The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-09
SATURDAY, JULY 8. 1881.
The Attempted Assassination OF the
President.

condition of President Garfield was
SO much improved that strong hopes
were entertained of his recovery.
Following is history of the affair
and comments of the Press.
WASHINGTON, July 2-The change
from the busy but to most men the
trifing rivalries and intrigues Of
political life at the nations capital to
the sharp, clear-cut occasion when a
pistol-shot echoes through the world
and brings all suddenly to a reality
that all men can appreciate, to life
and death, is change not often made
here. These few occasions are the
very canoes of history, cut and sci
into the solid stone that makes i'm
perishable history. The mad attempt
upon the life of James A Garfield,
President of the United States. by
Charles Guiteau, at the depot of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Saturday, was such an occasion.
THE TRAGIC NARRATIVE.
The story of the shooting, though
dramatic enough in some of its de-
tails, can be told in a few words: 1t
was announced several days since
that the President would start this
morning on an Eastern tour, TO assist
in several college commandments.
He arrived at the B-street entrance
of the Baltimore and Potomac Road
about $50 o'clock, the others of his
party having arrived shortly before
him. They consisted of Secretary
and Mrs. Hunt, Secretary Window
and Mrs. Window, Postmaster Gen.
James and others. all of whom had
taken seats in the cars. The Presi-
dent was accompanied by Secretary
Blaine. They came in the same car
riage, the President entering the
depot in the lead. AS he stepped out
of his carriage he asked police officer
Kearney, the depot officer, if he had
any time to spare. Mr.. Kearney
answered, Eyes, a few minutes. -
The officer then turned his back, and
in an instant the reports of two pistol
shots, the one following close upon
the other, were heard. Chas. Guiteau,
the assassin, had been seen to enter
the depot few minutes before the
President arrived, though his actions
were not of character to attract the
attention of those who were in the
depot. He stood in about the centre
of the hall leading from the B.street
entrance or ladies room, and ad.
yanced towards the President as he
entered. Without giving any notice
whatever of his intention he fired
the ball from the first shot entering
the right sleeve of the Presidents
coat. passing up the same and out al
the shoulder. This ball did ne injury
except scratch the flesh of the arm
though it was thought at first that il
had entered the shoulder. The Pres.
ident at this juncture turned, when
Guiteau fired the second time, the
ball entering the back. lodging in the
kidneys. This staggered the Presi-
dent and he fell to the floor. Mrs.
White, the janitress of the ladies'
room of the depot, first ran to the
President. Secretary Blaine was so
shocked by the occurrence that he
first ran after the assassin, and find
ing that he was in the custody oil
officer Kearney. returned to the side
Of the President, who was taken uI
stairs to the superintendent room
where in a few moments several
surgeons were in attendance upon
him. They expressed the grayest
doubts the moment they saw what
direction the ball had taken. The
wound bled freely, though the hem
0rrage was at no time very profuse
The President vomited slightly anC
tainted but in short time recovered
consciousness and talked freely tt
those around him. In an hour il
was thought better to remove him
to the White House. which was done
by means of the police ambulance
Drs. Bliss, Wales and Surgeon Gen
eral Barnes riding with him, Col
Corbin sitting with the driver, anC
Col. Rockwell, the superintendent o
public buildings and grounds stand
ing on the rear step. DIR. Lincoln anC
a couple of the other physicians fol
lowed in the wagon of the chief o
the fire department, which happened
to be near the depot at the time.
1t is wonderful how the news O
the assassination got abroad, and il
q few minutes after the shooting tool