The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-08-27
WASHINGTON.
OUR SPECIAL LETTER.
WASHINGTON. D. c., August 20, 1881

There is an evident improvement o-day
in Mr.. Garfeld's condition. The only
symptom that caused solictude outside Of
the White House yesterday was the tenn
porary swelling OF one Of the glands
of the throat, but the physicians dis
claim uneasiness on this pount, attributing
its cause solely TO the Presidents extreme
debility. This new complication started
considerable excitement during the after
noon. The morning bulletin was favor
able one, and people began to believe that
after all the road to recovery was an open
one for the President. The gratifying in
telligence was announced that the Presi-
dent had resumed his nourishment without
unsatisfactory results. Hopes were raised
to high pitch and everything again looked
bright. The later information was Of the
same favorable character. Next came the
news that DR.. Agnew thought the Piesi-
dent SO much improved that he intended TO
return to Philadelphia for several days. 1t
was learned before he left that he assured
Mrs. Gal field that the danger that was sup
posed to hover about the President for the
past four days had passed away and that he
was again in a satisfactory and hopeful con-
diticn. DR.. Agnew was accompanied TO the
depot by Private Secretary Brown. On his
retarn to the White House Mr.. Brown told
thuse who were gathered there Of the opin-
ion of DR.. Agnew. The temperature Of the
Presidents body varied considerably to-day.
In the morning it was one point less than
normal at noon it was 9s.4, and this even
ing it had risen to 100, showing a return Of
the fever, which has been more or less absent
during the past three days. On the whole
the day can be stated to have been favor
able one. All the signs indicate the return
of the stomach to normal condition by to.
morrow, though it will have to be treated
with good deal of care for some days yet.
Guiteau has, as heretofore stated, been
engaged in writing up his life, which, he
says, will make book of 500 pages, and the
episode of yesterday morning seems not to
have interfered with his work. In the pages
he wrote yesterday, and which were hand
ed to the officers, he speaks of "the late
President Garfield" and writes of Mr.. Ar
thur as President Of the United States. The
impression he has doubtless got from the
guards having been doubled and the gener-
al aspect of affairs about the Jail. On Thurs
day morning one Of the guards noticed that
Guiteau was acting in rather suspicious
manner and on entering the cell found q
piece of steel IN his possession. On being
asked to drop it he uncermoniously attacked
the guard with the instrument, and in the
tussel that ensued the guards pistol was &C.
cidentally discharged. This brought Other
guards to his assistance and Guiteau was
finally secured. Guiteau denies having had
the corset steel at all, but the officers are
under the impression that he had been
using ii for some time for his own purpose
and keeping it out of sight. The generally
accepted theory is that, the bed cots being
steamed the first week of each month, at the
last steaming when they were replaced, the
cot from some other cell, in the slat of which
the "cheeser" had been concealed, was sub.
stituted for the one taken out. II is an or
dinary thing to find such things as knives
made Of shoe shanks and corset steels about
the prison, for no knives are allowed the
prisoners. OF course when found such
weapons are taken from the prisoners. Since
his Incarceration there has been nothing seen
by the jail guards to indicate that Guiteau
would destroy his life, even if he had an
opportunity, and the possession of the
"cheeser" is not regarded as any indication
that he intended to use it for any purpose
except to clean his nails, etc. To-day Gui-
teau seems quite composed, and is in his
usual spirits. The mail the assassin receives
is about equal to that of member of Con.
gress. There has recently accumulated per.
haps half peck of postal cards and letters
So many come that it is suspected parties
take this means ofadyertising their business
expecting that their communications will
br made public through the papers. Among
the postal cards received recently the fol.
lowing is a fair specimen: birthstone
Quarries, 18th August, 1885," "Conurad,
Guitedu My heart swells with emotion
when l witness the persecution you are
compelled to endure. You did my bidding
nobly, and verify you shall have your re.
ward, such only as am accustomed to be-
stow upon my faithful agents. Should yor
need anything further to render your pres
ent condition more endurable, will sent
seven legions of little black angels armed
with red hot pinchers to make it pleasan
for you. Yours until death, when we will
have happy reunion, Satan"