The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-07-07
Tragic Scenes in the Washing
ton Depot.
Garfield Shot Down While
Departing to Ioin His Wife. ~
One Shot Lodges in the Arm and
the Other in the Back. t4i
CHARLES j. GUITEAU, THE ASSAS-
SIN, ARRESTED. .
sTALwART OF THE STALwARTS,"
AND A CHRONIC OFFICE-SEEKER.
Story of fhe Horrible Deed Nations
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of SYM
pafhy, Etc.

the I'd inst, by the report flashed over the
wires Of the assassination of President Garfield
in the depot at Washington. The fact that
such q terrible event had not even been
dreamed of by the Presidents worst wishers-
his political enemies-gave the news the ap-
pearance of a joke although either a confrma-
ton or contradiction Of the calamity was
eagerly sought in every quarter. The report,
however, was rapidly followed by others, con-
frming the first, and excitement became in
tense.
The following is the first dispatch:
"WAsH1NaroN, d. c., July 2-9:15 A. NJ
President Garfield was shot in the depot this
morning. This is authentic. He is now I'M
conscious"
Shortly after this dispatch another was sent
over the wires announcing that the President
was dead, but this was shortly after contra
dicted. DR.. Bliss, the Presidents physician,
telegraphed that he thought the wound waA
not mortal.
As soon after the shooting as it was possible
the President was conveyed to the White
House.
The pistol used was a California weapon,
with an extremely heavy calibre and known as
a"hu dog"
The shooting was done by q slender man.
about five feet seven inches in height. He was 4.
arrested Immediately after the firing, by ofic--
ers in the depot. He was first taken to Police
Headquarters and subsequently removed to the
District Jail. The shooting occurred in the.
ladies' room of the depot, mmediateIy AFTER
the President had entered, walking arm in
arm with Secretary Blaine, on their way to the
Limited Express train, which was about to-
leave for New York, where the President eG-
pected to be Joined by his wife, on a pleasure
trip up the Hudson. =
The Station-Agent, Carney, arrested the
assassin, who said: 81 did it, and I am a
Stalwart, and Arthur is now President. Take
a letter, I have here, to General Sherman, and
he will tell you all about it."
Two shots were fired by the assassin, one
lodging in the right arm below the shoulder,
and the other in the right side of the back, be-
tween the hips and Kidneys
The name OF the assassin, as written by him
self, Is Charles Guiteau, and he says he is an
attorney-at-law in Chicago. .
The Washington Star says that when the as
sassin was arrested he said: 81 did it and want
to be arrested. I am a Stalwart and Arthur is
President now"
After the President had been removed to
the White House, it was almost impossible for
any one to gain access to it excepting Cabinet
officers, it being thoroughly guarded by soldiers,
and thus accounts of his condition were very
meagre and unsatisfactory to the impatient and
[ sympathing populace.
Two hours after the shooting the President
dictated the following telegram to his wife
"MRs. GENERAL GARFIELD, Elbernon, Long
Branch The President wishes me to say to
you, from him, that he has been seriously hurt
how seriously, he can not say. He is him
2 self, and hopes you will come to him soon.
He sends his love to you..
, "Signed, -"
The dispatch to Mrs. Garfield made her al
most frantic, and her physicians found it nee
essary to let her see none of the dispatches,
! but dictated hopeful ones to her.
/, Sixteen years ago-on an occasion similar to
this one-Mr. Garfield said "God reigns,
5 and the Government at Washington still
lives. Z
Shortly after the shooting Vice President
Arthur was interviewed at the Fifth Avenue
l Hotel, New York, and said that If there was
truth in the report, he felt exceedingly sorry
for Mrs. Garfield, whose health was pre-
c~arious. Senator Conkling, who had arrireas
in the city, on the same boat with Arttnif,
| end WAS stopping at the Fifth Avenue, refused
! lie interviewed.
Mrs. Garfield and her daughter Mollie, who
{ were atthe Elberon, Long Branch, were to have
: started on the 2 "a p. m. train for New York.
q where they were to have Joined the President
on q trip up the Hudson to Arlington. At
e about eleven o'clock General Swain entered
the apartments occupied by the Presidents
wife, wearing q troubled look. Mrs. Garfield
looked nquiringly at him, when he said 81
have just received a dispatch stating that the
President hes met with an accident" as it
of q serious character?' said she, 81 hope
O not" evasiyely replied the General. She at
once ordered q telegram to be sent to Wash
ington for further particulars. At the. time
Mrs. Colonel Rockwell and her daughter and
Miss Mollie Garfield were present, and while
all were affected by the news Mrs. Garfield
n seemed the calmest and most collected of all.
By and by other dispatches conveying the sad
. tidings arrived, and it was deemed fit and
n proper that Mrs. Garfield should be told the
= real facts in the case. She received the infor-
/, nation with Spartan firmness, though her lips
., quivered and her eyes moistened as she thought
n of the idol of her heart dying away from her
arms. In few moments q number of the more
II prominent of the Elberon cottagers called
) to tender their coincidence. Among others
was General Grant. Those who had seen how
coldly he had met the President in the same
building q week before were surprised at the
it. tenderness and emotion he betrayed. His
visit was necessarily brief, but his coincidence
it and words of hope were heartfelt in the ex-
IRENE, and did much to buoy up the spirits of
the poor, grief-stricken woman to whom they
were addressed.
i The officials of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey rendered Mrs. Garfield a special train
over their road to Washington, which she ac-
cepted. The train consisted of o baggage and
one parlor car, attached to which was one OF
4 the finest locomotives in the Company's serv-
y i've. A 1890 Mrs. Garfield, accompanied by
her daughter Mollie, Mrs. Colonel Rockwell
and daughter, were driven to Elberon Station,
Ie and at 12:45 the train left for Washington.
l. A Washington dispatch says that at a quarter
/: to seven two carTaiages with horses steaming
L and painting from the pace at which they had
lie been driven, came up the avenue to the rear
entrance. In the first was Mrs. Garfield, her
: daughter Mollie and Colonel Rockwell's little
'e daughter in the second Colonel Rockwell
- Colonel Corbin and Major Swain.
AS the first carriage drove up Mrs. Blaine,
y who had been awaiting it, came out, and, the
a door Of the carriage being opened, put her
STOPPING over the latter-who appeared some
IL what flushed, but possessed of an air Of calm.
ness-she kissed her, and murmured: .:Don't
E. ply of the Presidents wife, who in this hour
st exhibited her noble character and, asesfrJ
Blaine afterward said, was as calm as q statue.
A moment the two women stood embracing
each other. Then the Presidents eldest boy
=, came up to his mother, tears standing in hii
eyes, and kissed her. She turned, and, muir
muring some words of consolation, placed one
- arm about his shoulder, and, giving the Other
] to Mrs. Blaine, they entered the house, and
passed by a private staircase to the room
Z where the President lay. Only two or thret
J. besides the attending physicians were present
ut the meeting between thewounded Chief Mag.
istrate and his wife. Those who were, were
III affected to tears, though the principal actors il
Is the tragic scene were calm, and maintained q
brave exterior. Mrs. Garfield walked quietly
'e across the room, and stopping kissed her hus
% band as tenderly as a bride. A smile of recogni
ton passed over his face as he returned hel
/ caress and his lips moved as if whispering
Ii comfort. No one intruded on the sad meeting
and Mrs. Garfield remained i'll the room fol