The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-04
MONDAY MORNING, JULY 4.
BY TELEGRAPH.
Startling Tragedy !.
President Garfield Shot IN q
Railway Depot !!
The Crime the Work
Of a Crazed Office
Seeker I!
The Wound Dangerous But
Not Necessarily Fatal.
THE BALL STILL IN
THE PRESIDENTS
BODY !!
Latest Reports Of the Presidents
Condition Less Favorable.
SORROW AND SADNESS
ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
Latest Reports Of the Presidents
Condition Less Favorable.
SORROW AND SADNESS
ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.

WASHINGTON, July 2.-The President and
Secretary Blaine passed out of the White
House grounds this morning at 915 o'clock in
the Presidents carriage. The two gentlemen
reclined on the back seat, with their feet upon
the front one, the President smok ing and smil-
ingly talking to his Secretary. He looked par
ticularly careless and easy, as if he had thrown
completely off the cares and annoyances of
state affairs, and looked forward to his three
weeks jaunt with all the confidence of boy
entering upon his summer vacation: At $40
he reached the B street entrance of the Balti-
more & Potomac depot. AS he placed his hand
on tho carriage door, as if to open it. he said to
the policeman on duty, "How much time have
IT. About ten minutes, said the officer.
Secretaries Hunt and Window and Postmaster
General James, with their families had al
ready taken their places in the car. The Pres
ident and Mr.. Blaine fingered yet moment
In conversation, and then the President passed
int tho ladies' waiting room little in ad-
vance OF Mr.. Blaine, who was at his left side.
There were but two or three persons in the
room, one being the woman who waits on the
female passengers, an another being the assas-
sin. The President had nearly reached the
large door opening into the main hall when
the assassin stepped forward from the line of
seats on the right of the President. Without
uttering word he fred, his hand being close
to bis own body, at a level with his hip, and,
attracting no attention from his victim before
the shot. This shot lodged in the right side,
looe eooNo tuO UP ITO blCkof SOLICIT was look
ing through the window of the ticket office
into the ladies' room and saw the flash, The
President received the shot, the first one, but
seemed not to have noticed that he was struck.
Tho assassin, as quick as the weapon could be
again discharged, fred the second time, aiming
higher, the shot striking the right arm near the
shoulder. The President fell close by the
door Of the ladies' room. The assassin ran
past the President, and met Mr.. Blaine and
the officer. He then turned toward the main
hall, Mr.. Blaine following him, calling out,
Rockwell, where is ROCKWELL and pointing
to tho assassin. The officer seized the man,
who made no resistance. The pistol he had
just placed in the side pocket of his loose sack
coat. He said:-"Yes, have finished Gar
held; now Arthur is President. am stall
wart." By this time the passengers, who had
taken their places in the train, the usual
crowds about the doors, hackmen, etc., had
rushed toward the door of the ladies' room,
not yet knowing that the President was GER
tafnly wounded, though some had cried out
that he was shot. Secretary Blaine turned
than and stopped to the President. Mrs.
White, the attendant of the ladies' room, had
reached the President the first of any, and had
taken his head in her lap. Mr.. Blaine ex-
claimed;-"O! my poor Pre5iddent!" Seeing
that the assassin had been secured, Mr.. Blaine
told the officer to see that no harm came to
him, and the President nodded assent The
omcer removed his prisoner to a hack outside,
and drove TO the police headquarters. So
quietly was his removal effected that few out
siders were aware of the arrest.