Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-25
THE PRESIDENT UNDER
THE SURGEONS KNIFE
Operation for the Romoval of
an Abscess In the Leg Ends
His Western Trip.
RESULT OF PITTSFlELD ACCIDENT
He is Carried on a Stretcher to
a Train and Starts Back
to Washington, D. G.

Operation Performed at an Indianapolis
Hospitni-compiete Rest is Declared TO
be Necessary, and an engagements for
the Next Ten Days Are Cancelled.
Indianapolis, Ind, Sept. "a. President
Rooseyelts Western tour, which had at
trEcted widespread attention, came to
sudden and unexpected end yesterday.
This cancellation OF all his engagements
for the next two weeks was due TO the de-
volopment of an absoess. Che result OF the
Pittsfeld accident. This abscess Is on tho
left leg, between the ankle and kneo, and
1t developed SO rapidly that The physicians
In attendance on the President declared
that the injury would not heal until an
operation had been performed and he Ind
undergone complete rest.
In consequence, aeon after speech at tho
Columbia Club here yesterday, tho Presi-
dent was taken 10 81. Vincent's Hospital,
where the absceBs was removed. At IA y.
m. he was carried on a stretcher. to train
and in few minutes was on his way TO
Washington,
The determination OF the President to
abandon his trip YVES arrived at only after
careful consideration. He was reluctant to
disappoint the people OF tile West, WHO
maze elaborate preparations to entertain
him. The leg began 10 trouble him several
days ago. Ii was Noticed Mt both Cincinnati
and Detroit, he lay down several times
each day. No significauee was attached to
this at the time, but as matter Of fact the
President was resting hts injured limb.
In Detroit the President was continuously
on his feet five hours. This made tho wound
so much worse TINT when DIR. George A.
Lung, his physician, examined u yeeterday
morning he told the President that he must
submit to aIl operation at once and return
TO Washington, where he could have ALSO
ltfa feat. fIhe tup1ul tyaa Daiultll. but not
withsianding this Mr.. Roosevelt began his
days work bright ana early and on schedule
time, making n number of speeches Mt
Indiana towns on the way and also two
hero before he submitted to surgery.
Several official attachments in reference to
the operation we're made by Secretary Cor
telyou. The first OF these, at p. IN, was as
follows:
As a result OF the trolley accident Mt
Pittsfield, Mass, tho President received eey-
efal serious bruises. One of these, ON the
left leg between the knee and the ankle,
has developed into small aoseess. The
President Ia entiiHly well otherwise and has
continued to r,eey tho engagements OF his
itinerary. but In view OF thu continuance
of this abscess and out of mn abundance of
caution Drs. George H. Oliver and George
j. Cook OF indianapolis were requested TO
meet DIR. George 4. Lung, tho Ptesident's
surgeon, at indianapolis, Dr. j. j. Richard
son OF Washington being also one of the
| number.
'In tho opinion of tho doctors tho trouble
necesritates nm operation, which they think
should be performed at once at s.. Vim
cents Hospital. In this city. AS after the
operation the President will require entire
rest, probably for at lenst 10 days or two
weeks, IL has been necessary 10 cancel all
the remaining engagements OF his trip, and
he will 90 directly from Indianapolis to
Washington.
1.-THE physicisns say that the case Is not
in any way serious, and that there is no
danger whatever. This statement ia made
90 that no false rufnora may disturb tho
people and that they may ba authoritatiyely
advised OF the exact nature OF the case"
After the operation Secretary Corteiyou
Issued this announcement:
"At 3.15 p. IN. the President went from
the Columbia Club TO st. Vincent's Hos
pital In his own carriage. Shortly after he
was In the hospital the operation required
was performed BY DR.. George II. Oliver Of
indianapolis, in consultation with the Presi::
dents physician, DR.. George A. Lung and
DIR. George j. Cook, DR.. Henry Jameson
and DR.. ]. ]. Richardson. At the conclusion
of the operation the Physicians authorized
the following statements
-. As a result of tho traumalism tbruise)
received in the trolley accident at Pittsfeld,
Mass, there was found to be a circuin-
scriDed collection of perfectly pure serum in
| the middle third Of the left anterior tibiai
| region the sac containing about two ounces,
which was removed. The indications arc
that the President should make speedy re-
coyery. It Is also imperative, however, that
| hs should remain quiet and refrain from
using the leg. The trouble 10 not serious,
| but temporarily disabling.'"
The hrst intimntfon that anything was
wrong came in the form of rumors TO a
| great crowd which was patiently waiting
near the Columbia Club ind the soldiers
| appear. 1t was about $50 o'clock, half an
| hour after the time set for the President TO
| leave the city, when few of tho favored
ones In tho crowd receited intimations that
he was sick and that the Iost OF the trip
would probably b. abandoned. These state.
menis wore denied as fast as they gained
currency, but soon the rumors began to take
on more serious character.
! 1.-THE President has burst blood vessel, F"
was whisper that went around among the
! police and soldiers.
This cnnnot DO true,n said others, for
| the President is in the corridor converting
with Senator Fairbanks"
| II was true. Then It was said that the
| President was sick that he had tainted,
and finally a ruInor was started that he hRd
! been shot.
The minutes began to slip away, and
still he did not come. half hour or more
passed, and finally 1t was noticed that a
! movement OF some kind was on. The
! Presidents carriage stood in front Of the
entrance to the club, with Col. Wilson, Gov.
| Durbin's pEivate secretary inside. holding
! tho large bunch OF American Beauty roses
! that had been given the President in the
hall. Soldiers Of the National Guard were
! drawn up along the street Just in the rear.
/ Secret Service men and the local police and
detectives crowded the .sidwnlke in front of
the club, keeping back the people.
| The command was given TO make room"
l md nath al aar an Inh
1 entrance to the carriage. As II In answer
| to the rnniors OF his Illness, the President,
accompanied by Senator Fairbanks, with a
/ quick and sturdy gait, came down the steps
Of the club and hastily entered the carriage.
Senator Fairbanks, Secretary Cortelyou and
/! tiov. Durbin took seats in the vehicle with
J the President. 1t started Immediately, the
| horses being urged irto trot. A second
I carriage, containing Secret Service officers,
followed closely In Its wake, and third
/ one, containing Assistant Secretaries Loeb
and Barnes and Dfs. George j.. Cook and
! j. j, Richardson, closed up the rear.
No sooner had ths carriages started than
Capt. Gallon Of Battery a, with 20 mounted
artillery inen, and f'apt. Hyland, with as
many inclnted police, surrounded their. In
a few seconds The easalende swung at a
rapid gait around the circle and down
Meridian street.
Few persons even In the official party
knew of the change in the programme. A
parade from the Columbia Club TO the rail-
road station was made according to previous
arrangement.
When the tracks on South Meridian street
were reached the Presidents carriage made
pretence at stopping. but almost i'm
mediately the police escort dashed toward
the crowd followed closely by the carriage
containing the President. Tho crowd uas
so astonished that it fell apart without diff
Guilty. Before 1t realized what was being
done the carriage and the police escort were
going south on Meridian Ftreot at n gailop.
Il TUNED into Sontb street at trot before
any of those who attempted to follow had