The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-17

as he was carried Though and up the pri-
waite entrance into the living rooms at the
south part of the house. He was carried
into the large bedroom opening out of the
library. There the surgeons, under the d.
rection of DR.. Bliss, who had been sum-
moned to the station, made the first exam
ination. The cabinet ministers met in his
library and there received reports nearly
every moment of the presidents condition.
| was permitted to remain, and while the
physician in charge was very careful in all
he said it was plain to be inferred that he
thought the president had received q fatal
wound.
One of the most thrilling incidents of
the day was the arrival of the wife of the
president. She had left Washington in
advance of the president and came back
upon special train. The president was
shot at 8 o'clock and his wife arrived at
in the afternoon. The engine of the special
broke down on its way, and only happy
fortune saved the train from a wreck.
From the station she came in a close car
rage as fast as two horses could be driven
This carriage entered the rear gate of the
private part of the grounds some quarter
of mile distant from the White House.
The house was then filled with officials,
surgeons and newspaper correspondents,
who all stood uncovered as the carriage
dashed up to the steps, where Mrs. Rock
WELL pale faced, delicate woman with
snowy white hair, stood ready to receive
the lettering, half fainting Mrs. Garfield.
The story of that special train as related
by General Swayne, who was in charge of
1t, was the next report made TO the cabinet
meeting which remained in continuous
and informal session for nearly twenty
four hours.
do not propose to recount the story of
Gartield's three-months' fight for life. |
will only give two pictures of that long
and wearisome time. which left q most
profound impression upon my mind. The
one was the moving out of the president
at O'Clock one Saturday morning in
September in the desperate attempt to
save his life by carrying him away to the
seashore. The heat for nearly six weeks
had been almost unbearable. The Their
mometer had often indicated 50 degrees at
midnight. When Garfield was brought
out and placed upon high express wagon
surrounded by his surgeons, notwithstand-
ing the early hour, the entire city APP
peared 10 be awake.
In the dull yellow light of that heavy.
tropical morning everything looked un-
real. The presiden'. wasted almost TO
skei eton, lay In an attitude Of almost com
plete prostration, surrounded by the staff
Of surgeons who were themselves hascard
and worn with their ceaseless vigils. The
heavy wagon rolled over the smooth pave
ments as if ii was a chariot of death carry
ing those who had been stricken by the
foul hand of some viruient pestilence
The second picture was at Elberon upon
the night of the presidents death, Sep
TENDER ~. The president was in cottage
isolated from the hotel. The cottage was
surrounded by senlTies, 50 that no one
gould approach except the attendants
Not even q cahiue, minister visited tine
cottage during this black evening.
had made an arrangement with one of
the attendants employed hv the White
House to give me the earliest possible
news Of the fatal termination Of the presi-
dents illness. In the porch OF the hotel
there were 800 or 40 people waiting Tor
news. The night was very black. there
was strong wind in from the sea which
brought roaring surf beating with such
force as to make the ground Ni1rate in the
nelEhborhood Of the presidents cottage
The air was filed with decks OF spray The
attorney general came into the group and
every one addressed him for news.
| was Dpon the outskirts of the
crowd Just outside the narrow range Of
light fiCkcriug from the gas iej in the CEN
ter OF the hotel court. As | stood thus in
the darkness ! felt \ blow upon nv right
arm. 1t WAS accompanied by the strong
Erip OF nervous, excited man, who with
out word or gesture beyond this move
ment passed on. | knew instantly from
TINS nervous touch that the president was
dead, and this was the messenger who had
promised 20 give me the first word
Seyera. weeks after that | witnessed the
execution Of Guiteau. the assassin. 1t was
the second execution had ever witnessed.
and hope that IL Wi, he the last HIS
death was a most revolving one and the
element OF human sympathy was king
throughout. lie was the only prisoner
ever executed ia Washington City who
had not made some friends among the
attendants during his last DAYS. Among
the zoe or SEQ persons who had assembled
TO witness ms execution not one exhibited
any emotion Of sympathy. Every one felt
that the sooner he were executed and ont of
sight the better Il would he for the human
race. There vas something communicating
ami vie about the very atmosphere OF the
man: one could not look on him long with
out feeling degraded.
I. c. CRAWFORD.
DO net despair Of curing your sick hesdsche
when YOU car 50 easily obtain CSrter's Lille