The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-16
JUST TWENTY YEARS
LIGENCE OF PRESIDENT GAR
FIELDS ASSASSINATION
CITY PLUNGED IN GRIEF
All Public Buildings Were EIab-
Orately Draped In Black and
Bells Were Tolled
for an Hour.

1t was just twenty years ago that the
newspapers Of this city announced in
headlines of solemn black the death OF
President Garfield, The news was pub
iished in the morning papers of Sept. 20,
1881.
A somber appearance was presented by
the papers that fateful morning. The
new ideas in journalism had not taken
hold of the press at this early time, and
single-column head, 1.-THE Nation
Mourns," was all that told the story.
While between the columns were the
heavy black lines that denoted the death
OF some one prominent in the nation.
The st. Paul Board of Trade met for a
regular meeting on the morning of Sept.
20, but omitted the usual call, and after
drawing up suitable resolutions adjourned
out of respect to the nations dead.
At the Y. NJ c. A. building memorial
services was held for the departed pres
ident. The meeting was large one. most
Of the prominent men and women of the
city attending, and many of them adj
dressing those assembled. The principal
speaker was d. r. Moves and others who
spoke were Messrs Gilbert and Hackett
and Reverend Messrs. Espy, of this city,
and Hunter, of Chicago. The meeting,
which continued for some time, was
PeNooSO III sung dllQ prayers. b6IOT0 II
closed resolutions of a suitable charac-
ter were drawn up and preserved.
Judge Nelson, of the federal court, was
about the first person to make q public
acknowledgment of the president
death. The federal court was to have
opened on the morning of the 21st Ev-
erything was in readiness for the open
ing, when Judge Nelson made a public
statement, paying a glowing tribute to
the murdered president, after which the
court adjourned until after the funeral
of the president, Sept 26.
Mayor Edmund Rice went at once to
the city hall upon receipt of the news
and conferred with the city officials as
to draping the city hall It was agreed
to do this, and flags were displayed at
half-mast on the building and Grape was
entwined with the national colors
The mayor then issued a proclamation
in which he asked that all the clergy
of the city order the bells on the churches
and cathedrals tolled from the hour of
u until 1 o'clock. The city hall bell was
also tolled, and for that hour the SOL
emn sound of the mourning bells rang
out, telling their story to the grief-strick-
en- citizens.
FLAGS AT .HALF-MAST. =.
the customs building, postofIice, state
capitol and the engine houses of the city,
and in each case the colors were sad
dened by the appearance of the color Of
mourning. On the state capitol alone
over 2,400 yards of Grape were used to
drape the building.
= The larger Office buildings and innum-
cradle private residences were draped
with Grape and the Stars and Stripes,
while the dead presidents picture, sur
rounded with Grape, was shown on all
sides. Memorial services were held in q,
number of churches and glowing tributes
paid to the martyred president by the
clergy of the city in general
The city council convened for its reg
ular meeting, but upon a motion drew
up resolutions and adjourned without
tranSacting any business at all. The res
buttons were ordered preserved upon the
records of the council
The entire city presented most solemn
and sember appearance, and on In~
streets groups of people stopped hers
and there to discuss the national calam-
ity. Memorial meetings were held, and
to all intents and purposes private bus
mess was suspended for the time being.
John S, Pillsbury, who was then gov
ernor Of the state, issued a proclamation
in which he paid a tribute to the dead
executive, and also urged that the people
Of the state take on the aspect of mourn
ing and SO continue until after funeral
day, Sept 26. The proclamation was gen.
orally complied with, and little business
of private nature and only such of a
public nature as was absolutely neces-
sary for the welfare of the city, state
and government was done.
A number of federal office-holders re-
siding in the city and state hurried East
to attend the funeral, and every possible
respect was shown for the dead president
in public way, while the people suffered
their grief in private.
Although the. presidents death came
after many days of anxious waiting, the
announcement was none the less of a
shock. From the day Of the dastardly
assault by the enraged Guiteau until the
dead president was consigned to his last
resting place, evidences of grief and sor-
row We're visible on all sides. Sympathy
for the aged mother in her bereavement
was expressed, and .-4e whole city, as
well as every section of the civilized
world, mourned her loss with her.
THREE TIMES IN MOURNING.
These times of poignant grief recall
the terrible days of GarfieId's assassina-
ton to those citizens who were here at
the time. Many of the residents have
lived to see the city plunged in grief
three times by the dastardly assault Of
asssssins upon the head of the nation
In each case the victim has been a man
of such character and disposition as to
make the first news of the assault seem
incredible. The stirring times in which
President Lincoln received his death blow
of course gave reason, to some extent
Tor the deed, but at the time of Garfield s
assassination there was no war. There
had been nothing more exciting or liable
to incite such a deed than a split in party
ranks, and the news fell as a bolt out
OF clear sky, as did the news of the
assault upon the dead leader of today.
coming at a time when national prosper
ity was at its height.
1t is a peculiar fact that these assas-
s1natlons have come at intervals of
twenty years, 1866, 1881 and 1901. The
first president to give his life blood for
his country was murdered in April. and
the month of September has been chosen
by the assassins of the last two as The
time for their dastardly work
Garfields assassination struck the peo-
pie OF st. Paul as it did the people of
the country as the result of personal spite
and difference. This made his untimely
end more sad in the eyes of many. Me-
H1nley died at the hands of a discfnle
OF class of people whose idea of gov
eminent is violence, and he was the vic
tim of their creed. This fact gives rise
TO the thought that steps should be taken
to prevent such occurrences by the wip-
ing out of all who are known to enter
tain such principles.
1t gives the people of today something
to take their minds for the moment
Off the terrible catastrophe that has be.
fallen the country, but at the time of
Garfield's death there was nothing of