The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
eat to make his speech. it was noticed

seat to make his speech it was noticed
by those Fear him in the front of the
hall that he stood with all his weight
on his right leg and the posture seemed
so awkward and so much like a pose
that it caused more than one comment.
During the delivery of his speech, when
he had become aroused he stood on both
legs, and at one point in the speech he
seemed to-, forget about his injury SO
completely. that he took several steps
and in so doing hit his leg against
gun that was stacked with others on
the stage. An expression of pain passed
quickly over his face. which was re-
marked upon by many who listening to
him could not understand why he
should make such facial expressions.
The trip to the Columbia club followed
without any feature that would give
even hint that the western trip of the
president was at an end. Every one, in
Guiding those who were in the presl-
dents party, outside of Secretary Cor
telyou and the physicians, had no
/ thought but that the programme was
to be carried out to the end, and it was
gay throng that marched into the club
to take luncheon and have little rest
But instead of going into the dining
room the president was taken into a
private room, where, unknown to the
bustling crowd inside and outside of the
club. he was made the subject of
serious consultation by the physicians.
His leg was barred and the swelling ex-
amined. After considerable time the
physicians arrived at the verdict. Said
DIR. Oliver:
In order to avoid possible blood pois-
oning setting in it will be necessary for
the president to submit to a slight OPP
Grafton, and in this view all the other
doctors concurred The president de-
INJURED, but his objections were over
ruled by the argument that a man in
his position could not afford to take
chances.
The president wished that The opera
ton since it was necessary be postponed
until he reached Washington, but the
physicians again proved Obdurate. They
quences might follow a postponement
of the operation still there remained a
possibility thet there might They gave
it as their opinion that the bruise could
could afford under all the circum-
stances. to take any chances in post
! pon1ng the needed surgical attention.
The verdict of the doctors being thus
pronounced, there was nothing 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
He then was escorted to the gallery of
| the club facing the monument, where
he made short speech in a good, clear
voice, and seemed to be the last person
in the world who would be supposed
to be suffering from any physical all
ment- He t.-en retired within one of
the rooms of the club and the active
part of carrying out the change in pro-
gramme was begun.
Secretary Corteiyou called Colonel Har-
| r1son and requested him to notify the
members OF the reception committee in the
dining room and the club that the presi-
dent would not be escorted to the station.
ing to questions that the president was
resting or that it had been decided to take
him away in the carriage without for
NAL escort. 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 hospital was
The only persons outside Of the doctors
who were present at the operation were
| Secretary Of War Root and Private Secre-
taries Cortelyou and Loeb. The doctors
present were Drs. George H. Oliver, Geo.
J. Cook and Henry Jameson Of this city.
and Drs. George A. Lung and J. J. Rich
ardson of Washington. Drs. Dowd and
Mace, two internes at the hospital. were
also present
Dr. Oliver was very reticent about the
Operation, but made the following state
ment during the evening:
The operation was performed success
| The fear was that II the serum had been
allowed to remain. blood poisoning might
/ set in, but / believe there is no further
cause for apprehension. The swelling in
the presidents leg was about as big "a
the open hand laid on the leg. The opera
affected th& physical condition Of the pres
ident He is just the same today as an
other well man outside the sore place on
his Leg.