with star
ing expression. I asked him if he wa
suffering much pain. Receiving n,
answer, 1 repeated the question, will
like.result. 1 then concluded that h,
was either dying, or was havinga sever,
spasm, and called to Daniel, who was a
the door, to tell DR.. Bliss and Mrs. Gar
field to come in Immediately, ant
glanced at the small clock hangin,
on the chandelier nearly over tn
foot of his bed, and 1 saw that it wa
ten minutes past 10 o'clock. DIR. Bills
came in within two or three minutes.
told Daniel to bring the light, littl
candle, which habitually sat behind
screen near the door. When the ligh
shone full in his face saw that he wa
dying. When DIR. Bliss came in me
ment after I said, -"Doctor, have yo
any stimulants he seems to be dying
He took hold of his wrist, as if feelinl
for his pulse, and said, 'Yes, he
dying l then said to Daniel to ru
and alarm the house. At that momen
Colonel Rockwell came in, when D>
Bliss said, Let us rub his limbs whic
we did.
''In very few moments Mrs. CARTEL
came in and said, what does thi
mean? /? and moment after exclaimed
o, why am made to suffer this crue
wrongp At 1895 p. NJ. he breathed hi
last, calmly and peacefully. At tn
final moment the following person
we're present Mrs. Garfield and Molli,
Drs. Bliss, Agnew and Boynton, Generl
Swain, Colonel and Mrs. Rockwell, ,
Stanley Brown, G. o. Rockwell an
Daniel Spriggs."
NOTES AND OPINIONS.
The train bearing the distinguishe
dead President and family with I'll