The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-09-07
LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE.

How the President Was Taken to the
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-The President pass
ed a comfortable night at the Executive Man
sion, sleeping much of the time, but waking at
frequent intervals. Several times during the
night he spoke of his departure with some
anxiety, but always hopeful of the improve
ment he expected to result from it, He was
given some beef tea and enemata at three this
morning, and again just before the start was
made. His pulse during the early hours OF
the morning, before the departure from the
White House ranged 104 to 10S.
At $40 this morning, the President was car
ried from the sick room to an express wagon,
which had been backed up to the steps
of the front portico, by doctors Bliss,
Reyburn and Boynton, with Gen. Swain,
Colonels Rockwell and Corbin and DR.. Rock
the patient during his removal to the depot.
He was reclining in a peaceful position on the
bed upon which, for SO many days. he had
been suffering and fighting for Lille. Ills right
hand was laid upon his breast, while his left
arm was stretched at full length upon the
coverlet. His high forehead was covered by
linen cloth, and his features, though emaciat-
ed, wore a patient and resigned expression. A
small platform had been erected from the por-
tico to the wagon; and across this the bed was
tenderly carried and deposited in the wagon.
There was no mishap whatever in the transit;
vehicle, and started lat $50 for the depot, a
feeling of relief took possession of the by
ISLANDERS; for, in the opinion of many, the most
perious portion of the journey had been ac-
complished.
The conveyance was preceded to the depot
by carriages containing the remainder of the
party which was to accompany the President
to Long Branch
AS the express wagon moved away from the
Executive Mansion, the President ifeebly but
cheerily lifted his right hand and waved fare
well to the inmates of the house who had as
sembled on the porch to wish him GOD speed
on his journey.
The wagon was then driven slowly through
the grounds of the mansion and down Pennsyl-
yania avenue to the Baltimore & Potomac de-
pot; the horses at no time being driven faster
than walk. At the head of each horse stood
q man ready to assume control of the animals
in case of need. Fortunately no such precau-
tons proved necessary.
The ride to the depot was accomplished
without any incident occurring worthy of note.
The crowd which followed was orderly and
anxious not only for the safe trans
portation of the patient, but also to catch a
glimpse of his face, which it was not difficult
to do, as the curtains of the wagon were rolled
up to enable the President to breath the pure
morning air which, at that hour, had not
become sultry. The depot being reached the
horses were detached from the wagon, which
was backed up to the car selected for the
occupancy of the President; and the same
gentleman who transferred the patient from
the White House to the wagon executed the
difficult task of removing him from the wagon
to the railroad car; and though they met
with some slight difficulty in doing this, owing
to the fact that the floor of the car was rather
high, the difficult task was performed success
fully and without appearing to disturb the
patient
When inside the car he was transferred from
the bed on which he had been carried thus far
and placed upon spring bed which had been
prepared for his reception, the remainder OF
the party having already taken their seats.
The signal for the departure was given, and
amid silence the train, at $40, began to move.
A delay of some moments interviewed, however
but at $50, exactly, the train started.
The party who accompanied the Presi-
dent exclusive of the railroad attaches)
consisted of twenty persons, as fol
lows Mrs. Garfield and daughter Mollie,
Doctors Bliss, Agnew, Barnes, Woodward and
Reyburn, Col. and Mrs. Rockwell Gen.
Swain, Private Secretary Brown, Dr. Boyn-
ton, Mrs. DR.. Edison, Warren S. Young, Dam
lei Spriggs, Mary White, Elizabeth Cutler and
the colored servants.