Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-09-26
PRESIDENTS TRIP
IS ABANDONED.
He Submits to a Surgical
Operation and Returns
to Washington.
CONDITION IN NOT SERIOUS


indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 24.-President
Rooseyelt's western trip came to an un'
timely end in this city yesterday. he
was found to be suffering from swelling
in the left leg between the knee and the
ankle that required immediate surgical
attention and, instead of being taken to
the train to continue his journey to Fort
Wayne and Milwaukee, he was conveyed
to st. Nincent's hospital, where he was
operated on. The operation occurred at
S:45 o'clock and lasted only a short time,
when the president was taken to prl-
vate room in the hospital to rest.
After taking light luncheon at $50
p. IN. he was conveyed on stretcher to
his train, which had been backed up on
the "Ys near the hospital, and at ten
minutes to O'Clock the train left for
Washington.
The following announcement was made
by Secretary Cortelyou just before the
operation was performed:
indianapolis, Sept. 23.-3 p. Mas q
result of the trolley accident at Pitts
field, Mass, the president received sew
eral serious bruises. One of these on the
left leg between the knee and the ankle
has developed into small abcess. The
president is entirely we'll otherwise and
has continued to meet the several en-
gagements of his itinerary, but in view OF
the continuousness of the abcess and out
OF an abundance of caution, Doctors Oil
yer and Cook, of indianapolis. were re-
quested to meet DR.. Lung, the presidents
surgeon, at Indianapolis, DR.. Richardson,
of Washington, D. G., being along Of the
number. In the opinion Of the doctors
the trouble necessitates an operation,
which they think should be performed at
once at st. Vincent's hospital in this
city. As after the operation the presi-
dent viii require entire rest probably at
least for ten days or two weeks, it has
been necessary to cancel all the remain
ing engagements OF his trip and he will
go directly from Indianapolis to Wash
ington this evening.
The physicians say that the case is
not in any way serious and that there is
no Danger whatever. This statement is
made so that no false rumors may dis
turb the people and that they may be
authoritatively advised of the exact ma
t,lre of the case.
iSignedJ Geo b. Cortelyou,
Secretary to the President"
The swelling of the presidents leg,
which made an operation necessary, was
occasioned by bruise he received at the
time of the trolly ear accident at Pitts
field, Mass 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 the knee, but he paid no attention
to it.
For several weeks he took no heed of
it, but finally it began to pain him so as
to enforce his attention. After starting
on his western trip he determined that
DIR. Lung, who was aboard the train,
should examine it.
The doctor did so and pronounced it
to be a serious matter. When in De-
troit the doctor finally declared that
something would have to be done. After
consulting with Dr. Richardson, ansther
member of the party, it was decided that
in order to avoid the possibility of blood
poisoning it would probably be wise to
have an operation performed.
The president was very much averse 10
anything of the Kind being done. But,
nevertheless, when LogaDsport, Ind, had
been reached he had been prevailed upon
to deliver the tariff speech which had
been prepared for delivery at Milwaukee.
At Logansport Senator Beverage
boarded the train and after a consuta
ton with him it was decided that he
should summon several of the best physi-
clans OF indianapolis to meet the presi-
dent, and with this end in view the sena-
tor telegraphed to DR.. George H. Oliver,
Doctor George j. Cook and DR.. Henry
Jameson to be at the Massachusetts
avenue depot.
When the train pulled into the station
the doctors were there and they were
taken by the senator Immediately into
the presidents car.
When the president arose to acknowl-
edge the reception given him at Tomlin.
son hall and also when he got up from
his seat to make his speech it was no
ticed 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
so awkward and SO much like a pose
that it caused more than one comment.
During the delivery OF his speech at
one point he seemed to forget about his
injury so completely that he took sever
al steps and in 80 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 by
many who could not understand why he
should make such peculiar expressions.
The trip to the Columbia club followed
without any feature that would give
even hint that the great western trip
of the president was at an end