Connecticut western news., 1881-09-28
THE PRESIDENTS DEATH.
General Swaim's Account of the Sad
 Affair.

Judge-Advocate-G General Swain, who was the only one with the President when he was seized with the pain which carried him off, says:
 ''ft was my night to watch with the President. I had been with him good deal of the time from three o'clock in the afternoon. A few minutes before ten o'clock left Colonel Rockwell, with whom I had been talking for some min utes in the lower hall, and proceeded up stairs to the Presidents room. On en- tering found Mrs. Garfield sitting by his bedside. There were no other per sons in the room. I said to her: How is everything going2' She replied: He is sleeping nicely I then said: T think you had better go to bed and rest I asked what had been pre- scribed for him to take during the night. She replied that she did not know; that she had given him milk punch at eight o'clock. then said: If you will wait moment I will go into the doctors room and see what IS to be given during the night She then said: There is where to get it. I then went into the
 
 and asked him what was to be given during the night. He answered.: T think had better fix up list and will bring it in to you pretty soon.' I then went back into the sick room and had some little conversation with Mrs. Gar field. She felt the Presidents hand and laid her hand on his forehead and said: {: He seems to be in good condition, , and passed out of the room. I lmmedi- ately felt his hands, feet and knees. I thought that his knees seemed some what cold and got a flannel cloth and heated it at the fire and laid it over his limbs. I also heated another cloth and laid 1t over his right hand and then sat down in chair beside his bed. I was hardly seated when Dr. Boynton came in and felt the Presidents pulse. I asked hlm how it seemed to him. He replied: 1t is not as strong as it was this afternoon, but very good l said: He seems to be doing we'll 'Yes,' he answered, and passed out. He was not in the room more than two minutes. Shortly after this the President awoke. As he turned his head on awaking rose and took hold of his hand. l was on the left-hand side of the bed as he lay. said: You have mad very comforta. ble sleep.' He said: 'Oh, Swain, this terrible pain, placing his right hand on his breast, over the region of the heart.
 I asked him if could do anything for him. He said, Some water I went to the other side of the room and poured about an ounce and 8 half of Poland water into 8 glass and gave him to drink. He took the glass in his hand, I raising hls head as usual, and he drank the water very naturally. then hand ed the glass to the colored man Daniel. who came in during the time I was get ting the water. Afterward I took napkin and wiped his forehead, as he usually perspired on awaking.
 "He then said: 'Oh, Swain, this terrible pain Press your hand on it..
 |" l lad my hand on his chest. He then threw both hands up to the side and about on line with his head, and exclaimed: Oh, Swain, can't you stop this :? and again, 'Oh, Swain
 "I then saw him looking at me with a staring expression. 1 asked him if he was suffering much pain. Receiving no answer, I repeated the question, with like result. I then concluded that he was either dying or was having severe spasm, and called to Daniel, who was at the door, to tell Dr. Bliss and Mrs. Garfield to come in immediately, and glanced at the small clock, hanging on the chandelier nearly over the foot of his bed, ..and saw that it was 1O:1O o clock. Dr. Bliss came in within two or three minutes. l told Daniel to bring 8 light, 8 lighted candle behind screen near the door. When the light shone full on his face saw that he was dying. When Dr. Bliss came in moment after I said: Doctor, have you any stim- ulant he seems to be dying ! He took hold of his wrist, as if feeling for his pulse, and said: Yes, he is dying then said to Daniel Run and arouse the house. At that moment Colonel Rockwell came in, when Dr. Bliss sad: Let us rub his limbs, which we did.
 "In very few moments Mrs. Gar field came in, and said What does this mean ? and 8 moment after exclaimed: Oh, why am to suffer this cruel wrong?' At 10:30 pm. he breathed his last, calmly and peacefully.
 "At the final moment the following persons were present: Mrs. Garfield and Mollie. Doctors Bliss, Agnew and Boyn- ton, General Swain, Colonel and Mrs. Rockwell, J. Stanley Brown, o. O. Rockwell and Daniel Sprigps."