The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-06
ASSASSINATION !!
A DASTARDLY AT
TEMPT ON THE
PRESIDENTS
LIFE.
Shot Down in Washing
ton.
Still Lingering with Hopes OF
Recovery.
THE COUNTRY INTENSE
LY EXCITED.

was enacted at the pennsylvania
Railroad depot this morning, show
that General Garfield, in the very
best Of health and spirits, left the
White House this morning with
Secretary Blaine and his son, Harry
Garfield. Postmaster-General James
and his wife and Secretary Window
and his wife had already been driv-
en- TO the depot, and were there
awaiting the arrival Of the President
in n special car, which had been set
apart for them. The depot was
thronged. In the ladies room was
a nervous, short, thick-set man, rest
less in his movements, passing back
and forth, his conduct striking
enough to attract ''a attention Of
the women in chasc. George, the
well known oolored coachman,
drove to the steps, and the door Of
the coach was opened. The Presi-
dent was not in any hurry to get
out. 4 porter took tie luggage
through the ladies' room. The Pres
ident seeing railroad official asked
him how much time he had before
the train left.
you have ten minutes, sir" he
replied.
The President made no haste 10
leave the carriage, but sat talking
to Secretary Blaine in the most in
formal and chatty manner. They
did not expect to see one another
for some weeks, for it was Mr..
Blaine's purpose to 90 10 his home
in Maine in 4 day OF two for n pro-
longed stay.
The President had alighted from
his cariageand was passing through
the ladies' room to the cars. When
about five feet inside Of the room,
the assassin, who was within three
feet of him, fred one shot. The
President was dazed, and made no
attempt at self protection. Blaine
had turned toward the door. The
assassin fred the second shot in ten
seconds. The President fell, and
Mrs. White, who attends the ladies'
room, rushed to him and raised up
his head. Blaine also rushed to
the assistance of the President. The
assassin passed out towards B street,
but Capt. Parke, ticket agent, Jump
ed through the window and caught
the assassin, who made no resist
ance. Officer Carney, depot police
man, rushed up and took hold Of
the assassin, and Immediately after
wards Officer Scott also took hold Of
him. Parke let the officers have
him, and turned his attention to
the President. Help came, and the
President was taken up stairs. He
said not word until he was laid
down, when he asked that his shoes
be taken off, saying he felt pain in
his feet. As soon as his shoes were
removed he said to Secretary Win
! l3.a, Go right now and send tel
egram to Mrs. Garfield saying | feel
considerably better, and if she feels
well enough tell her to come to
Washington Immediately" This
dispatch was sent and a special
train was at once sent to Long
Branch for Mrs. Garfield.
TIE DREADFUL SUSPENSE.
Before the President was remOv-
ed from the depot this morning no
one was permitted to enter the
building except those presence was
absolutely required. BY some un-
accountable means the news was
conveyed to the multitudes in the
streets to the effect that although
the President was not dead he was
MORALLY wounded. Then q gloom
seemed to settle down upon the
city like a great pail and the vast
Of people waited patiently
outside the depot for news from
within. They reminded one strong
ly Of the friends and relatives OF a
dying man waiting in the ante-room
to the chamber of death. The sus-
pense was dreadful. Business men
and ladies, with faces pale with ex-
citement and eyes bloodshot with
stared fxejlly at the door
of the depot and strove painfully to
learn or divine something Of the
wounded man within. At last the
door opened and some Of the doc
tors come out I'll. throng passed
closely around them and begged
for information. The medical men
said:
He is not dead; he is not in any
immediate danger. In fact, there
are hopes OF recovery"
The purport of these words was
conveyed to all the people pres mt
and was transmitted from lip to p.
and from lip to wire all over The
country. The city drew a lcng
breath and the excitement which
had been at white heat thus Ear
cooled Of.
TAKEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
Then there was a stir on the outer
edge ofthe crowd, and the people
were moved Off right and left and
every way. 1t was to make room
ior an ambulance which had been
summoned to transport the suffer- !
ing President to !the White House. !
Tenderly he was borne from the
to the vehicle and quietly /
ndgently was he lald on a mattress 1
therein. Then the vehicle drove of