Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1881 — PRESIDENT GARFIELD. [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

Long Branch , Sept 7. The President was removed from the White House to Long Branch at an early hour yesterday morning. Every preparation had been made with the utmost care. Every detail had been prepared with great prudence. The arrangements were so perfect, the details so carefully arranged, that the President was removod without the slightest break in the programme, and with much less disturbance even than had been expected. Shortly before 6 o’clock Dr. Bliss, Dr. Boynton, Dr. Reyburn, Gem Swaim, Col. Rockwell and CoL Cor- j bin took the stretcher, three upon a side, and ! liifted it. The President did not indicate that be ! was aware of what was being done. They car- : ried the bed through ihe room to the corridor, \ and, without any trouble whatever, and without I the knowledge of the President, took it down j the broad staircase to the front door. Mean- j while Mrs. Garfield, her daughter, Miss Rock- j well and Mrs. Edson had taken a carriage, j driven by Albert, the coachman, and had gone to | tho train. Dr. Agnew, Dr. Woodward and Dr. J Reyburn had followed in another carriage. Just i before they left the room they sent word down j stairs, and' the express-elriver took the herses i •which he is accustomed to drive and attached ; them to the huge Adams Express wagon used for treasury purposes. By tho time the horses were attached the bed had reached the front • oor, and it was the work of but a moment to place the President on the wagon. Thirteen soldiers stood near by ready for any service, but they were not then needed. The wagon yi 0,8 so large and the platform was so accurately built that it was easy to take the President in the wagon without the slightest disturbance j Three of the gentlemen sat upon one side of the wagon and three ujißn the other, while the j stretcher rested upon their knees. This made j the best kind of cushion and spring, and ren- ■ dered jolting, if there was careful driving, almost impossible. In a moment a I ter the President had been placed upon the wagon, Dr. Bliss said to the driver : “We are all ready. Drive very slowly and carefully.” The horses started as though they knew the errand on which they j were engaged, and at a slow walk came down tho roadway to the gate. The sun was just rising, and as the President left the White House the lights were put out. When the gate was reached tnere was a turn made necessary into the avenue, and a slight joit of the wagon was perceptible. At this time the Presidenfitosscd his ho- ■) upon his pillow. He lay upon a mattress over which was placed a blanket, upon which rested a low pillow. A coverlid and sheet were over his body, reaching about to the breast. His bands were hid beneaih these coverings. Dr. BliBS held one hand witn a constant pressure on the pulse, and Dr. Reyburn was similarly occupied with tho other. Gen. Swaim, who sat on one side of the wagon, and CoL Rockwell, who was upon the other, were constantly fanning the President He did not seem, by the most authentic statement, to be aware of what was going on. After Pennsylvania avenue was reached the President lay quietly, and his face exposed to the view of tnose who wero upon tne siaewaucs, seemingly asleep. There were but few people there to witness this dramatic departure, but those who were upon the sidewalks involuntarily lifted their hats and strong men with tears streaming from their eyes as they saw that sallow, emaciated faco prayed “God save our President.” The wagon was slowly drawn to the Sixth street depot, ten policemen marching on each side. A detail of artillerymen helped to back the wagon to the door of the oar, and the cot was jolted somewhat. Tho President was lifted on the mattress and placed on the bed erected in the c> r. As soon as Mrs. Garfield began to fan him the signal was given for departure, the train moving off at 6:30. Tho surgeons found a decreaso of five beats in the pulse. A pilot engine ran a few minutes ahead of the Presidential train. People throughout the region traversed maintained absolute quiet. Long Branch was reached at 1:10 p. m., and the patient was quietly transferred to the Francklyn cottage, where a squad of thirty artillerymen are on guard. The evening bulletin, announcing a rise in the pulse to 124, caused some apprehensions. Secretary Blaine, in a cablegram to Minister Morton, reported the President sleeping quietly and his fever abating, and stated that the surgeons regard his symptoms as a necessary result of his journey. Long Branch, Sept. 8. With the disadvantage of having to endure one of the hottest days of the ser-son, it is not surprising that the President has made slow progress during the last twenty-four hours. Yesterday the thermometer was 94 degrees in the shade, and the patient was fanned nearly all elay by five attendants. His pulse ranged from 106 to 104 throughout the day. This morning th e fever has entirely subsided, the patient’s temperature is only a little above the normal, and he is resting quietly. Ho has partaken of the usual amount of food. Enemata were also administered. Dr. .Hamilton said last evening that, notwithstanding the exceedingly hot weather, the President’s case looked “exceedingly favorable.” Dr. Bliss said: “ The President is better in more ways than one. The wound and gland are both doing well, and the only troublesome feature is the extreme weakness of the patient” Dr. Reybum said that, while the President had not gained a great deal of ground yesterday, he had certainly held his own, and that he had entirely recovered from the effects of his journey, The patient rallied from the fatigue consequent on his journey more readily than was anticipated, Drs. Reyburn, Barnes and Woodward have withdrawnfrom the corps of attending surgeon?, in obedience to the expressed wish of the President, who believes that a fewer number of physicians can manage his case as well as the number heretofore employed. Mrs. Garfield conveyed her husband’s wishes to the surgeons named, and they had no hesitation in complying with his wish. The other physicians express regret that gentlemen in whose professional capacity they have unbounded confidence, and whose friendship they value, should have to withdraw at this juncture, but it was deemed best that the patient’s wishes should bo complied with.

Long Branch, Sept. 9. A change in the wound yesterday, followed by a lower temperature, caused a marked change for the better in the condition of the suffering President. At noon yesterday his pulse stood at 94; and at the evening dressing 100. He took a liberal amount of both liquid and solid food, including the greater part of a broiled partridge. Dr. Bliss said yesterday that the great change for tho better in the patients condition indicates convalescence ! The gland and wound, he said, were both doing well. The discharge from the gland was quite sufficient, and from the wound was more free and of a better character. The wound looked much healthier, and the color was much better in every respe ct Dr. Bliss stated in a quite jubilant manner that the President would yet be able to communicate to Congress. The services of Mrs. Dr. Edson have been dispensed with, and six personal friends of the President will guard and night. The vigorous demand of {he patient that a recluung-chair should be forwarded from the White House caused an order to be telegraphed to that effect Long Branch, Sept Ift. Yesterday was probably the most favorable day which the President has passed since he was snot He ate a very good dinner, slept well, and gained strength. Mrs. Garfield and the physicians feel highly encouraged. The favorable must continne from two to four weeks, however, before the patient can be pronounced convalescent Neither stimulants nor enemata have been administered since Thursday morning, and the food given is eaten with a relish. Four

of the incisions in the parotid gland have entirely healed, but the mucus matter gathers in the throat sufficiently to cause frequent expectorctioD. The wound indicted by the assassin will hardly permit Vhe passage of a drainage-tube, and begins to assume a healthy look. Dr. Hamilton discovered the location of the ball yesterday, and thinks it can be removed when the patient has grown stronger. In accordance with a request by the President, Attorney General MacVeagh was admitted to the sick-room for an interchange of congratulations. The sea breeze grew so cool that the front windows were closed and a log-fire built.