The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-07
rnAr rAMous oprRArroN.
Mr.. +. c. Benedict Tells Precisely
What Occurred Aboard or HE


Banker f. c. Benedict, the close per
sonal friend Of President Cleveland, made
a statement yesterday TO a representative
Of The World regarding the occurrences
aboard the steam yacht Oneida July l
last. Mr. Benedict has heretofore re
manned silent on the subject To all in
quiries concerning the President and the
operation which was said 10 have been
performed upon him on board the Oneida
Mr.. Benedict has heretofore answered
that he had nothing 10 say
TOO much has been said and printed
about the natter said Mr.. Benedict
yesterday. If the same operation that
was performed upon President Cleveland
had been performed upon YOU or me, not
one word would have been said, written
or printed about it. The whole thing
didn't amount to enough to be talked
about. The President wants TO have the
matter dropped and ! and his other
friends don't like to near any moro
| about it,
Then an operation was performed 3'
| asked the reporter.
Yes, there was, if you call it such, -
was Mr. Benedict's answer.
will you please tell me why this op-
ertion was performed aboard the
| Oneida?' asked the reporter.
The matter was discussed" replied
| MIR. Benedict, land since it was neceS-
sary to pull one of the Presidents teeth,
we concluded to have it done aboard the
yacht, where there was perfect quiet and
where there were fresh air and good light
| in plenty. Rather than sit down in an
old dentists chair in a little Office in
town on a hot summer day, the President
came aboard my boat and there's all
about that
"How was the operation performed2' '
inquired The World reporter
Il don't know, ~ said MIR Benedict, his
face becoming very stern all of sudden /;
Il wasn't there"
BENEDICT DIDN'T SEE IT.
But you were aboard the Oneida at
the time" said the reporter.
Yes, 1 Was.n
"And the operation was performed
while the Oneida was cruising in the
sound at moderate speed, and while di-
rectly off this pOfnt2n
THAT is right" said Mr. Benedict, who
explained that the yacht was cruising up
and down the sound, of Greenwich APP
parentiy trolling for fish The water at
the time was unusually smooth.
Mr.. Benedict was asked for further de-
tails.
well, " he said, lat first they removed
one tooth. That's all. | think, they
wanted to pull. Then l think, piece of
the Jaw bone came away, and the second
tooth had to be extracted. Mr. Cleveland
stood the operation very we'll
1t has been printed said the re-
porter, that the President was put to
bed after the operation had been per-
formed, and that he slept for thirty-six
hours. Is that truef'
"All bosh ~ replied Mr. Benedict "Not
a word of truth in that. Why, let me
tell you this, and you can Judge for your
self wheth er there can be any truth in
such report l played cribbage with
the President the same evening. / have
the record of every days game we
played aboard my yatCh now. We played
every day, and the President never
missed a meal
PLAYED CRIBBAGE THAT MIGHT.
did you beat the President playing
cribbagei' asked the reporter.
did WHAT" repeated Mr.. Benedict,
emphasizing every word-"beat the Pres
ident playing cribbage! No, indeed he
beat me every game. He's a fine player
| He beat me badly, too. Now, | hope, -
continued MIR Benedict, Chat this will
| set everybody at ease. / want to say that
the President never was in better health
than he is to-day The talk about his
| having Bright's disease, cancer, and good
ness knows what, is all rot!"
you should see that man as I saw him
since that time you speak of, standing
in the boat two hours before sunrise
with a fishing rod in his hand and with
that powerful right arm of his casting
a line I have seen the President stand
in the boat all day and fish to his hearts
content. And the people say that he is
a sick man. | hope your health or my
own health is as perfect today as is the
health Of the President, Could a sick
man go through all this exercise in an
open boat all day long! We went fishing
and we hauled out fourteen big weak
II sh Not Que of them weighed less than
five pounds, and the President personally
caught half of the lott