The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-24

riage. II was not an open carriage. but
closed conveyance. Down at the Union
Station the special Pennsylvania train
stood waiting. The train crew up to this
time had apparently not been apprised of
the change in the arrangements. One or
two Of the newspaper correspondents stood
waiting for the President to arrive. They
had not heard that the trip was to be aban-
doned.
The first information the hospital sisters
had that the President was to be under
their roof was given to them by the doc
tor. "You are to have the President of
the United States for a patient" said the
doctor to Sister Stella, who is in charge
Of the hospital. The sister was not inclined
to accept this statement seriously until DR..
Cook informed her that the President was
to be brought there to be operated on.
Sister Stella has had long experience in
hospital work, and is known for her cool
ness and forethought in times of emer
gency. Within few minutes the necessary
steps were being taken to receive the pa
tient. Room No. 81 cozy apartment on
the fourth floor, and fronting South
street. was quickly got in readiness. White
capped nurses hurried here and there un-
vate operating room on the fifth floor was
made ready
FEW PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
The carriage in which the President rode
proceeded to the hospital without attract
ing special attention. A few people who
had heard that the President was to be
taken to the hospital were in the street I'm
front OF the building when the party ar
rived.
Soon, however, the news was noised
about the streets and a large crowd be-
gan to gather. People stood on the side
walk and in the street and looked curious
ly at the front of the building and wond-
cred which was the Presidents room. Col.
down stairs. and. assisted by Captain
Anderson, Captain Gallon and Lieutenant
Van Camp, with a force of men from Bat
terry A, proceeded to keep the crowd away.
A sentry was stationed just inside the
outer entrance to the hospital and other
guards took up positions outside. While
the operation was being performed. Gov
ernor Durbin and Senators Fairbanks and
Beveridge sat in the north parlor of, the
hospital waiting for news from the operat-
ing room. No one else was allowed to go
into this parlor. In the south parlor repre-
sentatives of press associations waited. 1t
was difficult to get any news from above
stairs. Perhaps it was about o'clock
when the Sister Superior came into the
south parlor and announced that the opera
tion was over and that the President had
been moved to his room
IN A FINE HUMoR.
''The President is in fine humor and
Is talking and joking" the sister said. The
delight she felt that the operation was
over and had not been serious was pic
tured in her face. The operation complet-
ed, the President had some of his friends
come up to his room. Secretary Cortelyou,
Of course, was with him almost all the
time. Senator Fairbanks and Governor
Durbin went up and talked with the Presi-
dent a little while, and Senator Beveridge
was also with him. Secretary Root was
also there. Colonel Harrison had a brief
talk with the President shortly after the
operation.
The operation was so successful that it
was found that the President could leave
within an hour or two. Secretary Cortel-
you hurriedly made the arrangements for
the start to Washington. The train was
run down on the j., M. & I. "Y'' at South
street, within a block and a half of the
hospital. and there the President was taken
aboard about 7:45. Five minutes later the
train was speeding toward Washington.
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