West-Jersey pioneer., 1881-07-07
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
ATTEMPT TO AssAssrNATE THE PRESIDENT

ton OH Saturday morning. by which, for the
second time in the history of our nation, its
Chief Magistrate was stricken down by the
hands of the assassin, has been the chief
topic of conversation throughout the whole
civilized world during the past few days.
The various reports of the occurrence and of
the condition of the President were for a
time conflicting in their character, but the
following is succinct account Of the occur
renee.
Pursuant to the arrangements previously
made, President Garfield, accompanied by
Secretary Blaine, left the White House in
the Presidents carriage a few minutes after
depot, where the company were to take the
train. Secretaries Lincoln, Window and
Hunt, and Postmaster General James, ac-
companied by their wives, had reached the
station and had taken their seats in the
special car which had been provided for the
| Presidential party on their trip before the
| President arrived. At about 30 the Presi-
dents carriage arrived at the Sixth-street
entrance to the station, and after mo-
ment's delay the occupants alighted, assist
ed by Officer Kearney, who met them at the
door. The President and Secretary Blaine
then started leisurely through the waiting
room, arm in arm, and had passed but q
short distance from the door when two shots
we're fred in quick succession. At the sec
ond shot the President turned quickly to
the right and fell heavily to the floor, in
position diagonally across the passageway
between the seats, the blood flowing rapidly
from Jagged wound in his side. The peo-
pie in the vicinity were paralyzed with hor
ror for moment, being unable to realize
the terrible deed. Secretary Blaine was the
! first to act, and turned toward the assassin,
but discovering that he had been secured,
be then gave his attention to his PROSTATE
chief Word was carried at once to the
other members of the party, who were
awaiting the arrival of the President, and
they at once hurried to his side. Medical
| aid had been summoned at once, and about
five minutes after the shooting DR.. Town
send, Health officer of the District, arrived.
The President by this time was vomiting
freely and in a fainting condition. After
administering some stimulants, mattress
was procured and he was carried to a room
in the second story, where he remained for
nearly an hour. Other physicians arrived
in short time after his removal, and on
making an examination of the wound it was
I, 70 ha
where absolute quiet and rest could be OBJ
tanned. An ambulance was accordingly
brought, and accompanied by Colonel Rock
well, Doctors Townshend and Smith and a
President was taken to his home and ten
derly placed in bed in a sleeping chamber
in the southeast corner of the building, and
in few minutes he was surrounded by the
most eminent physicians in the District,
and everything was being done for his COM
fort and welfare.
Mrs. Sarah Y. E. White, the lady in
charge of the waiting-room at the depot,
was the person who first reached the Presi
dent after he was shot. She thus describes
the shooting and arrest of Guiteau: 81 saw
the Whole thing. The man came in from
the door entering the ladies' room from the
main waitug-room, just as the President
entered the middle door from street
When he had approached within five feet ol
the President he fired, aiming, l thought,
at the Presidents heart, and missed him
| 4 i'm
bat walked right on past the man. He
fred again and the President fell. He fell
right at the turn of the second row OF seats
| was the first to reach him, and lifted VI
and lifted him up. He did not speak to me
OF to any one until a young man, who
think was bis son, came. The man who
shot him said nothing; no words at al
passed between them. The man walked
deliberately out of the centre door, where
somebody headed him Off He turned and
started back the way he came, and was
seized at the door by the police. l have
seen the man once or twice before. One
time in particular noticed him, few days
ago. He promenaded up and down just as
he did to-day, wiping his face and appar-
emily excited. thought he was waiting fol
some friends. This morning he waited here
half an hour walking up and down. There
were few people in the room when the shot
was fired. All the passengers had gone out
l think there was a gentleman standing neal
the door,"
Officer Kearney, who made the arrest,
says: s'After the President and Secretary
Blaine had alighted from the carriage and
entered the room, and just as had turned
my back heard two pistol shots in rapid
succession. ran around to the b street
door of the ladies' entrance, and just as
reached there saw the prisoner coming out.
We met on the step; grabbed him and
told him l must put him under arrest.
"All right" said he. 81 did it and will go
to iail for it. | am stalwart and ArthaI
will be President / then took the pris-
oner out into the waiting room, and the pri-
vate watchman and myself carried him over
to headquarters. On the way over he gave
me his card. Upon being searched, the So
called White House letter and a letter ad
dressed to General Sherman were found
upon him. Guitean had left at the news
stand at the depot bundle of papers, in
cluding letter similar to the White House
letter, addressed to Byron Andrews cores
pondent of the Chicago Inter Ocean, for the
information of the press. There was also
lot of papers supposed to be descriptive o.
the condition of Guiteau's mind from day
to day. District Attorney Corkhill has the
papers and will not let them be seen al
present, but he says they are queer com
pound of religion and politics. After &
short detention at police headquarters the
prisoner was removed to Jail in close car
riage. Guiteau talked freely, and said thai