The daily gazette., 1881-09-22
THE PRESIDENTS LAST MO-
MENT,S.

AScscEhPthOu u u0o scene
~ the Bedsido-Mrs. Garaeld's
Heroic Fortitude.
A snecial despatch from Long Branch
says
A more complete description Of the
death scene than could be obtained in
last Dights rush and hurry was given by
the eye-witnesses to-day. The servants
had closed the cottage for the night and
strolled over TO the Elbsron piazza for .
chat betore--retiring. Mrs. Garfield, who
had spent good portion Of the evening
in the sick-ro0m had good to her own
chamber for the night, DR.. Bliss was In
Ills room, next to hers, writing up his
daily notes Of the case. DR.. Agnew was
reading In Private Secretary Browns.
DR.. Hamilton was In bis room In the
hotel. DR.. Boynton was seated In the
hotel Office talking to three newspaper
men. The majority Of the correspon-
dents had returned to the West End
Hotel and were busy writing up the in
formation they had gathered during the
day. Measured by the latest reports,
nobody thought OF impending dssolu-
ton. General Swain and Colonel
Rockwell were on duty In the sick
room.
The President, who had been sleeping
peacefully, suddenly lifted his hand to
bis heart and gasped:-"Ob,S Swaim,I am
in terrible pain here. Can't you do
something for me? Ob,Swaim p These
were his last words. Colonel Rockwell
darted across the hall and summoned
DR.. Bliss, who the moment he entered
the room exclaimed'-"My God he is
dying; call Mrs. Garfield" The Presi-
dent was then seemingly unconscious.
DR.. Bliss felt his pulse and listened to
the beating of his heart. Both were so
faint as to be almost impercepiible. A
hypoderinic injection Of stimulants was
administered and mustard was sent for,
bat the latter arrived too late to be ap-
piled, and the injections were given
without effect. DR.. Bliss, seeing that
the end was inevitable, ordered that the
other physicians and members OF the
household be sent for, and IN few min
utes they had all arrived, expect DIR.
Hamilton, who could not he found.
The dying man did not appear to re-
cognize any Of them until Mrs. Garfield
approached. Then his partly closed eyes
were seen to fasten upon her, moving as
she moved, until she stopped on the left
side Of the bed, and, bending over,
placed ONT hand npon his forehead and
the other upon bis breast. Colonel
Rockwell stood behind the head of the
bed. General Swain, the dying Presl-
dents most intimate friend, was near
him on one side Of the stricken wife, and
Colonel Rockwell on the other. On the
opposite side of the bed were Drs. Boyn-
ton, Agnew, and Bliss. Private Secre-
tary Brown stopped at the foot, aud the
three servants remained near the end of
the room. Mrs. Rockwell, her daugh-
ter, and Miss Mollie Garfield sat In The
ball looking tearfnlly upon the scene
through the opened deor. Or. Boynton
famed the Presidents face, and 0cca-
sionally placed his ear against his breast.
DIR. Asnew every now aud then felt of
his pulse. Not q word was spoken.
The dying man lay as still as death, but
for convulsive tremor In bis bands
and limbs and deep drawn grasp at
Intervals, which became more aud more
widely separated. His face was free
from any expression Of pain, but he
grew more CHASTITY every moment. This
had lasted twenty minutes, when, with
q final gasp, the President stlfIened out
and all was over.
Mrs. Garfield almost instantly left
the room, remaining away about three
minutes. When she returned she
was apparently more composed. She
sat down In Q chair near the head of
the bed and shook convulsiyely, but
she uttered no sound. Miss Mollie
followed her in and throwing herself
upon her dead fathers shoulder cried
as though her heart would break
Her mothers example had Quieting
effect upon her after while, however,
and her grief manifesting itself there
after In subdued sobs. Mrs. Garfield
remained without moving until nearly
Q O'Clock, when, in compliance with
DR.. Boynton's admonition, she retired
to her room, but not to sleep. Dr..
Bliss, whose chamber adjoins hers,
heard her pacing the floor all night
This morning the proposed arrange.
ments for the funeral were submitted
to her. She was at first violently op-
posed to the idea of an autopsy, but
on being informed that the law re-
quired 1t and that it was necessary to
Justify the doctors and complete the
medical record of the case, gave re-
luctant consent. She would also have
preferred to take the body directly to
Ohio, but was easily persuaded to
recognize the claims Of the nation and
to agree to the public funeral at WASH
ingtoa. The Trustees OF Lake View
Cemetery, Cleveland, telegraphsd of.
fering burial plot to the family, and
this having been submitted to her she
expressed her acceptance. She con-
t'nued to bear up well until about 10
o'clock, when happening to encounter
DR.. Bliss, she stepped forward for the
purpose of formally thanking him for
all he had done for her husband, but
in the midst Of 1t she suddenly broke
down. There was a very affecting
scene between her and President
Author in the afternoon, when the
latter, soon after his arrival, called at
the cottage in company with the men,
bers Of the Cabinet to offer his con-
dolence and sympaty. While they
were converting General Grant called
and was admitted. With the excep-
tions mentioned, Mrs. Garfield has
manifested the same remarkable for
titude for which she has been admired
throughout the long ordeal Of her
hcsband's illness. Master Harry Gar
f1ald arrived this afternOOu