St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-23


expected. 1t was evident that the
rigor was passing in about half the
time which the first one had lasted.
That one, in spite of the most vigor-
Gus treatment, had only yielded under
half an hour. The vitality of the Pres
ident once more astonished the physi-
clans, so much so that DR.. Agnew said
when he came from the sick chamber,
as he has said before, "The vitality of
the President is something more re-
markable than | have ever met with in
all my practice" This was said to
Mrs. Garfield and Private Secretary
Brown, and the great surgeon also add
ed that eff it was not for his wonder
full evidence of constitutional strength
he should feel as though it was folly to
indulge in any hope" After the rigor
had passed the President fell asleep,
and, although his pulse WAS still beat
ing above 100, yet his temperature had
not decreased more than IA tenth of
degree or so only below the normal
point. He awOke in about twenty min
utes and the first words he said showed
that the mind was more active than
his bodily strength.
SCENES IN THE SICK-ROOM.
He said to DR.. Bliss: doctor, |
feel very comfortable, but l also feel
dreadfully weak. | wish you would
give me the hand-glass and let me look
at myself" Gen. Swain said: sob,
no; don't do that, Mr.. President. See
if you cannot get some more sleep"
81 want to see myself the President
aII hin, no
hand glass. He held it i'll position
that enabled him to see his face; Mrs.
Garfield, DR.. Bliss, DR.. Agnew, Gen.
Swain and DR.. BOyntOn stood around
the bed, saying not a word, but look
ing at the President. He studied the
reflection of his own features at length.
He weariedly let the glass fall upon the
counterpane, and with IA sigh said to
Mrs. Garfield "Crete, | don't see how
it is that a man who looks as well as |
do should be so dreadfully weak" In
moment or two he asked for his
daughter Mollie. They told him that
she would come to see him later i'll the
day. He said, however, that he want
ed to see her then. ThereupOn Colo
mel Rockwell went to the beach, where
Miss Mollie was sitting with Miss
Rockwell, and told her that her father
wanted to see her. When the child
went into the room she kissed heI
father and told him that she was glad
to see that he was looking so much bet
ter. The President said, ''Do you
think that | look well, Mollie p She
said, ~ do, papa and then she took i
chair and sat near the foot of the bed
A off N RnuntnI
noticed that Miss MOllie was swaying
in the chair. He stepped up to her
but before he could reach her she haC
fallen over in dead faint. In falling
her face struck against the bed-pOst
and when they raised her from the
floor she was not only unconscious, bu
also bleeding from the conclusion
which she had received. They carried
her out where she could get the fresl
breeze from the ocean, and after restO
ratives were applied she speedily re
covered from the faint. The room wa
close, the windows were closed, anC
Miss Mollie has not been very well
and all these causes, combined will
anxiety, induced the fainting fit. Th'
President, they thought, had not no
ticed what had happened to his petteC
child, for he seemed to have sunk int
the stupor which has characterized hi
condition much of the time but whel
DR.. BoyntOn came back into the room
} he was astOnished to hear the Presiden
say, "PoOr little Mollie, she fell owe
!, like log; what was the matter I?
They assured the President that thu
, fainting fit was caused by the clOsenes
of the room, as well as the delicate con
dition of the girl, and when he haC
, that assurance he again sank into
t stupOr or sleep which lasted until thu
noon examination. This stupOr wa
not healthy sleep. The President fire
quently muttered and rolled and toss
ed his head upon the pillow. Once
when awakening from this semi-sleel
he murmured, ''The people, the PEG
pie, my trust"
THE LAST MOMENTS.
The death bed scene of the Presiden
was a peculiarly sad and impressiv
one. AS soon as the doctors felt tina
there was no longer hope the member
of the family assembled. DR.. Bills
stood at the head of the bed with hi
hand on the pulse of the patient an
consulted in low whispers with Dl
Agnew. The private secretary stOo
on the opposite side of the bed, wit
, Mrs. Garfield at the bedside, she a
times leaning on his arm. Miss Lul
Rockwell and Miss MOllie CARTEL
came into the room at the time tn
President sank and lost consciousness
Afterward they went into the hall, tn
door of which remained open, an
, waited there. What conversation wa
had was conducted in whispers. Their
was no sound heard except the gasp
ing for breath of the sufferer, who's
changing color gave indication of tn
near approach of the end. The Onl
treatment that was given was hyperd
ernie injections of brandy by DR.. Ag
3 new, assisted by DIR. BoyntOn. Oc
casiOnally they spoke with DIR. Bliss i
quiet whispers. The President suffer
ed no pain after the time he placed hi
hand upon his heart. He passed AVA
almost quietly. The line between lit
and death was marked by no physic
al exhibition nor any word. Their
q was absolutely no scene. The inter
walls between the gaspings became Ion
ger, and presently there was no sOunC
, Every one present knew that deaf
had come quietly, without pain. Whe
!, it became evident that he was dea
Mrs. Rockwell placed her arm arOun
Mrs. Garfield and led her quietly froI
the room. She uttered no word.
. THE LAST EXTENDED CONVERSATION
= The last conversation of any grea
= length which President Garfield ha
h with any one was with Secretar