New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-20
THE CITY IN MOURNING.
GLOOM AND SORROW UNIVERSAL.


BY THAT ISSUED IN THE EvENNG-THE AN
NoUNCEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTS DEATH SUD-
DEN. ALTHOUGH NOT UNLooKED-FoR-How
GENERAL ARTHUR RECEIVED THE TIDINGs-l
CROWDS AT THE HOTELS AFTER THE DEATH OF
THE PRESIDENT BECAME KNowN--A TALK WITH
THURLow WEED.
Although not unexpected, the news of the
Presidents death caused the most profound
gloom and sorrow in this city. All day long
very great anxiety had been manifested,
and the gravest apprehensions were ex-
cited by the morning and noon bull
letons. The fact that no more mfa-
vorable conditions were shown by the
evening bulletin caused FAINT CLEAN of hope,
and this was increased by the dispatches re-
ceived up to 10 o'clock. After reading these
many persons went to their homes in some
what cheerful frame of mind, only to
learn the sad news by the solemn
tolling of church bells and the hoarse shouts
of newsboys. The announcement that the end
had come was all the more sudden be-
cause of the comparatively favorable char
acter of the later reports and from
the fact that the physicians had said
that death would probably come gradually
General Arthur heard the news of the Presi-
dents death from a TRIBUNE reporter He was
much affected. At 1925 a. m. the official no.
ufication was received from the Cabinet
AT O'Clock this morning General Arthur
took the oath as President of the United States
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END.
THE SHOCK SUDDEN WHEN IT CAME-EvENING
SCENES AT THE HoTELs-ANXIoUs FACES OK ALL
sIDES-RAPIDITY WITH WHICH THE NEWS SPREAD
THE STREETS AGAIN FILLED WITH PEOPLE.
When the announcement OF the Presidents death
lf
ing shock to all who heard il that hope had been
previously given up. All believed that the end
must come soon, but scarcely any one expected il
last night. The President had been so near death
before and had shown so wonderful reserve of
power, enabling him to rise a little from the lowest
depths of exhaustion and weakness that even the
alarming dispatches Of yesterday did not prepare the
public for so sudden close of the struggle 1t was
generally thought that he would live at least a day
two longer and the statement of the surgeons as
telegraphed from Long Branch, and the
information given in the bulletin is
sued at half-past o'clock, tended
to strengthen this belief In the forenoon the out
look was utterly hopeless that not few then be-
lIeved that the mounful news which all feared to
hear would come before midnight. But as the day
advanced and seemed evident from the dispatches
that the patient not sinking rapidly as the
morning announcements indicated, the feeling be-
came common that the fatal result would be de-
aycd.
Nothing came in the early part Of the evening to
disturb this feeling. Hour after hour people waited
drcadng to hear that another rigor had set in. or
that the Presidents slender remaining stock of
vitality eblnng so fast that death must be
looked for in n few hours, even minutes
But 10 o'clock came without any news
more gloomy than the dispatches of the
9afternoon, the groups that had gathered wherever
Information could be obtained, dispersed, and the
hotels and bulletin boards were deserted. 1t was
almost IL o'clock when the announcement that the
President was dead reached the city. Ii spread TO
every quarter and TO every street with wonderful
rapdty. Before the newsboys with their extras y
had arrived uptown, the sad tidings had gone before
them. The performances at most of the theatres
were over, and in many those who had made
mp the audiences heard the news they were walk
ing homeward In Broadway from Union Square to
ihlrty-iouItE-St the number of people their way
home was unusually large. Word was passed from
one TO another, and the news was received
with expressions of the most sincere
sorrow In Haverly's Fifth Avenue Theatre the
third act of Madame Favart,n which was pro
duced last night there for the first time was in pro-
gress, when Mr. Comley stepped upon the stage,
motioned the actors to silence and, turning to the
audience said that the play would go on no longer
on account of the death of the President. The
shocked and saddened audience slowly dispersed. A
moment later the shril cries of the newSbovs were
heard in the streets. AS the melancholy words
! Death of President Garfield" were heard people
came TO the windows and doorways to get the con-
rmaion of their worst fears The cries of the boys
walked few from sleep. 1t had been 90 anxious and
mOurnful day that sleep was not sought early.
AS the news spread crowds gathered at of the
hotels and other places of resort. The intense
cltemcnt of the first days after the shooting
| of the President was absent. Despair had
taken the place of hope before the
fatal news came, and excitement had given way
to profound grief and depression. The weeks
of strain, of anxiety, of huctuating hope
and fear, of dread and dependency, had
almost exhausted the capacity for violent
emotion If there not tumultuous out
bursts of feeling there universal sentiment
of admiration for the man who had fought so good
fight, who had suffered patiently and nohly,
and of heartfelt sorrow for the Nations loss
It was Il city of mourning. Every man had q sense
of personal bereavement.
AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL.
The corridors and pavements in front of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel were thronged last night with anxious
crowds. The bulletins in the early part of the even
ing were somewhat more hopeful in tone than those
during the afternoon but not sufficiently SO 10 dis
pei the gloomy feeling that had settled all in The
] immense throng. There was less of excitement
!: than characterized the gatherings at the same
place on the Saturday and Sunday evenings succeed
ing the shooting and thc subsequent relapse Men
spoke in low tones or in whispers All felt that the
/ life of the head of the Nation hung a thread
and there was a visible apprehension that at any
moment The dreaded announcement would be made
The g .. m. bulletin, announcing that the Presi-
{ dent was able 30 take little nourishment, and
! that his temperature was little higher
/ was merely accepted as an indication that