Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-09
THE PRESIDENT AT LONG BRANCH.
"A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE JOUR
NEY..

A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE JOUR
NEY.
The MANNER OF CARRYING THE PREsI-
DENT TO THE RAILWAY TRAIN.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-'I snppose.it is
a chance, and think am entitled to that
said the President last night,
talking eagerly, as for two days he had
been talking, of his WEAKNESS of the White
House and his longing to get away. He
has taken the chance.
Last night passed quietly at the White
House. After the evening dressing. the
President went to sleep, but his mind was
so full of the journey that he frequently
awake and spoke about it. He was aSSur-
ed by the physicians that every arrange
ment had been made, that the train was at
the depot, that the track was prepared,
that the wagon was at the door, and that
if he would only be quiet and take good
nights sleep he would be removed before
the sun rose. The President became qul-
ct, but it was noticed thaa he was under
some excitement. At the same time the
physicians did not think that the excite
shortly before midnight, he fell asleep and
until shortly before the removal.
Meanwhile to those who were watching
it was evident that the preparations were
going OF all through the night. AT the
depot there was great activity. Word was
sent from the White House that they
would like to move the President about 5
o'clock or soon after. 1t was suggested
that it might bs well to wait until the ar
rival of the New York night express so
that clear track might be prepared, and
the physicians at once consented that this
be done. At 3 O'Clock in the morning a
gang of some 200 labOrers was put at work
upon the gap which had been left uncom-
pleted in the track. This had been so left
because it was necessary to allow the street
cars to pass through uninterruptedly until
past midnight. The laborers made very
quick work of filing i'll the gap Some
fifteen or twenty car loads of gravel which
we're ready were brought to the place and
dumped. The ties were laid, the levels were
taken, and the tracks werej joined with per-
feet accuracy. This made continuous
track from Pennsylvania avenue to the
switch which joined the temporary track
to the main line. AS soon as the track
was completed Engineer Page backed the
train down. This was about 4 O'Clock in
the morning. Page was ready to go in
party were aboard.
About 2 O'Clock in tine morning clouds
had obscured the moon. and there was
some fear that there might be rain. In
quirles at the Signal Office, however, salts
fed the attendants at the White House
that there would be no rain to-day. but
tn the sun would be Obscured These
predictions have been verified. 1t had
been decided, however. to remove the Pres
ident even if there should be a gentle rain,
but not to remove him in case there was a
storm. At this hour the outside gates at
the White House were closed, and there
were only two or three lights visible, a
dim light IN the Presidents room being
one of them. Some fifty or sixty men
were collected in front of the iron pailings.
most of. them asleep. Some of them were
colored men, me of them white, and all
of them were waiting the opportunity to
see the President removed. A large New
foundland dog lay in front of the gate as
though guarding it, and sentinels passed
up and down ID the moonlight as the
clouds broke. At O'Clock the President
was still sleeping and the physicians were
taking short. nays.
AS far as can be learned the President
slept after midnight without speaking. In
the early part of the evening, when he had
awakened from one of his desultory maps
he said:
We'll. I suppose that by this time to-
morrow l will be at Long Branch, and /
shall be glad to be able to breathe the sea
air.
He was quoted and ted that everything
depended upon his getting a good rest
Soon after clock a hypodermic injec-
ton of morphine was administered. 1t
was the desire of the physicians that the
President should know as little about the
removal as possible. They preferred to
have him even in a state Of stupor than
in state of fatiguing excitement. The
the time came for reno, al he was found
to- he rather in stupor than in a Sleep
Mrs Gai fed, who bad SLEPT little and had
not gone to bed at all, was in and out of
the sick chamber frequently during the
night, and when she found, soon after i
o'clock, that the President was apparently
sound asleep, she expressed qualification.
Dawn was approaching. The first indi-
cation on the street of what was contem-
plated was the arrival of large numbers Of
policemen, in fact, of the entire force, un-
der command of Major Brock. They were
stationed at all the crossings between the
White House gate aad the depot, with H.
structions to permit no team, of any kind
cepting the mounted messenger from the
White House. At $50, in addition to
these policemen, all the mounted force
were on duty.
About O'Clock, when dawn was so far
advanced that it was possible to read a
newspaper, there were eIOrts Of guns in
the marshes beyond the White House.
Some thoughtless sportsmsn had gone to
shoot reed birds. 1t was the intention of
one of them to shoot enough to make a
palatable meal for the President on his
trip to Long Branch. He succeeded in
bringing dozen to the train just before
the President arrived there.
At the White House, soon after dawn,
DR.. Bliss made careful examination. He
said that the President could be removed
now as well as at any other time. Mes
senger Sheridan mounted his horse, put
spurs to it. and went again with great
clatter down the avenue TO the depot. The
physicians had slept little during the night;
in fact, had simply rested on a sofa. DR..
Boynton, DR.. Bliss and DR.. Reyburn were
in an adjoining room, while Gen. Swain
and Mrs. Edison had been sitting at the
bedside tanning the President. Col. Cor
bin. who lay upon a sofa in an adjoining
rom, was summoned, and preparations
began to be made tolift the President from
Elt CUuCll WuICt1 f1S lids IAN llOit puo IL
two months, and to remove him from the
White House. DR.. Bliss, as the first step,
administered another hypodermic Injection
of morphine of rather more than the usual
strength Soon after, the bed, the legs of
which had been unscrewed. was lifted aud
laid upon the stretcher, which had been
specially made for that use.
The President was still sleeping when
the bed was put upon the stretcher. AZ
last, at 20 minutes Of 6, DR.. Bliss,
DE-. Boynton, DR.. Reyburn, Gen
Swain, Col. Rockwell and Col. Corbin
took the stretcher. three upon a side, and
lifted it. The President did not indicate
that he was aware of what was being done.
They carried the bed through the room to
he corridor, and without any. trouble
whatever, aud without the knowledge of
the President took it down the broad stair
case to the front door. Meanwhile Mrs.
Garfield, her daughter Mollie, Miss Rock
we'll and Mrs. Edison had taken a carriage