New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-03
SORROW IN THE CITY.

ihE SHOCK CAUSED BY THE FIRST REPORTS POL
LOWED BY INTENSE NINETY CONCERNING THE
PRESIDENTS cONDIuoN-sYMpArHY AND RE-
GRET ON ALL SIDES.
Ihe news of the shooting of President Gar
neld startled and shocked the city yesterday
morning as it had not been startled and
shocked before since the assassination of Presi-
oent Lincoln. When it was found that the
carry report of his death was incorrect
,'.'ehse , anxiety for favorable news of
' cohdiuon was shown in every
part OF New-fork. This was not dimin-
ished during the afternoon and evening.
ana .he statements of the physicians, when
'ney were discouraging, caused profound sor-
iow' ne manner In which the news was re-
ceived all over the city, and the comments made
upon IL py Republicans of various shades of opin-
ION and by Democrats also, are presented below.
common sentiment of grief pcrvaded all
classes, while it seemed improbable that the
President could recover The disnatcbes ,ata
last evening in which the physicians at tbs
"mte House expressed more hopefuI
opinion concerning their patient were eagerly
welcomed.
AMAZEMENT AND GRIEF OVER THE NEWS.
HE FIRST REPORT RECEIVED WITH INCREDUIIrY-
no" THE LATER DISPATCHES WERE RECEIVED
The city was overwhelmed with amazement and
sorrow yesterday morning when the news came
from Washington that the President had been shot.
ne hrst and ovcrpowering feeling was OF
bewilderment. That in a time of profound
peace IN period of the greatest prosperity ever
known in the country President of so amiable a
character that he had 10 bitter personal enemies
should be stricken down by the hand of an assassin
was utterly incomprchensible. Hardly any one be-
lievcd the report when lac first heard it, But the
bulletin boards of the newspapcrs the
telegraphic dispatches received at the hotels
'hc messages which came TO prominent firms down
town. and the announcement which appeared on tho
tape IN every Office receiving stock quotations
quickly gave unwelcome confirmation. The ex-
citemcnt aroused rarely violent in its
demonstrations. The prevailing sentiment was ono
of profound sorrow when il was mads
clear that the news was only to,
true. 1t was mistakenly asserted soon after
the hrst hint of the tragedy that the Presi-.
dent was Gead The grief caused by the sense of a
great loss TO the Nation gave way to hone when tbi.
statement was contradicted and the wires brought
word that the wounds might not prove fatal.
Further encouraging dispatches were received. and
people began TO think that the earlier accounts
hal greatly exaggerated the matter and that
the murderer had failed in his attempt At the first
shock oi horror over the crime busines. was sns-
pended. Men were too much overcome for a time to
go on with their ordinary occupations But with
the relief of the more favorable reports the strain
was lessencd and buying and selling were resumed
yet there was shadow over the day which grew
darker with the advancing hours.
OF course the shooting of the President WAS IN.
one subject in all minds and the one topic on an
tongues during the day and evening. The anxiety
10 get the latest news of his condition was most
earnest and pathetic. As the reports from Washinc
ton became less hopeful the hearts of people sank
within them If with apprehension of the Of
near and dear friend. When it WAS first made known
that the President had been shot everyone was per-
picked 10 account for the motives of hrs assailant
Ii seemed impossible of belief that such President
could have aroused an enmity that would not stop
short of assassination. The general conclusion from
TIE outset was that the act was that of a madman
Even befcre the assaSs:ns name was known or
any information concerning him had been sprrad
ahroa IL Was almost universally believed that no
one but Il maniac could have committed such a
crime Hence hiue wrath was wasted on the criml-
na na ne common feeling was that he was too pitt
tni ana contelnPtlblc an object to lavis. dcaunc-
alton on. The deep regret. the sincere
grief that peryaded all classes the SYM
pathy with the Presidents family thss
niolsiened many eyes, and the forebodmgs
Presidents death lcf; little space in mems minds FOR
useless rage In the streets, offices and during
the day. and in the hotels and clubs at night ,yroups
gathered with sombrc faces and talked of the crnle
al Washington and It's probable results TO the conp-
try and TO the Republican party.
GAltElING AROUND TlfE BULLETINS.
Itwas about 10 o'clock when the news that Presi-
dent Garfield had been SHOT was posted the bull
lctins along Park row and Nassau-St. II appeared
at the different newspaper Offices about the sams
time. Three or four were leisurely passing Tgs
TRIBUNE Office al the time. aud they stopped casu-
ally TO see what had happened
My God!N exclaimed one of them. " President
Garfield has been shot
" II can't be true. Ii must be canard" cried an
other.
If is is true" third said after a long pause,
" thS viii be a sad dan Tor the c.'untrV.r
BY this time crowd had gathered which filed all
the available space around the bulletin and ex-
tended into the street, The men composing il stood
wall as If stupched by the dreadful news their Sc-
rious looks and hianched faces showing the horror
and sorrow they felt.
"What is this couatry coming to Z" exclaimed n
white haired old man, who hal forced his wav
through the crowd close 10 The bulletin, and ne
hited his hand with deSpairing gesture.
I'm glad of it," replied a roagh-looking person
on the edge Of the throng It's just what Garfield
deserved
What's that" Let me at that man = XIII
him." " Shoot the scoundrel ~ came from dozen
persons in the crowd. There general husi-
ling 10 and fro of the throng with rush al tho
man who had made the remark. He backed awav
turning, ran down Nassau-St. into Beekman-st Sew
era persons followed him little way. but then they
Thought better OF II and stopped.
LOWERING THE FLAGS.
The first dispatches had said simply that Presi-
dent Garfield had been shot, and that il reported
that he dead. The indciinit>scss of the news
intensified the excitement. All along Park-row by
this time collected throngs of men. aud they
kept going from one bulletin to another to see If
anything additional could be learned. In tho
midst of this the flags the Post 0fhoo
and the City liall were lowered TO half-mast aud a
shuddcr went through the crowd. which thought
that additional bad news had been received. For
an hour the crowd waited N the streets III suspense,