Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-09-24
THE PRESIDENT
OPERATED upon.
Swelling on His Left Leg De-
manded Surgical Attention,
at indianapolis.
LATER TAKEN To WASHINGTON.
Abcess Formed as Result of an In.
jury Received In Trolley Car Ac
cident, at Pittsfield, Mass.-Msde
an important Tariff Speech, at
Logansport, indiana.

Indianapolis, Sept 24.--PreSldent
Roosevelt's western trip came to an
untimely end in this city yesterday.
He was found to be suffering from
a swelling in the left leg between the
knee and ankle which required i'm.
mediate sugical attention and instead
of being taken to the train to con
tinue his journey was conveyed to
St Vincent's hospital, where he was
operated on. The operation occurred
at 3:45 o'clock and lasted only short
time. Then he was taken to private
room in the hospital to rest. After
taking a light luncheon at 1880 p. m.
he was conveyed on a stretcher to his
train, which had been backed up on
"Y" near the hospital, and 10 min
utes before o'clock the train left for
Washington.
Result of Street Car Accident.
The swelling of the presidents leg
which made an operation necessary,
was occasioned by bruise he re.
ceived at the time of the trolley car
accident at Pittsfeld, Mass.
He was taken to the hospital from
the Columbia club, walking to his car.
riage in front of the club house, Sen.
ater Fairbanks, Secretary Cortelyou
and Governor Durbin being with him.
Others of the party and physicians
followed in carriages
Dame Rumor nd not have an op.
portunity of arousing the anxiety of
the thousands of people who were
gathered along the streets, although
those in front of the club house had
heard various rumors, and the trans.
fer Of the president to the hospital
was executed without their having
the least notion of what was trans.
piring. The first public knowledge of
the true state of affairs came in the
form of bulletin, which was issued
by Secretary Cortelyou, and in a short
time the newspaper offices were the
center Of excited crowds.
After the president entered the op.
Grating room he sat down and waited
for instructions from the physicians
and surgeons, watching their prepa.
rations with keen interest
II am awfully sorry | cannot con.
tinue my western trip" said he.
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 very indiscreet to continue on your
feet, as would be necessary in your
speech-making trip, after the opera
ton. This is by no means a serious
thing and there is absolutely no dan.
ger of serious consequences 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"
Finally Gave Up the Trip.
Very we'll, then, it will have to be
that way" said the president, resign
eddy. 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 later however
he was told simply to remove his
shoe and the physicians would be re.
CURED to bare the leg only. This
done, the president walked to the Cd.
Grating table. and as he lay down he
remarked with a smile:
Gentlemen, you are formal. | see
you have your gloves on"
This was reference to the antlsep
tic gloves of the surgeons.
Mr.. President" said a surgeon
with a smile, sit is always in order
to wear gloves at a presidents re-
ception"
This caused the president to ex.
claim. Good; we'll said"
The operation was begun without
delay. The pain caused the president
to mutter several times in low voice,
but he said nothing that was distinct
except to ask for glass of water
before the needle had been removed.
After the operation was over he
made several laughing remarks con.
corning trivial matters and asked IL
he would be allowed to use his leg
long enough to walk up stairs him.
self.
You will be hauled upstairs In
wheeled ambulance" said a surgeon.
When they brought the vehicle in
the president said:
Why, that's a wheelbarrow.
After being taken to an upper room
from the operating room, the presl.
dent was served with light luncheon
and chatted pleasantly to those In the
room. He made several kind re-
marks to the attending nurses about
the trouble he was causing, and shift.
ed his position several times nerv.
oIsly.
Taken to Train on Stretcher.
AT 7,40 p. m. a white blanket was
thrown around him and he was placed
on the hospital stretcher and, escort
ed by company Of infantry. was car.
ried % the car, a block away. by four