New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-17
GREAT ANXIETY IN THIS CITY

GREAT ANXIETY IN THIS CITY
A""i'N' ss TO HEAR THE LATEST NEWS FROM TIE
PRESIDENTS BEDsIDE-cRowDs AROUND THE
| NH"sPAPER BULLETINs-sCENEs IN THE sTRrrTs
| ROOMS. WV
Inc shock which the newspapers of Yesterday
morning brought to the hearts of the peope of tbs
city was one the severity of which might have
been tempered by the premonitions of the
previous day II the hope of the Presi-
dents recovery had not become SO strong
Daily reports of cheerful words from the wounded
President himself and from his physicians and
other friends who had access to the sources of
authentic information had strengthened this hone
until 1t seemed about to become q certainty.
Yesterdays shock was therefore the more severe.
1t seemed as if all the varied feelings which were
possible Tor people to pass through because of the
tragic occurrence of July g had been experienced
within the first ten days after the shot
was hrcd; but yesterday others equally poir-
nant, though less apparent on the sur
faee, were developed In the first davs
there was added to the grief which all felt an
excitement which made it difficult to rema'n n quiet
or to attend to business. There was then mi iyerso
res''essness. except when intelligence was
pc'ng received through the medium of communica-
t"n between the White House and the people NJ
large. Accompanying the first shock was a deep
teeng OF indignation against the assassin
The anxious expression on the faces of mon and
women as they read the gloomy tidiugs Yesterday
ana the crowds that gathered around the bulletin
poarus III PRINTING House Square told plainly of the
recurrence of the anxiety and sorrow which marked
the hrst week after the President was wounded
PERSONS talked little IN the streets but they did not
as for the last four weeks, read the bulletins
cursoriv and pass to their places of business
Many faces could be seen for an hour at a time.
first lii front of one newspaper Office and then in
front OF another. With the first dispatches
Whch toid that no cheering words had
yet been heard from physicians and friends.
all ordinary affairs seemed to lose their interest
Had he only died six weeks ago" said one man
II would not have hurt me much as it will now.
To think that he should have borne up so bravelv
and cheeriully, and all to no end !"
Except the groups in front of the newspaper
oices the appearance of extra editions of the news
pers' ana the eagcruess with which they were
purchased evidences of popular excitement were
not particularly noticeable downtown during the
day. The Fifth Avenue Hotel and the uptown club
houses were comparatively deserted most of the time
ana there were few persons read the bulletins that
were displayed at long intervals. The leisure of
the evening brought men together however. and
with the ominous character of the dispatches from
Washington grew the signs Of excitement The
Firth Avenue Hotel filled up RAPIDLY after
O'Clock, and when the official evening bulletin
was posted there in the reading room the crowd
that gathered TO read it was so large
that for half an hour of the doors near which
the bulletin was displayed was blockaded Many
of the scenes which described as occurring
early in July were repeated there Very few dis
patches were received and the people were forced TO
t'lk about that which uppemost in their
minds.
SCENES IN THE UPTOWN STREETS
The streets about the stereopticon bulletin Mt
VI I-2fn DIVA,
considerable time last night With persons anxiously
awaiting the latest news from Washington. There
was "a greater crowd present than at any time since
the first two three days after the Pres-
dent was shot. Frequent bulletins were
displayed, but the news they contained
was meagre and unsatisfactory, and of course did
not tend to allay the anxiety and excitement of the
mul itude. The faces of those present bore a look
of sorrow as of personal bereavement. A hopeful
person now and then expressed his belief that the
President would yet recover, and he was eagerly
listened to when he gave his reasons but
the general opinion was that the President
could not live long. The crowd remained
until n late hour, gradually decreasing. Persons
living in the neighborhood would come and read the
news and then 20 TO their homes again, returning
subsequently for the latest intelligence.
The appearance of newsboys with "extras" as
late as 1890 p. IN. created considerable ex-
citement in Flftli-ave., LeXington-ave. an
other streets. Doors opened quickly
and at nearly every house some one rushed
out to buy a newspaper. Everybody seemed
to be still out of bed an hour later and groups
could he seen doorsteps discussing the character
Of the news Crowds were gathered at nearly all
the uptown hotels. restaurants and other re-
Sorts and the sidewalks were well filled
with people up to late hour. At time
since the President was shot has greater interest
been shown in the news from the White House. The
feeling OF hopefulness heretofore apparent whenever
crowd was discussing the condition of the Presi-
dent had entirely disappeared last night There
were few persons in any of the numerous places
where crowds were gathered who expressed conf
dence in the Presidents recovery. Is he deadY"
was question frequently asked. Much sympathy
was expressed for Mrs. Garfield. Her name was
frequently mentioned, and the long weeks of pa
tient watching and suffering which she has under
gone were spoken of by many persons with express |
sions of deep feeling.
bulletin displayed at IL p. m., stating that
" the collapse of the President was feared" This
and another one that the situation considered |
very grave, were the latest from the White House,
and the crowd dispersed with general expression
that he next news would be of the Presidents |
death.
Only to think" said old man, he turned |
away, " that man who has fitted and prepared !
himself well to ill the duties of President should
be cut down at the very beginning of his |
Administration by a miserable assassin. would |
hang that fellow Guiteau tonight if could" !" This
many discussions last night. Had he been access
sible to the crowds awaiting the news his life |
would not have been worth much to him.
AT THE WINDSOR HOTEL
The critical condition of the President was the |
absorbing topic of conversation last night at the |