Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-07-11
SHOOTING OF PRESI-
DENT GARFIELD.


ed the following in relation to the shoot
ing of the beloved President:
The President and his several members
of the Cabinet, having made preparations
for a visit to New England, prepared to
take the 9 80 a. m. train, which left Wash
ington for the north ON Saturday morn
ing, July I'd. Secretary Blaine drove to
the White House early in the morning
and the two together rode quietly to the
depot. Reaching there before train time
they sat in their carriage few minutes
chatting pleasantly, and arranging some
matters of public business. Upon alight-
ing they entered the ladies' room of the
depot, and were making preparations to
take the cars when But we will let
Secretary Blaine and others tell the story
"Our conversation had been pleasant the
President speaking with much elation in
relation to the success of his administra-
ton thus far, the harmony in the Cabinet,
and his purposes in the future. We talk
ed on in this way" said Secretary Blaine,
s'until we arrived at the station. We
both got out together and entered at the
ladies' entrance. We had not long been
| there when heard pistol fired. I did
not dream that any one had fired at the
President or at any of us. l knew, how
ever, that it must be near, as the noise
was deafening in my ears like the reverb
Grafton from a cannon shot when one
stands near it. l thought this is town
were pistols are used freely; some row is
| going on in the depot building, and
stray shot might hit the President. /
looked around, turning from the Presi-
dent, to see where it was. did not even
| then comprehend that the shot could have
| been aimed at him. As did so I heard
the President say, My God p and turning
| quickly, 1 saw him falling by my side and
heard another shot, when l instinctively
rushed toward the assassin. 1t was now
too late and needless. Strong arms had
| already pinioned him, and turned to lift
the poor, bleeding President beside me.
| We placed him on mattress and carried
second story. You know the rest 1t
was all over in two minutes, but the viii
lain understood his work. The heavy
ball did not MAIN limb or miss it's mark.
It had lodged in the vitals."
THE AssAssINs CAPTURE.
The scene at the depot was of the most
exciting character. The first thought
seemed to be to secure the assassin. Spe-
cial Officer Scott and Officer Kearney i'm
mediately grasped and pinioned his arms
to his sides in a vise-like grip, while the
station agent loudly shouted, "Bar all the
windows-let nobody escape!7 Charles
Guiteau of Chicago, for that is the way
the assassin writes his name, struggled
| violently to escape. He had planned to
| do that. A few minutes before the Presi-
dents carriage arrived, Guiteau had ask
were particularly fast. Being informed
that they were, he said he would engage
them. He was making toward the en-
trance, near which he had caused the car
instantly hurried off to Jail to avoid the
mob.
GEN. GARFIELD's FIRST THOUGHT FOR
| HIS WIFE.
Gen. Garfield as he lay upon his mat
tress in the upper room, is said by those
who were about him to have been brave
and cheerful. His first impulse was to
have his wife informed, and he dictated h
dispatch found elsewhere to Col. Rock
well, in which he informed her that he
had been wounded, how seriously no one
could tell; that he desired her to come
Immediately, was conscious, and sent his
love. At the same time another dispatch
was sent to Major Swaine, Judge Advo-
cate General, who had charge of Mrs.
Garfield, informing him of the nature of
the shooting and directing him to keep
the information from Mrs. Garfield.
THE PRESIDENTS WOUNDS.
While this was being done the carriage
of one of the Cabinet officers, who was
present, was driven with great speed to
the residence of DIR. Bliss on F street,
who, with his instrument case, was has
tily driven to the depot and was the first
of the physicians to arrive. He instantly
pronounced the wound dangerous one,
but not necessarily fatal. Gen. Garfield
talked cheerfully with his friends, among
whom was Col Robert Ingersoll, to whom
he cordially extended his hand and said
81 am glad you came" 1t was then found
upon examination that both shots fired by
the assassin had taken effect. The first
had entered the back just above the kid.
ney, and, as the probing shows, had per-
forated the liver. The second shot was
fired while the President was falling, and
went under the left arm, barely grazing
the skin. It was evidently Guiteau's pur
pose to shoot Gen. Garfield several times
for in the confession which he left in 6
sealed statement now in the hands of the
law authorities he says he shot the Presi
dent several times. The surgeons, Of
whom dozen had arrived, agreed thai
the President should be taken to the
White House as speedily as possible.
Gen. Sherman, who had also come, haG
already provided an ambulance. A large
squad of mounted police had been sum
moned. The ambulance entered the
White House grounds at the lower gate
the President reclining upon the mattress
As he was lifted out, he saw at window
his private secretary and number o.
friends who were at the White House
: looking out, who had already been noti
, attempted assassination. The President
, raising his head from his improvised lit
ter, pleasantly waved his hand in greet