Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-09-27
GAVE UP THE TRIP.
Injured Knee Forced the President
TO Return to Washington.
At indianapolis the Chief Executive Under
won't IN Operation for Absoess. the
Resuit of tho Trolley Car Injury
ut Pittafiold, Mass,

/
Indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 24.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt was forced to aban-
don the remainder of his trip to the
northwest and to undergo a surgical
operation. The accident which befell
him at Pittsfeld, Mass, when troll.
ley car crashed into his carriage, Is
responsible for the sudden ending
of the presidents trip and his being
compelled 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 pres.
ent trip, however, aggravated the
trouble and DR.. Lung, his official
physician, and DR.. Richardson, who
accompanied him on the trip, de.
cided that an operation was neces.
sary and that it should he performed
at once. This decision was advanced
before luncheon, but was not al
lowed to interfere with the meal.
The announcement came as q
thunder clap out of clear sky
The president is in such good health
otherwise that it was hard to be-
lieve he was about to submit to an
operation. He had delivered an ad.
dress earlier in the day before the
| Spanish-American war veterans and
also had addressed the citizens of
the Columbia club. He was the pic
ture of health and many comments
were made during the early part of
the trip upon how well he looked,
It was noticed, however, that he
walked with slight limp.
The president was driven from the
club house to St. Vincent hospital,
where he was taken to a private OPP
Grating room. He was accompanied
by Secretary Cortelyou, Assistant
Secretaries Loeb and Barnes, Gov.
Durbin and Senators Beveridge and
Fairbanks. 1t was about AIS o'clock
when the doctors began the opera
ton. 1t was performed by DR.. John
Oliver. assisted by DR.. Henry Jane.
son and DIR. Cook. The operation
was finished and the president was
removed to his room. He did not
take anaesthetics. The president was
cheerful. The hospital was guarded
by detachment of 90 soldiers, all
of whom served in the Spanish.
American war under command OF
Col. Russell r. Harrison. Col. Har.
rison was instructed to arrange with
the sisters in charge of the hospital
that no information as to the presi.
dent should be given out by tele.
phone. All news was to come through
Secretary Cortelyou. AS the news
spread throughout the city the tele.
phone was kept busy, but the same
answer was returned to all that
nothing could be told over the tele.
phone.
At the conclusion of the operation
the physicians authorized the fol
lowing statement: "As result OF
the traumatism (bruise) received in
the trolley accident at Pittsfield
Mass, there was found to be cir.
cumscribed collection of perfectly
pure serum in tne middle third OF
the left anterior tibial region, the
sac containing about two ounces
which was removed The indications
are that the president should make
speedy recovery. 1t is absolutely
imperative, however, that he should
remain quiet and refrain from using
the leg. The trouble is not serious,
but temporarily disabling"
At 7:45 the president, accompanied
by members of his immediate party
and escorted by company of in
fantry, was carried on stretcher
from st. vincent's hospital to his
car and the train left few minutes
later for Washington.
Mrs. Roosevelt Hastens tn Washington.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. 24.-The
first news of the indisposition of
President Roosevelt bulletined here
came as a rumor from New York.
Shortly afterwards the presidents
office in the bank building received
the statement of Secretary Cortel-
you by wire and ut the same time a
telegram was received for Mrs.
Roosevelt, assuring her there was
nothing alarming about the opera
ton. When Mrs. Roosevelt received
word that the president had left In
dianapolis for Washington she de-
cided to go to Washington at once.