The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-24


business there From the time the Presi-
dent left the Columbia Club until he
found himself in a hospital surrounded
by a Gordon of police and soldiers, not
more than ten minutes had elapsed. The
whole movement had been carefully
planned at the Columbia Club before 1t
was carried out, and the utmost effort
was made to keep any mixing of what
was to occur from reaching the street.
The necessa v order to the police and the
soldiers were not given until the last mo
ment, and in this way the knowledge that
something was amss was confined only
to those who had an official interest in
the Presidents movements.
Dame rumor did not have an oppor-
tunity of arousing the anxiety of thou
sands of persons who were gathered
along the streets, and the transfer of
the President to the hospital was execut-
ed without their having the least notion
of what was transporting The first public
knowledge of the true state of affairs
came in the form of a bulletin which
was issded by Secretary Cortelyou, and
in short time the newspaper offices
were the centre of excited crowds.
Waited for Instructions.
After the President entered the operat-
ing room with the physicians he sat down
on a stool and waited for instructions
from the physicians and surgeons. watch
ing their preparations with keen interest.
Il am awfully sorry that 1 cannot con-
tinue my Western trip" he said. Cant
you let me go ahead with it after this
thing is over?"
Several of the surgeons turned to him
and one said:
1T is my opinion that you would be
inIi
as would be necessary in your speech
making trip after the operation. This is
by no means a serious thing and there
is absolutely no danger of serious con-
sequences from it if you are careful and
stay off your feet until the trouble is
over. But you should by all means, Mr..
President. discontinue your trip"
Very well, then. it will have to be
that way" said the President. resigned
~. Il will do as you gentlemen say.
Now what do you want me to do?'
The President was told to remove his
shoes and stockings and neither garments.
He also removed his coat and vest. A
moment late-. however, he was told to
simply remove his shoes and they would
be required to bare the leg only. This
was done. The President walked to the
operating table alone and as he lay down
he remarked with a smile:
Gentlemen, you are formal. / see you
have your gloves on"
This was a reference to the antiseptiC
gloves of the surgeons.
The Wit of Surgeon.
'Mr. President" said a surgeon with a
smile, lit is always in order to wear
gloves at a Presidents reception
This caused the President to exclaim
Good; well said"
The operation began without delay. The
pain caused the President to mutter sew
eral times in low voice, but he said
nothing that was distinct except to ask
for a glass OF water before the needle
had been removed.
several laughable remarks concerning
trivial matters and asked If he would be
allowed to use his leg long enough to
walk up stairs himself.
you will be hauled up stairs in a
wheeled ambulance" said a surgeon.
When they brought the vehicle In the
President said: why that's a wheel
barrow"
After being taken to the upper room
from the operating room the President
was served with a light luncheon and
chatted pleasantly to those in the room.
He made several kind remarks to the
attending nurses ABOUT the tIouDlc 1T
was causing and shifted his position
several times nervously.
At 7:40 p. m. white blanket was
thrown around him and he was placed
on the hospital stretcher, and, escorted
by a company of infantry. was carried
TO the car a block away, by four negro
porters from the train. He bade good
bye to the nurses as he was being car
ried out of the hall to the elevator and
thanked them for their kindness. He
did not talk during his trip to the car,
Senator FairbanksJ Governor Durbin
and other prominent citizens were at the
train to hid him good bye.
Result of Pittsfield Accident.
The swelling of the Presidents leg
which made an operation necessary was
occasioned by a bruise he received at the
time of the trolley car accident at Pitts
field, Mass, when the Presidents car
riaGe was run into and demolished by a
car. Besides being injured in the face
and across the eye, the President at that
time received a b low on tn inner part OF
the left leg between the ankle and knee
but true to his characteristics he paid
no attention to it, deeming a slight bruist
not worth talking about. During severa
weeks he took no heed of 1t but 1t begar
to pain him so that it began to force his
attention.
After starting on his western trip he
determined that perhaps DR.. Lung who
was aboard the train, should examine it.
The doctor did so and pronounced 1t tc
be a serious matter. When In Detroit the
doctor finally declared that something
would have to be done After consulting
with DR.. Richardson. another member
If the party 1T was decided that in order
oF hood pOiSOOtpp
IT would probably be wise to have an
onara+ion performed The President was
very much averse to anything OF the
kind being done, but not until when
I,ogansport, Ind, had been reached, had
he been prevailed upon to deliver the
tariff speech which had been prepared Tor
delivery at Milwaukee and which was
regarded as one of the most important
of his proposed speeches for the west
At Iogansport Senator Beverage
boarded the train and after consulta-
ton with him it was decided that ne
should summon several of the best physl-
clans of Indianapolis to meet the Pres
ident and with this end in view the Sen
ator telegraphcd to DR.. George II. Oliver
DR.. George ]. Cook and DR.. Henry Jane
son to be at the Massachusetts, Avenue
depot.
Thought Teddy Posing.
When the train pulled into the station
the doctors were there and they were
taken by the Senator Immediately into
the PRESIDENTS car. The physicians ac-
companied the party to Tomlinson Hal
and 1t was thought by those who no
ticed them that they were merely present
as members of the Reception Committee
| When the President arose to acknowl-
edge the reception given him at the hal
and also when he got up to make his