The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-24


time Of the trolley car accident at Pitt
field, Mass, when his carriage was run
into and demolished by a car. Besides
being injured in the face and across the
eye, the President at that time received
a blow upon the inner part of the left
leg between the ankle and knee. But
true to his characteristics he paid no at
, tention to It, deeming a slight bruise not
worth talking about. During several
weeks he took no heed of IT. but the pain
began TO force his attention. After start
ng on his western trip he determined
that perhaps DR.. Lung, who was aboard
the train, should examine It, The doctor
did so and pronounced it to be a serious
matter. When in Detroit the doctor final
ly declared that something would have
to be done After consulting with Dr.
Richardson, another member of the par
ty, 1t was decided that In order to avoid
the possibility of blood poisoning 1t
would probably be wise to have an ope-
ration performed. The President was
very much averse to anything OF the
kind being done, and not until Logans-
port, Ind, had been reached had ne been
prevailed upon to deliver the tariff speech
which had been prepared for delivery at
Milwaukee and which was regarded as
one of the most important of his pro-
posed speeches for the west.
Beverldge Boards the Train.
At Logansport Senator Beveridge
boarded the train, and after a consulta-
ton with him 1t was decided that he
should summon several OF the best ply
sicians of Indianapolis to meet the Presi-
dent. and with this end in view the sena-
tor telegraphed to DR.. George H. Oliver,
DR.. George ]. Cook and DR.. Henry jane
son to be at the Massachusetts Avenue
depot. When the train pulled into the
-to f11a
were taken by the senator Immediately
into the Presidents car. The physicians
accompanied the party to Tomlinson hall
and 1t was thought by those who noticed
them that they were merely present as
members of the reception committee.
When the President arose to acknowl-
edge the reception given him at the hall
and also when he got up from his seat
to make his speech it was noticed by
those near him in the front of the hall
that he stood with all his weight on his
right leg and the posture seemed sa
awkward and so much like pose that IL
caused comment. Little did any one
think that he stood in the way he did
because of the pain In his left leg. Dur
ing 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 remarked upon
by many listening to him who could not
understand why he should make such
peculiar facial expressions.
The trip to the Columbia club followed
without any feature that would give a
hint that the great western trip of the
President was at an end. To every one,
including even those who were in the
Presidents party outside of Secretary
Corteiyou and the physicians there was
no thought but that the programme was
to be carried out to the end and 1t was a
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
room where, unknown to the bustling
crowd inside and outside of the club, he
was made the subject Of a serious con-
sultation by the physicians His leg was
barred and the swelling examined. After
a considerable time the physicians ar
rived at the verdict.
Operation Necessary.
Said DIR. Oliver: "In order to avoid pos
sible blood poisoning setting in, 1t will
be necessary 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 wished that
the operation, since 1t was necessary,
should be postponed until he reached
washington, but the physicians again
proved obdurate.
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 a small
party at one of the tables
He then was escorted to the gallery OF