Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-24
IS SPEEDING HOME.
President Roosevelt Had to Go
 Under Operation.
HIS WESTERN TRIP ABANDONED

nlS " ES1EhN 1h1F ADANDVNG0 Suffering from an Abscess Caused Dy Injury Received Near Pittsheld-
 Nothing Serious, Physicians Say, But
 Advised President to Return to
 Washington and Take Long Rest.
 Harrisburg. Sept 24.-The physical condition of President Roosevelt is all that the doctors could desire, and be IS torubled with very little pain. It has not been necessary to apply a new dressing to the wound. The president wanted to get out of bed this morning after having a refreshing sleep during the night. This the doctors would not allow and it has been decided to take him to Washington and let him rest for at least ten days. He will reach Wash ington some time to-day.
 Pittsburg, Pa, Sept 24.-The special train carrying the presidential party arrived at the union station at 7:2O o'clock and left for the east ten min utes later, following the New York and Chicago limited.
 The train was closed and no one could be seen. President Roosevelt was reported to be sleeping and rest ing easy.
 Johnstown, Pa, Sept 24-President Roosevelt passed an excellent night, in fact the best he has had since he started on his western trip. His leg is about free from pain and his tenn perature is normal.
 London, Sept 24.-The afternoon newspapers here express warm satis- faction at the receipt of the encourag ing reports regarding the health of President Roosevelt and sympathy with him in his enforced quietude.
 Oyster Bay, L. l., Sept 24.-Mrs Roosevelt left here at sos this morn ing for Washington.
 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Sept. 24.- President Roosevelt has been forced to abandon the remainder of his trip to the northwest and to undergo a sur gieal operation. The accident which befell him at Pittsfeld, Mass, when a trolley car crashed into his carriage is responsible for the sudden ending of the presidents trip and bis being com pelled to undergo the operation In that accident his knee was badly bruised, and an abscess soon formed which gave him some trouble, but not enough at first to interfere with his plans.
 The hardships of his present trip, however, aggravated the trouble, and Dr. Lung, his official physician, to- gether with Dr. Richardson, who ac- companied him on the trip, thought it advisable to consult other doctors. Ac- cordingly Drs Oliver and Cook were called to the ColHmbia club, where the president was entertained at luncheon. They decided that an operation was necessary and that it should be per formed at once The decision was ar rived at before luncheon, but was not allowed to interfere with that meal At the conclusion of the luncheon Sec retary Cortelyou issued the following statement to the press:
 aAs a result of the trolley accident at Pittsfeld, Mass, the president re- ceived several serious bruises. One of these on the left leg between the knee and the ankle has developed into small abscess. The president is en- tirely well otherwise and has contin- ued to meet the several engagements of his itinerary, but in view of the con- tinuance of the abscess and out of an abundance of caution Drs Oliver and Cook of Indianapolis were requested to meet Dr. Lung, the presidents sun geon, at Indianapolis, Dr. Richardson of Washington being also one of the number.
 s.In the opinion of the doctors the trouble necessitates an operation, which they think should be performed att once at St. Vincent's hospital, in this city. As after the operation the pres ident will require entire rest, proba- bly for at least ten days or two weeks, It has been necessary to cancel all the remaining engagements of his trip, and he will go directly from Indianap- Olis to Washington.
 s.The physicians say that the case is not in any way serious and that there es no danger whatever. This state ment is made so that no false rumors may disturb the people and that they may be authoritatively advised of the exact nature of the case"
 The announcement came as a star fling surprise. The president is in such good health otherwise that it was hard to believe he was about to submit to an operation He had delivered an ad- dress earlier in the day before the Epanish-American War Veterans and also had addressed the citizens of In z1<.<. iumbia club. He was the picture of health, and many comments were made during the early part of the trip upon how well he looked. It was no ticed, however. that he walked with a slight limp.
 The president was driven from the clubhouse to St. Vincent's hospital, where he was taken to private oper- ating room. He was accompanied by Secretary Cortelyou, Assistant Secre-