Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-09-28
THE PRESIDENTS DEATH.
THE CLOSING sCENEs-THE BEREAyED
FAMILY.

FAMILY.
| When Mrs. Garfield was summoned
to her husbands bedside by Dr. Bliss
she entered the room calmly. The
President after be told General Swain
that he was suffering from great pain
in the region of the heart, never utter
ed word, and soon sunk into state
of profound quiet so closely bordering
Inconsistencies as to be almost indis
tinguishable from it. He appeared tc
notice nothing. He kept his eyes wide
open and bent them steadily upon the
door, as if expecting some one to enter
there. 1t was apparent that although
extremely weak his mind was still
clear. The moment the figure Of Mrs
Garfield appeared in the doorway there
was perceptible indication of life in
the President, and he looked as if he
would rise toward the door. The eyes
of both met and Mrs Garfield for an
instant looked down upon the floor, and
during the moment her head was in
clined tremor was seen upon her lips,
but she Immediately Strengthened her
figure again, looked her husband full
in the face, and greeting him with a
smile moved quietly to place at his
head, on the right side of the bed, and
seated herself there. The Secretaries,
judging from the steadiness of the
Presidents gaze when Mrs Garfield
entered the room, thought be was in a
dazed condition, looking without see
ing They carefully watched him. AS
Mrs Garfield passed around the bed
Presidents eyes followed her, and il
was evident that he fully recognized
her. When she seated herself at his
side The President moved his head
slowly upon the pillow until his face
was turned fully toward her. 1t was
the first time he had moved his head
since the attack of the heart pains. He
made no attempt to speak, but lay look
ing closely over his wife's face. Mrs.
Garfield reached over and took both
his hands in hers Once or twice be
convulsively pressed her hands, as il
he would like to say something if he
only could 1t was evident from Mrs.
Garfclds manner that she was under
tremendous strain to keep from break
ing down, but no sign was shown on
her face. She sat there holding his
hands until he died, and he passed
away with his head turned towards
her, and looking straight into her face,
ard expired without closing his eyes.
His demise was 80 quiet and impercept-
ible that he must have been dead a few
seconds before life was known to be eA-
tinct When the doctors pronounced
him dead Mrs. Garfield uttered no
word, but sat perfectly quiet, great
tears falling down her face She vas
so very still that the doctors, who had
been very anxious concerning her abili-
ty in her weak condition to bear up
when the crisis came, thought that she
was about TO sink to the floor, and
moved toward her. She then arose
and left the room, going to her own
apartment, where she remained alone
about five minutes. At the expiration
of that time she repaired again to the
bedside Of her husband, and exhibited
not the leas. trace Of agitation after
wards. Subsequently, when the. sur
geons spoke to her about the disposi-
tion Of the remains, she put and an
swered questions in clear, firm voice,
and discussed the arrangements rea-
sonably. Mrs. Garfield was naturally
strongly opposed to the autopsy She
only consented finally when the case
was strongly presented to her in the
light of public interest and justice to
the surgeons, who bad attended the pa
tient. At late hour the surgeons in
duced Mrs. Garfield to retire for rest,
assuring her that it was duty to Sc
cure the refrcshment Of sleep. She
went TO her room and remained there
all night Afterwards, DIR. Bliss,
whose room was adjoining, says she
paced the floor until morning.
To-day Mrs. Garfield shows plainly
the effects of the reaction from the
long and terrible struggle she had un.
dergone. The physicians say that
while she Is doing as well as could pos
sibly be expected under the circum-
stances. yet they are extremely solici-
tous about her health Mollie is del
icate girl, and had been given only the
most reassuring news about her faith.
er's health up to the time Of his death.
When she learned the truth at last she
tainted, and 1T was long time before
she could be restored. Her health Is
much affected by the shock.
Harry Garfield, who left Williams
College, Mass, this morning, left word
that his brother, James A Garfield,
who is confined to his room with o Sc
we're attack Of malarial fever, contract,
ed at the White House, should not be
informed of bis fathers death until he
was better. The tolling Of the church
bells. and the prevailing excitement
aroused his suspicious, and it was
thought best by DR.. IIpbbell, his at,
tending physician, that he be informed
Of the truth. This was done by Judge
Mott. A burst Of grief followed, but
he is now bearing the trial bravely,
though he is still in prccarious con.
dition. lie was removed this afternoon
to ex-President Hopkins house
swAIM'S DESCRIPTION OF THE DEATH.
Judge Advocate General Swain
who bas been with President Garfield
ever since he was shot, and who was
the only one with the President ~ber
he commenced sinking last night
makes the following statement: III
was my night to watch with the Pres
ident had been with him goot
deal Of the time from three o'clock In
the afternoon. A few minutes before
ten O'Clock / left Colonel Rockwell
with WHOM ! had been talking for soml
moments in the lower ball, aud pro
cecded up stairs to the Presdent'i
room. On entering ! found Mrs Gar
field sitting by bis bedside. There