Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-26
Is Forced to Undergo an Opera
ton in Hospital in In
dianapolis.
Injury to Limb Received in Trolley
Accident in Massachusetts
Causes Abscess.
His Physicians Declare That Nothing
Serious Is to Be Expected
from tho Trouble.
VIII Resume Trip When
Recovered.


VIII Resume Trip When
Recovered.
indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 24.-Presi-
Gent Roosevelt Tuesday afternoon was
forced to abandon the remainder of his
trip to the northwest and to undergo
surgical operation. The accident
which befell him at Pittsfeld, Mass,
when trolley ear crashed intohis car
rage, is responsible for the sudden
ending of the presidents trip and his
being compelled to undergo the oper-
alton. 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
Erouble and DR.. Lung, his official ply
stefan, together with DR.. Richardson,
who accompanied him on the trip,
thought it advisable Tuesday to con-
suit other doctors. Accordingly Drs.
Oliver and Cook were called to the Co
lumbia club, where the president was
to be entertained at luncheon. They
decided that an operation was neces-
sary and that it should be performed
at once. I mis- decision was arrived at
before luncheon, but was not allowed
to interfere with that meal. At the
conclusion of the luncheon Secretary
Cortelyou issued the following state
ment to the press:
Statement to the Public
Gas result of the trolley accident at
Pittsfield, Mass, the president re-
ceived several serious bruises. One of
these, on the left leg, between the
knee and the ankle, has developed
into a small abscess. The president is
entirely well otherwise and has con-
timed to meet the several engage
ments of his itinerary, but in view of
the continuance of the abscess and out
of an abundance of caution, Drs. Oliver
and Cook of Indianapolis, were request
ed to meet DR.. Lung, the presidents
surgeon, at Indianapolis, DIR. Richard
son, of Washington, d. c., being also
one 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 president will require
entire rest, probably for at least ten
days or two weeks. it has been neces-
eary to cancel all the remaining en-
gagements of his trip and he will go
directly from indianapolis to Wash
tngton. The physicians say that the
case is not in any sense serious and
that there is no danger whatever. This
statement is made so that no false ru-
mors may disturb the people and that
they may be authoritative1y advised
of the exact nature of the case.
tsigned) "GEORGEB. CoRTELYou,
Secretary to the President"
Caused Surprise.
The announcement came as thun-
der clap out of clear sky. The presi-
dent is in such good health otherwise
chat it was hard to believe he was
about to submit to an operation. He
had delivered an address earlier in the
day before the Spanish-American war
veterans and also had addressed the
citizens of indianapolis from the bal
cOny OF the Columbia club
Taken to the Hospital,
The president was driven from the
clubhouse to st. Vincent hospital,
where he was taken to private OPP
Grating room. He was accompanied by
Secretary Cortelyou, Assistant Sec
retaries Loeb and Barnes, Gov Durbin
and Senator's Beveridge and Fairbanks.
1t was about 4:15 O'clock when the doc
tors began the operation. Itwas per-
formed by DR.. John Oliver, assisted by
DIR. Henry jameson and DIR. Cook. The
operation was finished and the presi.
dent was removed to his room. He did
not take anesthetics. The president is
cheerful. Secretary Cortelyou, after
the operation, issued the following
statement:
Trouble Not Serious.
"As a result of the traumalism
Ibruise) received in the trolley acct
dent at Pittsfield, Mass, there was
found to be a circumscribed collection
of perfectly pure serum in the middle
third of the left anterior tibial region,
the sac containing about two ounces,
pWhiSh was ACuONSH. Lie UlOnS
are that the president should make
speedy recovery. 1t is absolutely i'm
perative, however, that he should re-
main quiet and refrain from using the
leg. The trouble is not serious, but
temporarily disabling.
(signed) GEORGE B. CoRTELYOU.
Secretary TO the President
Inc hospital was guarded by de-
tachment of 20 soldiers, all of whom
served in the Spanish-American war,
under command of Col Russell b. uar.
1ison. Col. Harrison was instructed
TO arrange with the sisters in charge
of the hospital that no information a,
20 the president should be given out by
telephone.
The Operation.
After the president entered the op
Grating room with the physicians h
Eat down on stool and waited for in
structions from the physicians and
surgeons, watching their preparation!
with keen interest.
lam awfully sorry that cannot con
flnue my western trip" said he
Cant you let me go ahead with ii
kfter this thing Is over?"