Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-07-11
THE WOUNDED RULER.
A GRAPHIC STORY OF THE SHOOTING
TOlOBY COL. ROCKWELL.
Bulletins Showing the Condition Of tire
President at Various Hours on Sat-
urday and Sunday-The Re-
ports of the Attend
ing Physicians.
HIS CONDITION STILL IMPROVING.
AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

| Col. Rockwell Tells About the Shooting OF
the President-A Graphic Pen Picture.
New YeRK, July l0.-A Washington
special has the following interesting in
terview concerning the attempted assas-
sination:
Col. Rockwell, after expressing strong
hopes OF the Presidents recovery, was
asked: "How is it that you were not
with the President, at the time oil the
shooting?
"You see," said the Colonel, "the
boys, James and Harry, started off in
the Presidents carriage tG pick up DR.,
Haws, their tutor, who Was stopping
on F street. The President had ar
ranged night before for Secretary Blaine
to call at his mansion To 90 down to the
depot with him. The Secretary came
around in his own carriage; mine was in
reserve and followed just behind the
Secretary's. ! had several pieces OF bag
gage to dispose of, and so drove directly
10 the baggage room, and was getting
checks, when heard
Crack, Crack,
with all interval between the shots about
as long as it would take to cock pistol.
On the sill of the door leading from the
ladies' parlor into the general reception
room or main hall stood Secretary
Blaine calling ior me and pointing 10 the
would be assassin Guiteau. 1t was
terrible thought bat nevertheless one
which flashed across my mind that
The President Had Been Shot.
Quickly had the Presidents carriage
brought to the main door The cushions
were arranged to make the President
as comfortable rs possible aud he was
prepared to be taken directly
to the mansion. The physicians
advised against il, and for
the best. After | had written from his
dictation atouching telegram to his wife,
4 hasty examination was made up stairs,
and he was
Removed to an Ambulance.
The President put his right hand into
mine. The driver was cautioned to
proceed slowly over the Cobble stone
pavement till we reached concrete AT
seventh street. We had travelled but
two squares from the depot, when he
asked, "tIow far We now?" and in
subdued voice later,
1T Hurts Oh, 1t Hurts"
At Thirteenth street he again
asked, Where are We now" | told
him, and he urged us to 80 little iaster.
HAS the President said anything more
to you about the affair"
"He would If We would let him, but
the physicians forbid his talking"
"Aud Mrs Garfield"
1T would be impossible for me 20 de-
scribe this.
Brave, Heroic Wife and Mother.
She, too, realizes the restraint which the
medical advisers have been compelled
to put upon her visits TO the Presidents
bedside"
lis it true that on the morning OF the
deed the President turned hand spring
over his bed?"
at VAS the morning before. This day
week, Jimmy, there the fellows sits
pointing TO private Secretary Bralons'
desk, came into his fathers chamber,
half dressed, and in his nimbe way
turned Hand Spring Over the Bed
and back again. See here, papa, II You
were not so stout, you might do that, too,
couldn't vou?' The President kept on
with his toilet until Jim's cantering
somewhat nettled him, and before the
boy could realize it the President
had turned gracefully from one
9 de lof the large n, ube bed to the
t ler and came down with a thump on
the floor. There my boy,
The Son Is Not Greater than His Fathsr.
Now finish your dressing lsuppose,
continued the Colonel, "the story was
told to illustrate the strength OF the
President and his suppleness at his age
OF life. Very few men OF fifty years -ior
the President will be that od next No
yember-would dare to undertake such
a feat, but the story has thrilling Sc
cret. You know the ladies room
Where the Two Shots were Fired
is about twenty feet wide; that is, from
the door sill to the opposite hail. The
aisle-way leading to the main hall
is formed by double rows
OF seats heavily cushioned,
and oi large framework. When the
President entered the depot with Blaine
he WAS in the cheeriest mood. He pass
ed halt OF the way down the aisle, Blaine
preceding hm very few steps.
Guiteau Stood Inside the Row OF Seats
near the main entrance on the lett when
he fired the hrSt shot, which did the
President no harm, for he hurried to
see from where the shot came, and saw
Guiteau advancing. When he turned
partially around he realized that the man
had fired at him. He instantly deter
mined TO attack the man and the next
instant the President would have been
Face to Face With GuIteau,
His confidence in his ability to spring
over the barrier, for the back OF the seats
are about four teet high, flashed upon
him. and his whole muscular strength
was strained for the act when he tell
forward, struck by the second shot OF
Guiteau behind him. The instant he
pulled the trigger the first time he step
ped forward fonr feet. 1t was but the
very fraction of second between the
explosion and the President alarm,
that fraction was on the side oil the
wou,d-be assassin. His purpose was
also 10
Fire the Second Shot,
and he stepped quickly forward to get
as near the President as he could. They
were not SlA icSl apart, 50 lNdl luS III
slant the President realized the stua-
ton his intense activity oi mind and
muscle made him aggressive, and it was
at that instant he received the stagcer-
ngbullet, and irll forward against the
wsinscoating OF the reception room, at
the head OF the aisle, leading TO the main
hall. Till now the impression seemed
to have gained hold that
Guiteau's Act Was Done 50 Quickly
that the President did not comprehend
what was going on. 1t is true, as | told
YOU while ago, that the reports OF the
firing were so close together that II
couldn't have been longer than ii wonld
take to cock pistol During this time
Guiteau was advancing and the PreSl'
dent preparing TO advance. Any one
who will take his watch and carefully
Observe the Beats OF the Second Hand,
will be surprised at the distance one can
get over in a single second ii lmpelied
ov strong motives. 1t is more sausiac-
Ia, bod hy.