Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-06
In rapid walk, now in a dog trot, the sturdy
bays drew the wagon down the ayenue Police

IN rapid walk, now in a dog trot. the sturdy
pays drew the wagon down the avenue. Police
men stationed at every corner of interceptlng
streets kept all people off the carriage
way, but allowed them on the sidewalk. The
early crowd which was at the White House gate
when the President passed through, followed at
a short distance or kept apace with the wagon.
Inc crowd was composed mostly of half-grown
boys. bootblacks and colored people, with now
and then young woman. There was no cram
ing of neck ITO see the patient He was so
carried that all could look upon him by
simply turning their heads in his direction. "He
looks much better than we expected" was the
general comment. He did not look any worse
to The STAR reporter than he did when being
taken into the house from the depot ON the daV
Guiteau shot him.
THE PRESIDENTS INTEREST IN THE SCENES
ABOUT HIM.
The President laid on his back He turned
his head now and then and took view of the
Avenue as he went down and of the people
walking beside him. There appeared to be a
relieved expression on his face, as if he was
glad to get away. The horses went on steadily
keeping to the south side of the Avenue There
were heads in the windows as the wagon passed
on. The crowd just below the Treasury began
to grow larger. Laborers on their way to
the days toll joined in the following. The small
boy began to congregate in numbers. There
was not much of incident on the passage to the
depot. The driver went over the soft sawdust
that had been laid upon the crossings of inter-
secting street railroad tracks The steady jolt
OF the wagon, the springy motion of the Presi-
dent and the fan of Col. Rockwell, con-
stantly agitated, were all that there was
about the conveyance. At 18th street the
crowd became larger still. 1t poured up from
below the Avenue But there was no noise At
9TH street there was noiseless rush of men and
boys from the market-hOuse. There was where
the crowd gathered the quickest. The 18th street
car track was passed over sawdust and the
fast to keep up with the lengthy stride OF
the horses. Past 7th street there were
further accessions to the crowd About five
hundred people were as close to the car as they
could get.
AT THE TRAIN.
Drs. Barnes and Agnew were the Presidents
car, and had everything perfected for his recep-
ton. Mrs. Garfield. Miss Mollie, Mrs. Rockwell,
Miss Rockwell, and Mrs. Garfield's two servants,
Mary and Lizzie, were already in the car. Mrs.
Edison stood on the platform in black waiting tor
the President. Mrs. ROckwells handsome gray
hair and Mrs. Garield's pale face
were close together. The wagon was backed
carefully up to the car. The ride from the White
House had occupied about eight minutes. 1t
was accomplished without any trouble or any
annoyance to the patient. There was no incon-
venlence either from the wagon or in handling
the President Col Benedict, of Adams Express
company, had charge of the matter OF transport
tatOn through the city. Sergeant Guy walked
at the horses heads from the White House to
the depot.
NOCTURNAL SCENES ADO THE DEPOT
During yesterday afternoon and evening there
were many visitors at the depot to see the cars
OF which the train was made up, and a favored
few were admitted to the presidential car Out
side the depot the crowds fingered far into the
night. The report gained currency that, not
outstanding the railroad people who were
ordered to the train had gone off with the in
tention of sleeping until ) O'clock the Presi-
dent and party would leave between - and l.
therefore the crowd hung around till after mid
might
FINISHING THE TRACK.
After the street cars stopped running about
two O'Clock. the wOrkmen commenced to lay the
piece OF track necessary to connect the new
temporary track on 9th street. with the main
track. Then those about the vicinity of the de-
pot were certain that as soon as it was COM
pieted the President would be brought down
ana the train would start. Very soon there
were over two hundred people gathered about
the work.
ABOUT the same time the workmen commenced
TO lengtheD the track from the north end and If
was carried toward the northeast corner of 9th
and the avenue, within % feet of the curb This
work was completed shortly before o'clock
me total length of the extra track is 9S5 feet
during the evening the questions of the time
lor the tram to leave and the details as to the
orders OF the running of the train &C. were dis
cussed vi course there were inquiries as to
now an outsider could get on the train and how
news could be received therefrOm When some
OF the railroad employees showed little cards. on
which was written: admit - to the Presi-
dental Train. 7. n. Ety. it was remarked that
the rules were of cast iron pattern
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ACCIDENT.
Inc orders were such as to insure safety and
even had there been break in the telegram
wires the train would have left with a thorough
understanding among those in charge of other
trains SO that absolute safety was assured. Capt.
MAUI Server during the evening supplied the
train with chicken (broed or tOasted) tender
loin steaks baked ham, lamb chops. beeftongue.
sardlnes, French peas, melons. potatoes, toma-
toes. eggs, appOlinaris water, champagne
claret, whisky. lemons, &c.
PREPARATIONS THIS MORNING.
Between and o'clock the railroad men
commenced to arrive, and one of them remarked
that just as he was awakened at his hotel he
was in the midst of a dream that he had safely
landed the President at Long Branch. Soon
ID. L.
terests here. and the other officials were busily
engaged about the depot and the yard.
NIGHT WORK on THE AVENUE.
At five o'clock men were laying the sawdust.
above referred to- over the street railroad tracks
at 18th and 9th and 18th streets They, how
ever, took time TO discuss fine set out in
Capt. Servers restaurant. 1t was novel sight
to see the men with numerous lanterns at
work on the avenue, and still more so to see a
train of cars across the avenue.
AS THE HOUR OF SIX APPROACHED
numbers Of persons gathered about the depot.
but were kept back to the pavement by ropes
stretched along the curb by the police 40
officers having been stationed about the depot
and along the avenue. There were perhaps 600
to 500 persons about the corner of 9th street and
the Avenue. Lieut.. Weaver. with 12 regulars
from the arsenal reported to assist in moving
the President. The crowd became somewhat
impatient as there was no appearance of the
Presidential party. but at SIS o'clock Surgeon
General Barnes and Drs. Agnew and Woodward
arrived. and attention was then turned to the
upper end of the Avenue.