The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-24


others on the stage. An expression OF
pain passed quickly over his face
which was remarked upon by many
| listening to him, who could not under
| stand why he should make such Pc
culiar facial expressions.
The trip to the Columbia club fol-
1 lowed without any feature that would
/ give even a hint that the great West
ern trip Of the president was at an
end. No one, even those who were in
the presidents party, outside of Sec
rotary Cortelyou and the physicians,
had thought but that the programme
| was to be carried out to the end, and
1 1T was a gay throng that marched into
| the club to take luncheon and have a
| little rest. But instead of going into
| the dining room the president was
taken into private room, where, I'M
known to the crowd inside and out
| side Of the club, he was made the sub
| ject of a serious consultation by the
| physicians. His leg was barred and the
1 swelling examined. After a consider
| able time the physicians arrived at the
! verdict.
To Avoid Blood Poisoning.
Said DR.. Oliver: TN order to avoid
| possible blood poisoning, it will be nee
| essary for the president to submit to
a slight operation and in this view
all the other doctors concurred. The
president demurred, but his objections
were overruled by the argument that
a man in his position could not, afford
to take chances. The president Wish-
ed that the operation, since it was
necessary, should be postponed until
he reached Washington, but the physi-
clans again proved obdurate. They
said that while no very serious con-
sequences might follow a postponement
of the operation, there remained a pos
sobility that there might. They gave it
as their opinion that the bruise could
not be trifled with in its condition, and
that no one could afford under all the
circumstances to take any chances in
postponing the needed surgical atten-
ton. The verdict of the doctors be-
ing thus pronounced, there was Moth
ing left to be done but to carry out
their mandate.
In the meantime many Of the recep-
ton committee were eating dinner, and
after the lapse of an hour or more the
president himself went into the dining
room and took luncheon. with small
party at one of the tables.
Makes Another Short Speech.
He then was escorted to the gallery
of the club facing the monument,
where he made short speech in good,
clear voice, and seemed to be the last
person in the world who would be
supposed to be suffering from any
physical ailment. He then retired
within one of the rooms Of the club,
and the active part of carrying out the
change in the programme was begun.
Secretary Coytelyou called Col. Har-
rison and requested him to notify the
members of the reception committee
in the dining room and the club that
the president would not be escorted
to the depot. The colonel carried out
the request, replying to questions that
the president was resting or that 1t
had been decided to take him away
in the carriage without a formal es-
cort. The orders were given to the
captains Of the militia and the heads
of the police, and at 3:15 everything
being in readiness the dash to the hos
pital was made.
Not Serious Operation
DR.. Oliver was very reticent about
the operation, but made the following
statement during the evening: "The
operation was performed successfully,
but it really was not a serious one.
The fear was that If the serum had
been allowed to remain blood poison
ing might set in, but I believe there
| is no further cause for apprehension.
The swelling in the presidents leg was
about as large as the open hand laid
on the leg. The operation only took
a short time, and in no way affected
the physical condition of the president.
He is just the same today as any 9TH
er well man outside of the sore place
| on his leg"
| Senator Beveridge was seen shortly
| after the. operation. He was in good
humor and said that everything was
all right "a man like the president
| is not easily invaded" said he. But
he was forced into this. 1t would not
do to take any chances. Mr.. Roose~
welt is today rugged, hardy man
with a sore leg-that's all there is
to it."