Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-09-21
The Last Moments of
President Garfield.
General Expressions
of Grief.
Great Preparations for
His Obsequiess


was peculiarly a sad and impress
siVe one. AS the doctors felt there
was no longer any hope, the mem
bers of the family assem- bled. DR.
Bliss stood at the head of the bed
with his hand on the pulse of the
patient, aud consulted in low whis
pers with Agnew. The private
secretary stood at the opposite side
with Mrs. Garfield at the bedside
she at times leaning on his arm
Mrs. Lulu Rockwell aud Miss Mol
lie Garfield came into the room al
the time when the President was
least conscious. Afterwards they
went into the hall, the door OF
which was open, and stood there,
while the conversation was contin'
ued in whispers. Those about the
bed occasionally went into the COR
ueIs Of the room anu spoke to each
other. The solemnity of the coca.
sion fully impressed itself upon
them. There was no sound heard
except the & sping for breath Of
the sufferer, whose changing color
gave Indication of the near ap-
preach Of the end. After he had
repeated at hurt" he passed into
state of Inconsistencies, breath
ing heavily at times and then Civ
ing but slight indication that
breath was still in the body. The
only treatment that was given was
hypodermic injections OF brandy
by Agnew, assisted by Boy nton.
Occasionally they spoke with DR.
Biiss In quiet whispers. The Pres
ldent suffered no pain after the
ii me he raised his hand up to his
heart. He passed away almost
quietly. The time between life
and death was not marked by
physical exhibitions or any word.
There was absolutely no scene.
The intervels between the gasp
ings became longer, and presently
there was no sound. Everyone
present knew that death had come
quickly and without pain. When
it became evident that be was
dead Mrs. Rockwell placed her
arm around Mrs. Garfield aud led
quickly from the room. One by
one the spectators Went out.
DeasD sc.ns.
CHICAGO, Sept. 20.--J. Stanley
Brown, the Times correspondent,
gives the following description of
the death sceue: When Mr.. Brown
entered the room Mrs. Rockwell
and Miss Lulu, who had just com g
In with Mrs. Garfield and Mollie,
left the room aud stood in the hall
just outside OF the room. DR.. Bliss
stood at the head of the bed feeling
the pulse as he came IN, taking his
place among the people. Drs. Ae-
new aud Hamilton were trying to
revive the President with hypo-
dermic injections of brandy. Col.
Rockwell then went out "A moment,
and returned with Mollie Carrie d
as the President passed into sink
ing condition, and began to breathe
in great, slow gasps. Col. Rock
Well went quietly TO the window
and closed them. Mr.. Brown
walked to Mrs. Garfield, and she
leaned upon his arm as the Presi-
dent slowly breathed his last. Mrs.
Garfield was calm, save for the
c0nvulsive shudders that at times
overmastered her. MoIlie ca me up
to her moment later, and her
mother put her arm around her as
the little girl sohbed bitterly. Her
weeping and the Presidents gasp
Ing breath were the only sounds in
the room. Then General swan
crossed to Miss Mollie, fearing her
grief would be too much for her
mother, and led her away out OF
the room. There was u period OF
gasping, and the President passed
away. Mrs. Rockwell placed hei
arm around Mrs. Garfield and led
her away. AS Mrs. Garfield left
the room she turned and said to
MIR. Brown, as she wrupg his hand
II shall depend upon YOU"
preparations for the Faasra, efuhs
srsstdens.
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 20.-2:lS p
M.-The Presidents body will be
embalmed and the autopsy will.
take place Tomorrow afternoon
DIR. Curtis, of Washington, has
been asked to come here, In com.
pany with the attending surgeons
who recently withdrew from the
case-Barnes, Woodwar d and Rey
burn-to be present when the au'
topsy is made.
Arrangements tor the funeral
will be made in all respects In &C
oordance with the wishes of Mrs
Garfield. Nothing has yet beer
definitely determined upon, but II
Ia expected the special train viii
leave here Wednesday for Wash
iDgton and that the Presidents re-
mains will be kept In state In the
rotunda of the Capitol during
Thursday and Friday. On Friday
evening the train Is expected t.
leave for Cleveland, where thu
body will lie in state during Sun
day and the funeral will take
place on Monday. The place o.
interment will be Lake View Gem
etery, at Cleveland, la accords nc,
| with the frequent expression of tn,
| President in his lifetime. O
course these arrangements are sub
ject to alterations.
Attorney General MacVeagi
saws Mrs. Garfield is bearing he
afhiotion with fortitude.
Orders by tne war Department
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 20th.-Th,
War Department will Tomorrow
issue an order that every military
post, station and arsenal shall q
into mourning for thirty days ant
that all expenses of arsenal mourn
ing ebservances will be paid by tn,
| government; that Gen. Sherman
will have charge Of the genera
conduct of the Presidents funera
and all matters relating thereto
that u statement win be prepared
and published giving the date o
the funeral, the hour that the re-
mains and cortege will leav,
Washington, the time Of arriva
at each station en- route to Cleve
land and the precise moment tina
every stop will be made; that al
flags shall be at half-mast, ane