The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-07-09
The Shooting Of Presi'
dent Garfield,

The following account Of tho sboo,;n., %
resident Garfield is taken from the vol1n,ipo1s
a'aecidted press and other reports which an
Pedred III the New York papers. The Presi
u u, accompanied by Secretary Blaine left the
~ " hite house few minutes after O'Clock in
carnage OF the former, driven by the same
~a1iiiui 9olored coachman who has continu-
ously nad charge of the Presidents CARRIAGE
since the Inauguration of President Grant SCI
retaT1es Lincoln, Window and Hunt and POST.
Hlaster-Ueneral James, accompanied nv their
wives, had preceded the President to the denot
anu lau taken seats in the special car that was
70 Jake the party on their journey to New York
ana the East The President reached the
nAth street entrance to the depot at about 9;2O
When the carriage stopped the President said
W oiiicer hearney, who stepped forward to
| open the carriage door: Chow much time
nave we, oificer!' to which Kearney renIied
ABOUT III minutes SIR The President lin
9efed IN the carriage for a few minutes as if to
lihish 3 conversation with Secretary Blaine.
When he alIghted, and followed BY the secre
tary, proceeded to the ladies' entrance. the two
gentlemen passing leisurely through the ladies'
Waltln8 room arm Ill arm the President being
on the left Of Mr.. Blaine. 'o
Ihey had proceeded only few feet into the
general passenger room, when two pistolshots
were hred III rapid succession from the rear
shot passed through the right coat-sleeve of
the President intlicting no injury, but the
second shot entered his body above the third
ND. When the President was struck he turned
sharply to the right, bat before he could take
a step or make another motion he sank heavily
to the floor, the blood squirting profuselv FROM
Jagged wound caused by ball of the size
known as caliber forty-two Secretary Blaine
turned toward the assassin but discovering
that he was in the custody of an officer. his at
tention was Immediately given to the PROSTATE
President, who was carried to room in the
second story of the depot building, where are
situated the offices OF the railroad company.
Secretaries Lincoln, Window and Hunt, and
Postmaster-General James. having seen their
respective wives seated in the special car.
repaired to the long platform, where they
walked up and down in front of the car.
awaiting the Presidents arrival. While thus
engaged Colonel Jameson, of the postal rail
way service, rushed up to the postmaster-gen-
eral and informed him that the President had
been shot, a statement which Mr. James and
his companions would not believe until it had
been repeated with intense earnestness by
Colonel Jameson, when they hurried out to the
depot, and found the President PROSTATE and
bleeding on the floor.
After remaining for about an hour in the
depot, it was decided to remove the President
80 the White House. Accordingly, a police
attended by Colonel Rockwell, was driven home
Except the orderly crowd tnat assembled il
front OF the White House and police headquar
ters, there was nothing to indicate that ma
t,onal tragedy had been enacted that woulo
startle the whole civilized world. The peopIt
inst became convinced that something had
happened out of the usual course BY the
rapid driving of a carriage through Pennsylva-
aia avenue, clearing the way for the ambulance
waich followed, carefully driven and attended,
by guard OF mounted police From mouth
to mouth the intelligence spread, "The Presi-
dent Is assasslnated; was shot at the depot az
ne was going INTO the cars" There was no
loud demonstration, no disorderly language.
The establishment following the startling an
nouneement deepened into unoelief and the
people seemed paralyzed with the horror of the
moment. Still, the crowd followed the ambu-
lance that entered the broad cariageway lead
ing to the executive mansion. Policemen
already guarded the gates and kept the crowd
back, but through the fence and gateway the
ambulance was seen to pause before the open
door OF the White House, while the large, fine
form of the President was tenderly lifted from
the vehicle, with the pallor of death stamped
on his countenance. Glanclng upward to the
windows, he saw some familiar faces, and with
a smile, which those who saw it will never for
get he raised his right hand and gave the mill
tary salute, which seemed to say, "Long live
the Republic.
THE WOUNDED MAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
A few moments afterward carriages began to
arrive, bringing the presidential party from the
special car where they had been seated only
few moments before in anticipation of a sum-
mer's pleasure tour. Soon afterward Mrs.
Hunt. Mrs James, and Mrs. Window were
Joined by Mrs. Blaine and Mrs. W. 7. Sherman.
Other friends of Mrs Garfield quickly arrived
but were denied admittance, and soon the pom
90 which 1nad To the pXapntIVn n
sion were closed, and armed military sentineis
silently took their places about the house and
grounds. These troops were ordered from
the garrison at the arsenal in order to relieve
the regular police, whose services were needed
in the city where the crowds were rapidly in
creasing in angry excitement
The President was carefully lifted from the
ambulance and carried to a sleeping chamber
in the southeast corner of the building, and
was soon surrounded by the most eminent ply
sicians in Washington. Owing to the nervous
Drostration which followed the shock, the sur
geons did not deem it advisable to probe Tor
the bail while the President was at the depot.
Upon reaching the White House, this nervous
prostration seemed to pass away and the Presl-
dent assumed his usual composed manner,
greeting members of the Cabinet and other in
innate friends who called with warm pres
sure of the hand and with cheerful words. Be-
fore leaving the depot the President mani
tested some anxiety ABOUT the eHecb OF the IN
telligence of his wound upon Mrs. Garfield,
and, turning to Colonel Rockwell, dictated to
him the following dispatch to be sent to Mrs.
Garfield at Long Branch:
Mrs Garfield ElberOn, n. d.:
The President wishes me to say to you from
him that he has been seriously hurt-how seri-
ousy he cannot yet say. He is himself and
hopes YOU will come to him soon. lie sends his
love to you.
A. f. ROCKWELL.
The cheerful manner of the President
throughout the morning and the early hours
of the afternoon excited the strongest hopes
on the part of his surgeons and friends that
the bali had not touched any vital part, and
that when the wounded man had gained suf-
ficent strength and composure an effort might
be made to find the ball. Directions were
given that the President should see as few per-
sons as possible, and that he should be kept
from conversation or making any particular
effort whatever. After consultation, it was
determined by the surgeons that at O'Clock,
if the condition of the President would permit,
they would probe for the ball. When this
hour arrived it was found that the President
was not in condition to undergo the operation,
and from this time he began to show symptoms
that were regarded as very unfavorable-ln
ternal hemorrhage having been distinctly
recognized.