The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-07-02

form of the President lay. Five mem
bers oil the Cabinet were then present,
Messrs. Blaine, Window, Lincoln, Hunt
and James. In afew minutes Attorney
General McVeagh, who was at his Office
when the deed was done, had arrived.
The Presidents on Harry, scarcely
realizing what had happened, for but
little blood fell from the wounds, stood
ready to fight or die in his fathers de-
fense. The scene beggars description.
A beautiful summer morn, warm and
tranquil as the face of nature in early
spring, encouraged the brightest
thoughts and happiest feelings in the
hearts of the company that was to jour
ney with the President. Now their
countenances were black with sorrow.
president Garfield assassinated,"
exclaimed Secretary Hunt. elm
possible" No, if meteoric stone had
singled him out as its victim it could
not be more improbable. Secretary
Lincoln quickly gave the order for the
troops stationed at the arsenal to hold
themselves for immediate orders. The
same was done by the secretary of the
navy, who directed that the marines
should be held for similar orders.
Meanwhile word was sent to Surgeon
General Barnes, Drs. Norris, Lincoln
and Woodward recurring their imme-
diate presence at the depot. With the
messengers trooping over the pavements
it was not long before every part Of
Washington was informed of what had
happened. and the fact became generally
known. Then q crowd soon assembled,
L. 49, 30, C,,-41 80
and b street were packed with people,
and the news of the horrible affair flew
from mouth to mouth and spread over
the city like wildiire. An attempt was
made to rush into the building and cries
were raised to lynch the assassin, but
strong force of policemen, summoned
by telephone, had arrived promptly on
the scene aud preserved order. In the
meantime the President had been car
ried TO q room upstairs and the physi-
clans summoned.
After remaining for about an hour in
the depot it was decided 70 remove the
President to the White Honse. Accord
ingly, police ambulance was sent for,
and the wounded man, attended by Col.
onel Rockwell, was driven home. The
events above related were not generally
known until some time after they had
oc rurred.
Except the orderly crowd that assem-
bled in front of the White House and
police headquarters there was nothing
to indicate that national tragedy had
been enacted that would startle the
whole civilized world. The people first
became convinced that something had
hopYana1 <F ha ,al 1,I-th ho
rapid driving of carriage through
Pennsylvania avenue, clearing the way
for the ambulance which followed, care
fully driven and attended by guard of
mounted police. From mouth to mouth
the intelligence spread. "The Presi-
dent is assassinated; was shot at the
depot as he was going into the cars"
There were no loud demonstrations, no
disorderly language. The astonishment
following the startling announcement
deepened into unbelief, and the people
seemed paralyzed with the horror of the
moment Still, the crowd followed the
ambulance that entered the broad car
riageway leading to the executive man.
sion. Policemen already guarded the
gates and kept the crowd back, but
through the fence and gateway the am
bulance was seen to pause before the
open door of the White House, while
the large, fine form of the President
was tenderly lifted from the vehicle, with
the pallor of death stamped on his
countenance. Glancing upward to the
windows he saw some familiar faces,
and with smile, which those who saw
it will never forget, he raised his right
hand and gave the military salute, which
seemed to say: "Long live the repub-
lic."
THE WOUNDED MAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
A few moments afterward carriages
began to arrive, bringing the presiden-
tial party from the special car where
they had been seated only few moments
before in anticipation of summers
Hunt, Mrs. James and Mrs. Window
were joined by Mrs. Blaine ana Mrs. W.
IT,. Sherman. Other friends of Mrs.
Garfield quickly arrived, but were de-
MED admittance, and soon the ponder
Gus gates which lead to the executive
mansion were closed, and armed mill
tary sentinels silently took their places
about the house and grounds. These
troops were ordered from the garrison
at the arsenal in order to relieve the
regular police, whose services were
needed in the city where the crowds
were rapidly increasing in angry excite
ment, There was only one company of
soldiers, but the glance of theirbayonets
flashing in the sunlight as they walked
with measured tread the several
paths to which they were assigned,
recalled the last hours of President
Lincoln, when the same astonishment
and horror were reflected ON the faces
of the crowds that surged about the ex-
ecutive mansion.
The President was carefully lifted
from the ambulance and carried to
sleeping chamber in the southeast corner
of the building, and was soon sur
rounded by the most eminent physicians
in Washington. Owing to the nervous
prostration which followed the shock,
the surgeons did not deem it advisable
to probe for the ball while the Presi-
dent was at the depot. Upon reaching