The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-04
sOENES IN WASHINGTON.
Great Throngs About the Depot and the
White House.-Business Practically
Suspended.

Great Throngs About the Depot and the
White House.-Business Practically
Suspended.
Tho news spread over the city with incred-
ible rapidity, the telephone carrying it to the
remotest parts of the city. In few minutes
Alter its occurrence every street began pouring
the residents toward Pennsylvania Avenue
and thence to the scene. The departments had
Just filed up with their thousands and these
were soon emptied upon the streets, and their
employees joined to swell the throng hurrying
toward the Baltimore & Potomac depot.
than half an hour, fully 10000 people of all
ranks Of society. The depot was densely
crowded, and the pressure for admittance to
the ladies' room, in which the President lay,
was 30 great - to override the efforts of the
few policemen on duty to keep out the crowd.
upstairs room, which, it is now thought, was
An imprudent move. He bore the painful
lifting up the stairway with great selfcontrol.
At . few minutes before 10 o'clock the police
ambulance arrived, and shortly after the doors
OF tho 3 street entrance opened and the litter,
upon which was stretched the wounded Presi-
dent, was borne out by the willing and tender
hands of Col Rockwell, Ingersoll and Corbin,
the physicians and others. The face was pal
lid. and had an expression Of intense self-con-
troll, the right arm being thrown over and
around the head. AS the litter was passed
into the ambulance an almost universal groan
Of compassion was uttered by the immense
crowd. A detachment of mounted police at
tended to keep the way clear, but they were
not needed. The great multitude parted
quietly to make way, and thousands of hats
were removed in respectful silence as the
vehicle was driven rapidly up the avenue. 1t
passed through the treasury grounds into those
OF the Presidents house, and the sufferer was
admitted through the south entrance, Just as
he was on Inauguration day when he left the
house OF the column to take his place to review
the troops and procession after the ceremony
at the Capitol The crowds about the White
House grounds were swelled by the thousands
Who followed the ambulance from the depot
In order to clear the grounds and to secure alb
solute quiet, two companies of regulars from
the barracks were ordered up for guard duty.
As these double quicked up the avenue at a
right shoulder shift they attracted universal
attention, and all sorts of rumors were preva-
lent. Public business was suspended, by Or
der, in the departments at 10 o'clock and sew
eral merchants on the avenue closed their
stores upon the reported death of the Presi-
dent. A Gordon of soldiers was placed around
the White House grounds and admittance
could only be gained by cards of permit
which, however, were freely granted to mem.
beers of the press and the higher officials. A
large crowd assembled at police headquarters,
to which the assassin was removed in a close
carriage, for fear that an attempt to lynch him
should be made, and to remove any possible
temptation in that direction he was taken to
Jail and q company of regulars was detailed to
guard it. The anxiety and deep concern of
the people of the city were manifested in many
ways. The crowd on the street was in restless
motion, seeking for particulars and the latest
news. Business was practically suspended,
though the few stores closed upon the first re-
ports of death were opened again as the hope
became diffused that better result might en-
sue. AT Abner's and Drivers gardens an
nouncements were exhibited that the usual
evening concerts would be omitted Bulletins
from the physicians at the White House were
issued every half hour. They were posted at
the hotels and newspaper offices, and drew
crowds, which seemed to be in constant mo-
ton, and all eagerly talking, but in suppressed
tones