Huntsville gazette., 1881-07-09
THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESI.
DENT GARFIELD.
Particulars OF the Terrible Crimc-The Das-
tardiy Deed Committed by One Charles j.
Guiteau, Formerly of Chicago.

|
From the great mass of telegraphic dis
patches sent out from Washington on the I'd,
Sd and 4th, giving the particulars of the as
sassination OF President Garfield, the follow
| ing statement is compiled:
just little before half-past nine O'Clock
on the morning Of the ID the President and
| secretary Blaine entered the Baltimore &
Potomac depot to take a train for Long
Branch. As they reached the ladies' wait
lng-room man, who stood on the right of
the President, raised his arm and deilor-
1 ately fired two shots from a revolver, eX-
claiming as he did SO: 8 am Stalwart;
It had to be done. Arthur will now be
President - #~.
The second shot was fred within ten Sec
onds from the first, and took effect in the
Presidents side, the first having struck him
in the left arm. The President fell, and
Mrs. White, who attends the ladies' watt
ing room, rushed to him and raised up his
head. Secretary Blaine also rushed to the
assistance Of the President. The assassin
| passed out towards B street, but Captain
| Parke, the ticket agent, jumped through
the window and caught him, he making no
resistance. He was then handed over to
| two depot policemen and taken across Penn
syvania avenue to the police station.
/ Meanwhile the President was taken up
stairs. He said not word until he was laid
down, when he asked that his shoes he
taken off, saying he felt pain in his feet. As
soon as his shoes were removed, he said to
| Secretary Window: 7" Go right home now
and send telegram to Mrs. Garfield, say
ing, l feel considerably better, aud il she
feels well enough, tell her 10 come to Wash
ington Immediately. This dispatch was
sent, and special train was at once sent to
Long Branch for Mrs. Garfield
Secretary Blaine was not going with the
party, but went down to bid the President
4 Il L. Il.
were walking arm in arm toward the train.
| | heard two shots and saw o man run. L
started after him, but seeing that be was
| grabbed just as he got out OF the room,
came to the President and found him lying
on the floor. The floor was covered with the
| Presidents blood. A number Of people who
were around shortly afterward have some OF
! that blood on their person."
! The physicians made an unavailing effort
| to discover the ball. it was evident that
nothing could be done in the presence of
such a crowd, and that the slim chance of
saving the Presidents life depended upon
| placing him where he could have absolute
quiet.
police ambulance was sent for, and the
President was brought down stairs upon a
stretcher. The doors were thrown open and
the crowd parted while the wounded man
was gently laid upon mattresses in the bot
tom of the vehicle. The President was easy,
pale and weak, but conscious. He opened
his eyes and gently waved Lis hand towards
the crowd. Strong men cried and sobbed at
the pitiful sight A squad Of twelve mount
ed policemen surrounded the ambulance.
The vehicle was driven slowly over the
Belgium pavement to Pennsylvania avenue.
As soon as the smooth pavement was reached
the horses were put at a gallop and the cav
alcade dashed up toward the White House
at full speed. The avenue was crowded
with people, who stood upon the sidewalks
nfEIt1 ,f.t f,t1
procession as it bore the almost lifeless body
of the President to the White House. The
east gates south of the Treasury building
we're thrown open. The ambulance passed
| within. and the gates were closed against
the crowd. Officers were Immediately sta
toned at the entrance to the grounds, and
the public were excluded.
After arriving at the White House the ut
most quiet in and around the sick room was
secured, and the physicians-Dr. ID. w.
Bliss having the chief management OF the
case-and attending friends anXiously await
ed further developments, the wound in the
side being probed TO ascertain the direction
and whereabouts of the bullet. 1t was final
ly ascertained that it had effected a lodg
ment in or near the liver, lacerating that
organ.
The first dispatches sent over the wires
relative to the probable result of the Presi-
dents wounds were of mixed and doubtful
nature. Soon more hopeful and
encouraging reports were telegraph
ed, the entire country awaiting the
news with almost breathless anxiety.
Early in the evening Of the I'd the news
was OF a discouraging nature, and the fears
vi fatal termination cast gloom over the
hearts OF a waiting people; but later at
night more favorable symptoms were re-
ported, and early on the morning of the
ID the glad intelligence was flashed over the
wires that the President, owing to his more
favorable condition and his robust constitu-
tion and courageous bearing, stood good
chance to survive the terrible effects OF the
wound in his body. The news con-
tinued quite favorable during the day, but
later on in the succeeding night change
for the worse was reported, the Presidents
symptoms became decidedly unfayorable,
violent Inflammation having set in, and
on the morning of the 4th-the anniyersu-y
Of our countrT,s 5irthday-tne sad intelli-
gence was spread throughout the country
and cabled across the ocean that the Presl-
dent of the United States was lying at the
point Of death from wounds iHflicted by a
cowardly assassin. The preparations which
had been made for celebrating the were
mainly abandoned in many sections of the
Union, or so modified as to be more befit-
ting 10 the sadness caused by the critical
condition Of the Chief Magistrate Of the
Nation.
Notwithstanding the fact that she had but
q
which she had by no means fully recovered,
Mrs. Garfield, who was brought from Long
Branch by special train to the bedside OF
her husband, exhibited the most heroic for
titude and presence OF mind.
Speaking of the manner in which the news
Of the terrible tragedy was received through
out the country the Chicago Ifioute OF The
morning of the 4th says: ''One of the most
remark able features Of the deplorable ca
lamity is the intense anxiety of all classes
of people that the President may not die.
Republicans and Democrats and men OF all
parties join in its expression. In eyerV
part of the South as well as in the North,
and all through Canada, there is the same
manifestation of ardent hope and desire
that the President will be restored to health
and strength. The glad shouts and clapping
of hands by the crowds in front of the iTtb-
uRe Office all day yesterday, whenever an
encouraging dispatch appeared, was an in
stance of this great anxiety
Messages OF sympathy We're received at
Washington from the heads OF foreign gov
ernments, and from almost every part OF
the civilized world, as we'll as from ali Sec
tions Of our own country, came the earnest
expression OF sincere prayers and hopes fhat
the efforts being used TO save the life OF the
President might be successful.
THE VICE PRESIDENT.
ia6 ny "a lifn