The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-24
PRESIDENT IN HOSPITAL
He Was Removed to St. Vincents Where
Surgeons Soon Relieved His Pain.


THE PRESIDENT SMILED.
Throughout the operation President
Roosevelt wore a smile on his lips and
discussed the wound being made by the
knives with the surgeons. He took only
local anesthetic, which was applied to the
leg He seemed to feel that an unneces-
sary amount of fuss was being made over
him and that great deal was being done
for a very slight injury.
cition while he was at the Columbia Club
yesterday were struck more than ever with
the absolutely fearless courage of the
man. He addressed an audience Of several
thousand people from the balcony of the
club. and as he talked he realized that
within two hours he would be under the
surgeons knife. This fact. however, did
not interfere with his enthusiasm in the
least, and no one in that vast sea Of hu-
would be in the hospital within few
hours. and that he knew he was going
there.
Much surprise was manifested among the
members of the Presidents party when 1t
was learned yesterday evening that the
Northwestern trip would end in Indianap-
oils. There were very few on the train
who knew that the injury the President re-
ceived at Pittsfield was giving him trouble.
In fact. he scarcely realized himself that
his injury was worse than he thought
until yesterday morning, when his leg be-
came painful.
At Logansport when Senator Beveridge
Joined the party he learned from the Pres
ident that he was suffering from the Pitts
field accident. Others on the train, who
were acting in an official capacity, were
informed of the trouble. and it was decided
that when Indianapolis was reached a care
full examination of the bruise on the Presi-
dents leg should be made.
DIR. OLIVER NOTIFIED.
A telegram was sent on ahead to DR..
John II. Oliver. whose skill as a surgeon is
we'll known. The Presidents own physi-
clans, DR.. Lung and DR.. Richardson, were
on the train and acquiesced in the arrange
ment to call in other physicians at In
dianapolis. DR.. Lung is a regular practi-
toner and DR.. Richardson Is a throat spe-
cialist.
The examination Of the Presidents in
jury was made at the Columbia Club. DR..
John H. Oliver saw him there and was in
his room for some time before the lunch
con. DR.. George j. Cook and DIR. Henry
jameson were also called into the case,
and assisted DR.. Oliver at the hospital
There were few people in all the crowd
at the club that knew why the luncheon
was being delayed. 1t was given out that
directly on the arrival of the presidential
party at the club Secretary Cortelyou had
asked that he and the President be as
signed to a room, as they had received
some important official correspondence
from Washington that must be gone over.
DR.. Oliver arrived at the club and went
to the Presidents room directly after the
arrival of the presidential party. Secretary
Root was also with the President directly
after his arrival.
At the consultation Of physicians 1t was
decided that the Western trip must be
abandoned. While 1t was understood that
the operation would be really a trivial one,
1t was not deemed advisable to allow the
President to proceed on his trip. The fact
that the tour had been abandoned, how
ever, was not made public, even to the
newspaper men accompanying the train.
until later In the afternoon.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
About the time the luncheon was to be
served Secretary Cortelyou sent word to
the representatives of the different press as
sociations that something important would
be forthcoming later in the day. Then the
press representatives began to speculate as
to what this important information was to
be. One bright young man who represents
a great New York daily remarked that
Secretary Shaw has probably resigned" e"
Another had the feeling that the "vene-
zuelan row. was giving the President trou-
BILE. Few Of the Presidents immediate
party knew the real truth as to why Mr.
Roosevelt did not come down to luncheon
at the appointed time.
The President would not allow his condi-
ton to interfere with the programme which
the Spanish-American war Veterans had
arranged for him. so that the luncheon and
the speech from the balcony were carried
out as nearly In accordance with the pub
lished programme possible. Some of the
ident limped slightly. but no serious con-
sideration was given to this fact, as the
real truth as to the cause was not known.
When IL was decided to take the President
to st. vincents Hospital it was deemed
advisable to keep the crowd outside the
clubhouse In ignorance OF the fact that
there had been a change in the plans The
great mass Of people outside believed that
the Presidents trip would be resumed ac-
rordin1 tn Scheduie at z o'clock Mapv ~