Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-07-03
STARTLING NEWS FROM
WASHINGTON !!
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATESI
He is Shot Twice By a Chicago
Of1ce-Seeker
His Wounds Serious But Not
% Necessarily Fatal.
The Assassin is Arrested and in
Jail.
Great Excitement at Washington
and Troops Guarding the
White House.

White House.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 2.-President
Garfield was shot this morning at the Balti-
more and Potomac depot, white on his way
to New England. He received one ball in
the arm and one between the hip and kid
neys. Five physicians are in attendance,
and have proDed for the ball without sue
cess. He Is dangerously wounded but may
recover.
The shooting was done by slender man,
about feet inches in height.
He refused to give mis- name, but it is said
by persons who profess to know him, that
his name is Cato, and that he is ex-consul
to MarsaIles. The man was arrested imme-
dlately and carried to police headquarters,
and subsequently removed to jail.
The shooting occurred in the ladies' room
of the depot, immediately after the Presi-
dent had entered walking arm in arm with
Secretary Blaine, on their way to the limit
ed express train which was about ready to
leave.
Secretary Blaine, on hearing the pistol
shots, two III number, rushed III the dlrec-
ton from which they came, with view OF
arresting the assassin. Before reaching the
man he noticed the President fall, and
turned to him and lifted him up. Both
shots took effect the tirst in the night arm
and the second just above the right hip and
near the kidneys. The physicians probed
for the balls unsuccessfuIly
Two companies of regulars were ordered
from the barracks, and have been posted
around the Executive Mansion. s---
Great excitement prevails and the streets
are thronged with anxious inquirers, eager
to learn the condition of the President.
The shooting occurred in the presence of
sixty ladies'. The President has been made
as comfortable as possible, and all persons
are excluded from the grounds. The Pres
ident lis conscious, and does not complain OF
great suffering. 1t is impossible to say al
yet what the result will be, but the surgeons
are of the opinion that the wounds are not
necessarily fatal. S
The following telegram was sent to Mrs
Garfield, at Elberton, Long Branch, N. J..
''The President wishes me to say to yor
from him that he has been seriously hurt
How seriously he cannot yet say. He il
himself, and hopes you will come to him
soon. He sends love to you.
, Signed "a. f. ROCKWELL"
11.30.-The Presidents condition has i'm
proved and his pulse, which was as low a
SO, has raised to 63. AS soon as it reache
7 10 the physicians will probe for the ball
) and will then be able to tell the nature O
, the wounds
The man who did the shooting is Charlie
Gatto attorney-at-law, Chicago. He is
foreigner by birth, and has been very per
sistant applicant for consulate, which wa
= refused by the President. He has haunte
b, the Executive Mansion for two or thre
weeks, and his not getting what he wante
is believed resulted in temporary aberra
, ton of the mind.
The following has been forwarded b
the cable
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON
July 2, 18S1.-Janaes Russell LoaceU, M,
lister, ETC., LOedon The President of th
, United States was shot this morning by a
assassin named Charles Guitneur. I'll
weapon was large sized revolver. I'll
President had just reached the Baltimore
III Potomac Station, at about twenty minute
y past nine, intending. with portion of h
: Cabinet, to leave on the limited express fl
New York.
e l rode in the carriage with him frol
!, the Executive Mansion and ws
walking by his side when he was shot Tt
assassin was immediately arrested, and th
n President was conveyed to a private rool
e in the station building, and surgical aid
once summoned. He has now, at twent
) minutes past, been removed to the Exec1
/ tive Mansion The surgeons, on consultation
's regard his wounds as very serious, thoug
n not necessarily fatal. His vigorous healt
3 gives strong hopes of his recovery. He ha
n not lost consciousness for a moment. II
u form our ministers in Europe.
I fSigned] "JAMEs G. BLAINE,
$ Secretary of State"
The following official bulletin with regar
to the condition of the President, has ju'
been issued
> "ExEcUTIvE MANs1oN-12. 35 p. nth
reaction from the shock of the injury ha
al Ia io
pain, but it is thought best not to distur
him by making any exploration for the ba
until after consultation at 8 p. M
[Signedl "D. w. BLISS, M. D. !"
The following physicians are in consulta
r ton at the Executive Mansion: Drs. Bliss
r Ford, Huntingdon, Woodward, U. s. A.
Townsend, Lincoln, Reyburn, Norris