The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-22
PRESIDENT CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

The news Of the death of President Gar
field found its way to Vice President Ar
thur at his residence in New York City be-
fore the same was officially announced to
him by the cabinet. He had received
nothing later than the evening bulletin and
was still in hopes OF the presidents recov-
cry when reporter sought him, The re-
porter as he entered the hallway said to the
servant, "The president is dead" At this
moment Gen. Arthur appeared in the hall.
THE president is dead,' the reporter re.
peated to him. ooh no. 1t cannot be true,
it cannot be; | have heard nothing
"The dispatch has just been received at
the line office" said the reporter.
II hope-my God, do hope-it is
mistake" Gen. Arthur's voice broke at the
last words and his eyes filled with tears.
He then retired to back room, where
Messrs Elihu Root and Daniel j. Rollins
were awaiting him. "They say he is dead"
said Gen. Arthur. "a dispatch has been
received at the Sun Office" A deep silence
ensued. A moment afterward a telegram
was received Gen. Arthur broke il open
slowly. After reading it he buried lis
head in his hands and remained in this
position for a long time. Meanwhile
the dispatch was handed slowly
around; it was the message from the cabi
net informing the vice president of the
death of the president. BY 10 o'clock the
sound of cabs rolling up in front of the
house filled the street. A few minutes az
ter receiving the news Of the presidents
death, Gen. Arthur's son fastened up the
steps; he remained few moments in the
room with his father, but the latter was
still too much affected by the news to
speak.
1t was 10 80 o'clock when Gen. Arthur
received the formal notification of the presi-
dents death, signed by the cabinet. He
had not then decided what steps to take.
He was again completely unnerved and
again buried his face in his hands.
In accordance with this dispatch, which
also advised the vice president to at
once take the oath OF president
of the United States, messengers we're at
once sent to the different judges of the SUI.
preme court The first to put in appear
ance was Judge John r. Bradley, who was
closely followed by Justice Donabue. The
party, consisting of the vice-president and
the Judges named, besides District Attorney
Rollins, Elihu Root and the eldest son OF
the now president, assembled in the front
parlor of Nc. 1928 Lexington avenue, Gen.
Arthurs residence, where the oath of office
was administered and he became president
Of the United States at 2;l5 o'clock, thai
Tuesday morning.
In the person of Chester A. Arthur tn,
fourth vice president succeeds to the presi
dency by the death of the chief magistrate
General Arthur assumes the responsibilities
OF the first Office in the country under cir
cumstances of great delicacy. HIS poltica
career prior to the Chicago convention ha'
made him objectable to portion Of TIT
republican party, and his nomination II
Chicago was the result of compromise; or
more exactly, it was the result OF the dcsir'
of the vlctors in tho convention to placat'
the bitterly disappointed minority. Sine
his Inauguration he has unfortunately beer
concerned in political quarrel in which
the leader whom he followed and the per
! son whom he now succeeds were arrayet
against each other. When the funeral bell
toll, all other voices are hushed, but 1t il
nevertheless true that there is a latent hos
tility to him in the breast Of many mem
bers of the party that elected him to tn
vice presidency. This embarrassment
added to Others Of no trihing degree, iron
which he would suffer even If there wer
!. no enmlty to him in his own party. Til
two facts that the vice president become
president not by the choice OF the peopl
but BY an event which they oil mourn, an
J that the administrations Of the three VII