Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-09-26
DEA- D!
President Garfield
Died on Monday
Eve, Sept. 19.

His death was unexpected, no pre-
vious conditions having given warning
If immediate dissolution. A severe
pam in the heart was followed almost
Immediately by death, which took place
at 1875 p. m.
In the morning he was attacked by a
severe chill which greatly weakened
him. Toward noon, however, he rallied
and throughout the afternoon he rested
and slept. During the day he called
for looking glass, and having gazed
into it, observed that it was strange
that he could look so bright and be so
weak.
Shortly before ten o'clock at night
DR.. Bliss asked the President if he felt
uncomfortable anywhere, and he answer
ed "Not at ALL" The President then
fell asleep, and DR.. Bliss withdrew.
About fifteen minutes after 10 o'clock
the President placed his hand near his
heart and said he was suffering great
pain. DIR. Bliss returned Immediately
and found the President unconscious.
The pulse and the action of the heart
were almost imperceptible. Dr. Bliss
said that the President was dying and
/ directed the attendants to send for Mrs.
Garfield and Drs. Agnew and Hamil.
ton. The President remained in a dy-
I ing condition for about twenty minutes,
3 when life was declared to be extinct.
. All the members of the Cabinet ex-
8 cept Secretaries Blaine and Lincoln
8 were present. They sent Immediately
q dispatch to General Arthur asking
q him to take the oath of Office at once.
q The sad news Of the Presidents death
4 spread rapidly throughout the country,
I; and caused profound sensation. Bells
q were tolled. and preparations were made
4 to drape the public buildings.
8 One of those present in the chamber
81 of death at the fatal moment thus de-
4 scribes the scene to me:
q There were present when the Presi-
8 dent awoke only General Swain and
81 Colonel Rockwell, but all the attendants
& were speedily summoned. Mrs. Gar
g field, Drs. Bliss, Hamilton, Boynton
and Colonel Rockwell and Private Sec
rotary Brown reached the room within
b few moments. Mrs. Garfield sat upor
81 the bedside holding the hand of her dy
81 ing husband. DR.. Hamilton stood or
81 the opposite side and others were group
ed about the President. who was IN
conscious even before the first of thos,
81 summoned reached the chamber. NJ
81 other persons were in the room. Mrs
81 Colonel Rockwell with her daughtel
81 and Miss Mollie Garfield sat upon ;
b lounge in the hall. The eolored ser
81 wants of the Francklin Cottage wer
E grouped outside the door of the sicl
s room peeping in. The President wa
q breathing heavily and at increasing in
b tereasing intervals. The doctors wits
b pered to each other two or three times
but aside from this no word was spoken
81 Two or three signs and some suppress
81 ed sobbing was heard from groups Q
81 negroes in the door, but all the res
81 were silent. The heavy breathings c
81 the President continued for about fl
ri teen minutes, and then ceased. Cor
III seriousness did not return. Death wa
d absolutely painless. When all wa
81 over Mrs. Garfield quietly withdrew
b her room. DR.. Hamilton smoothed th
81 features of the dead President, and til
IS other physicians and attendants straigh
81 ened his limbs. Mrs. Garfield return
IS ed about half an hour later, and S;
b silently upon the bedside. the tears rul
81 ming in floods over her cheeks, but b.
"a whole demeanor manifesting her hero
b spirit and self-coGtrol in this the 81
E preme hour of her grief"