Middletown transcript., 1881-09-23
THE LAST MOMENTS.


THE LAST MOMENTS.
Judge Advocate-Gen. Swain, who has
been with Pres. Garfield continuously
since he was shot and who was the only
one with the President when he began
sinking Monday night, has made the
following statement to reporter; " 1t
was my night to watch with the Pfesi-
dent. l had been with him good deal
of the time from three O'Clock in the
afternoon. A few minutes before ten
O'Clock l left Colonel Rockwell, with
whom had been talking for some min
utes. in the lower hall and proceeded
up stairs to the Presidents room. On
entering I found Mrs. Garfield sitting
by his bedside. There were no other
persons in the room. | said to her:
How is everything going ? She re-
piled He is sleeping nicely then
said / think you had better go to bed
and rest l asked her what had been
prescribed for him to take during the
night. She replied that she did not
know that she had given him milk
punch at s O'Clock. / then said, If
YOU will wait moment l will go into
the doctors room and see what is to be
given during the night She then said,
There is beef tea down stairs. l
found Dr. Bliss in the doctors room
and asked what was to be given during
the night. He answered that he would
fix up list and give it to me soon. l
! then went and had a little conversation
with Mrs. Garfield, who laid her hand
on the Presidents forehead and said he
seemed to be in good condition and
passed out Of the room. | Immediately
felt his hands, feet and knees. l
thought that his knees seemed little
cool. and l got flannel cloth, heated
it at the fire, and laid it over his limbs
| also heated another cloth and laid it
over his right hand. At this moment
Dr. Boynton came in and felt the Pres
ident's pulse and said that it was not
as strong as it was in the afternoon,
but very good. The doctor also thought
he was doing well. The doctor then
left the room.
"Shortly after this the President
aWoke, | took hold Of his hand and
Portable Sleep He then said: 'Oh,
Swain, this terrible pain, placing his
right hand on his breast, over his heart.
He asked for some water, which | gave
him. He took the glass i'll his hand, |
raising his head as usual, and drank the
water very naturally. l then handed
the glass to the colored man, Daniel,
who had just come in. | took nap
kin and wiped his forehead, as he
usually perspired on awakening. He
then said oh, Swain, this terrible
pain. Press your hand on it, laid
my hand on his chest. He then threw
both hands up to the side and about on
a line with his head and exclaimed /:
Oh, Swain, can't you stop this p And
again, Oh, Swaim.' | then saw him
looking at me with staring expression.
| asked him if he was suffering much
pain. Receiving no answer repeated
the question with like result. l then
concluded that he was either dying Oh
was having a severe spasm and called
to Daniel, who was at the door, to tell
Doctor Bliss and Mrs. Garfield to come
in Immediately. This occurred at ten
minutes past 10 O'Clock. Doctor Bliss
came in i'll Il few minutes and | asked
him if he had any stimulants and told
the doctor that he seemed to be dying.
The doctor took hold Of his wrist and
: felt his pulse and said that he was dy
ing. l then sent Daniel to arouse the
house. At that moment Colonel Rock
) ) well came in, and Dr.. Bliss said Lei
US rub his limbs, which we did. In ;
very few moments Mrs, Garfield came
/, in and said What does this mean :?
and moment after exclaimed Oh
, why am / made to suffer this crue
! wrongi' AT 1875 p. NJ. the sacrifice
was completed. He breathed his las
: peacefully At the final moment thr
, following persons were present Mrs
) Garfield and Mollie, Drs. Bliss, Agnev
! J and Boyton, General Swain, Colone
: Rockwell and his wife, Stanley Brown