Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1881 — THE NATION’S LOSS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATION’S LOSS.

The. Death* Bert—An Affecting Beene. The death-bed scene of the President was a peculiarly sad and impressive one. The following persons were prosent when the great man breathed his last: ®rs. Bliss and Agnew, Mrs. Garfield and her daughter, Mollie. CoL Rockwell, O. C. Rockwell. Gen. Swaim, Dr. Boynton. Private Secretary J. Stanley Brown) Mrs. and Miss Rockwell, Executive Secretary Warren Young, H. L. Atchison, John Bicker, S. Lancaster and Daniel Spriggs, attendants, the last named colored. At 10 o’clock , the patient was sleeping. All around was quiet, and the last preparations for night had been made. Mrs. Garfield and Miss Mollie were in their cottage, near by. At about 10:15 the President was wakened from his sleep by a pain in the region of the heart. He exclaimed to Gen. Swaim: “I am suffering Ct pain.” These were his last words. Dr. i, who was at hand, was summoned. Even then the President had begun to f*iL Gen. Swaim did not appreciate the crisis which had come. Dr. Bliss felt for the President's pulse. It was hardly perceptible. “My God ! Swaim,” he exclaimed in a whisper, “he is dying ! Send for MrA Garfield.” iiis heart then was but weakly flattering. Dra. Agnew and Hamilton were sent for, and the former reached the room in timo for the end. The other attendants all arrived immediatelv after Mrs. Garfield and her little daughter Moliie. Mrs. Garfield had nerved herself for the end, which she bad for some hours dreaded as inevitable. She went at once to the side of her dying husband and took his hand in hera. The President was helpless and speechless, but, as his wife sat flown by him, he turned his face toward hers slightly and fixed his eyes upon his w ife’s, and so he sank into unconsciousness, his eyes still bent on her face. With one hand she held her husband’s, and her other hand lay on his heart, Tliero was no word uttered. Drs. Agnew and Bliss stood by the bedside. Mollie, reel mining her sobs, was at her motner’s aide. The watchers and attendants ttood by, and Dr. Boynton sat at the President’s head, fanning him. The pulse became entirely tnp< roeptible. The applications which had been brought to be applied as restoratives lay untouched. The end was plainly at hand. When another minute ’ had come the great-hearted man was dead, and lay free from pain and strife. Hn eyes were open but vacant, the pupils still bent on the face of the stricken wife. Brokenhearted Mollie turned and sobbed. The effort with which Mrs. Garfield herself kept back her tears was seen in the fixed lines of the face as she arose and went from the room. At thb door of her chamber she broke quite down. For the first time she sobbed aloud, and in this first burst of grief she shut herself alone in her chamber. Bhe remained thus alone for perhaps three minutes, and what new strength she got in the brief communion was seen in her brave and resolute face as she came back to the bed where her dead husband lay. Dr. Hamilton, with a woman’s gentleness, had closed the eyelids. Mrs. Garfield, soon by the bed, took up the lifeless hand that had held her heart, and there she sat for nearly three hours. Drx Agnew and Boynton and Gen. Mwaim remained in the room for some time until, at last, Secretary Brown and Warren Young alone were left to keep the vigil till daybreak. Nothing was ever more pathetic than the peaceful death of the once strong man—the passing away of a nation’s leader, his helpless hand lying in his wife’s, to whom he was ever more than President

Tlie Autopsy—lts Strange Developments. The autopsy is Ihe most marvelous feature in the President’s case. It shows that the surgeons bad absolutely r r> knowledge of the character of the wound, or the location of the balL What was caked “the track of the wound” was, in fact, a burrowing pus cavity. The latheter, that was following the track of a supposed tortuous wound, was being pushed into a pus cavity. Tbe ball which Dr. Hamilton, even, thought be could locate within half an inch ? roved to be a mere ball of pus walled up. 'he metal which the induction balance discovered was the same accumulation of pus. The doctors all knew within an inch whero the ball was, and could have reached it immediately with a knife. Yet it was two feet, by the surface of the body, from whero they thought it was, and behind the heart, instead of being in fropt of the groiu. The ball never went downward and forward. It went sideways across the backbone. Tfie shattered rib, which was not known to the consulting surgeons until July 23, was the obstacle which deflected the bullet, and caused it to locate where no one ever suspected that it was, and where it remained, a permanent danger to the heart. The doctors, however, congratulate themselves tlist the lung was not seriously affected—that there was no metastatic abscess. The case illus'.rates how great the skill of good nursing is, fur it shows that the President was kept alive for eighty days solely by g'.ot nursing, while he had a mortal wound that was constantly poisoning the system. But the autopsy shows how gio.Uy Ibc most eminent surgeons may err—plainly spoken, that tint doctors knew veiy lit lo about ihe wound or the course ot he. ball. Tfie po-t mortem was made Uio day alter d-ath, in the presence and with the assis’auce ot Drs. Ilauii ton, Agnew, Bliss, Barnes, Woodward, Key burn. Andrew H. Smith, of Elbcron, and A.ting Assistant Surgeon D. S. Lands of tbe Army Medical Museum of Washington. Tbe operation was performed by Dr. I audit. Tlie physicians, in their official report Of tfie autopsy, say : “It was found that the ball, after fracturing the right eleventh rib, had passed through the spinal column, in front of the spinal canal, fracturing tlie body of the first lumbar vertebra, driving a number of small fragments or bone into the adjacent soft parts, and lodging Past below the pancreas, about two inches and a half to the left of the spine, and behind the peritoneum, whero it had become completely encysted. “ The immediate cause of death was secondary hemorrhage from one of the mesenteric arteries adjoining the track of the ball, the blood rupturing the peritoneum and nearly a pint escaping into the alxlominal cavity. "This hemorrhage is believed to have been the cause of the severe pain in the low- r part of the chest complained of just before death. “ An abscess cavity, six inches by four in dimensions, was found in the vicinity of the gall bladder, between .the liver and the transverse colon, which were strongly interadherent. It did not involve the substance of the liver, and no communication was found between it and the wound. “Along the suppuration a channel extended from the external wound between the loin muscles and the right kidney almost to the right groin. This channel is now known to be due to the burrowing of the pus from tbe wound, tt was supposed during life to have been the track of the ball. “On examination of the organs of the chest evidences of severe bronchitis were found on both sides, with broncho-pneumonia of the lower portions of the right lung, and, though to a much less extent, of the left. “ The lungs contained no abscesses and the heart no clots. “The liver was enlarged and fatty, but free from abscesses, nor were any found in any other organ except the left kidney, whioh contained, near its surface, a small abscess about cue-third of au iucti in diameter. “In reviewing the history of this case, in connection with the autopsy, it is quite evident that ihe different suppurating surfaces, and especially the fractured spongy tissue of the vertebra, furnish sufficient explanation of the septic condition which existed.”

Tlie Dear Old Mother* President Garfield’s mother slept at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Larrabee, at Mentor, on the night that death overtook her son. Tuesday morning at 6 o’clock the following telegram caqie: “Elbebon, N. J., Sept 19. “ Mrs. Eliza Garfield: James died this evening at 10:68. He cahnly breathed his life away. “D. G. Swaim.” Mrs. Larrabee’s first thought was as to her mother. The latter was sleeping calmly, and they did not awake her. Not until 8 o’clock did the old lady awake, having slept since 11 p. m. At that time Mrs. Larrabee passed the door with a heavy heart, and found her up and dressed readiug the Bible. It was thought best not to break tue news until Mrs. Garfield had eaten breakfast. Oddly enough, the old lady did not insist upon hearing the news until she had finished eating. Then, taking the fatal telegram from the shelf, she was about to read, but Miss Ellen took it from her trembling hands. ° “Grandma,” she said, “ would you be surprised to get bad news this morning ? ” “ Why, I don’t know,” said Mrs. Garfield. “ Well, I shouldn’t,” said Mrs. Larrabee; “I have been fearing and expecting it all'the morning.” “Grandma,” said Ellen, “there is bad news.” “Ishe dead?” asked the old lady, tremulously. “ He is.” The quick tears started in the sensitive eyes. There was a violent paroxysm of grief No expression of frenzy told of the anguish within. “Isittrue?” she asked. “ThentheLord help me, for if he is dead what shall I do?” She was rendered weak and a little nervous by tlie announcement, and was obliged once or twice to repair to her room, where, in solitude, she might begin to comprehend the awful truth. But she was not contented to remain there, and soon returned to the sitting-room. About 9:30 o’clock Mrs. Garfield was found sitting in the rocking-chair waiting for the news. The morning paper she read with eagerness. “ It cannot be that James is dead,” she murmured. “I caDnot understand. I have no further jrish to live, and I cannot live, if it

raxAxnra thx news to the sons. The orphaned sons at Mentor were not Informed of their father's death till after breakfast the next morning. For a time they wept bittecty, rat afterward grew quiet, and bore thetf affliction with almost philosophical calmness. A dispatch from WflUamstown, Mass., says: “When Harry Garfield left Williams College for Elberon he left wonLthat his brother, James A. uarfieid, wfio u connued to ins room with a severe attack of malarial fever, contracted at the White House, should not be informed of his father’s death anti! he was better. The tolling of the church bells and the excitement aroused the suspicions of James, and it waa thought best by his attending physician that he be informed of tbe truth. A burst of grief followed, but he ia now bearing the trial bravely, though he is still in a precarious condition. He will be removed this afternoon to President Hopkins’ boose. The college went on as usual this morning. Memorial services will probably be held in a day or two.”

Announcement to the Nations of Europe. Long Branch, Sept. 20. To Lowell, Minister: James A. Garfield, President of the United States, died at Elberon, N. J., at ten minutes before 11 o’clock. For nearly eighty days he suffered great pain, and, during tne enure period, exhibited extraordinary patience, fortitude and Christian resignation. The sorrow throughout the cdhntry is deep and universal. Fifty millions of people stand as mourners at his bier. , ..... To-day, at his residence in the city of New York, Chester A. Arthur, Vice President, took the oath of office as President, to which he succeeds by virtue of the constitution. President Arthur has entered upon the discharge of his duties. You will formally communicate these facts to the British Government, and transmit this dispatch to the American Ministers on the continent for like communication to the governments to which they are respectively accredited. Blaine, Secretary.

President Arthur—llls First Cabinet meeting. Gen. Arthur arrived at Long Branch on the afternoon of Sept 20. He was met at the station by Secretaries Windom, Hunt and Kirkwood, Postmaster General James and Attorney General MacVeagh. Secretaries Blaine and Lincoln accompanied him from New York. President Arthur looked quite sad and careworn. His face was pale. He was driven to Attorney General MacVeagh’s cottage, and was soon joined by the Cabinet officers. At this, the first Cabinet meeting in which the new Executive participated, two questions were discussed, one being the matter of funeral arrangements, and the other the complications that had arisen in regard to an inquest on the body of the President It had been discovered that, under the laws of New Jersey, it would be impossible to hold an inquest without the presence of the assassin Guiteau. As bringing him to Long Branch was out of the question, a conflict of interest seemed likely to arise. After considerable discussion, in which Gov. Ludlow, of New Jersey, Marshal Caleby, the Sheriff of the county, and the Attomev General of the State participated, it was finally decided that they would be obhged to dispense with the inquest altogether. The State officials agreed, and thus the disputed question was avoided. The other matter with regard to funeral arrangements was an almost equally delicate subject. From all parts of the country, from the municipal corporations of tho large cities, and the Governors of nearly all the States, had come in the unanimous request that tho people be permitted a view of the murdered President. In conflict with this was the decided wish of Mrs. Garfield that there should be no display, and this desire in the minds of the Cabinet finally bore down all other considerations, and the decision was reached to have the obsequies and the removal to Cleveland as unostentatious as possible.

Rsnwval of Ihe Remains from Long Branch to Washington. The remains of President Garfield were exposed to public view in one of the lower rooms of Francklyn cottage, at Long Branch, on Wednesday, Sept 21. He was laid out in the suit of clothes which he wore on inauguration day. His left hand was laid across his breast, after the manner he had in life. This was done m order to make his reaem Glance aa near to life aa possible. The body was bo greatly shrunken that artificial means had to be resorted to to give the clothes an appearance of fitting. In addition to the natural shrinking from his illness, tho operation connected with the antopsy had left the body in an even more emaciated state. The face was so cha: dasto be scarcely recognizable. At half-past 9 o’clock religious services were conducted by the Rev. Charles J. Young, of the First Reformed Church, Long Branch. There were present, besides the family and their attendants, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, members of the Cabinet their wives, and a few personal friends, numbering in all not more than fifty. As the minister stepped up to the head of the coffin, just as he was going to begin, Mrs. Garfieid leaned toward Col. Rockwell and either spoke in a very low whisper to him or indicated her desire by a gesture only. The Colonel raised his hand to bid the minister wait, and said in a low tone : “ Mrs. Garfield wants to look into the coffin before the service.”

Immediately the widow, taking her daughter by the hand, arose, and descending the steps without aid, both stood hand-in-hand for what seemed a very long time, and gased at the face of the dead man. Miss Mollie’s feelings were beyond her control, but her mother was as motionless in attitude and feature sb a statue. “ I stood and gazed at her in wonder,*’ said the Rev. Mr. Young to a friend. “It was a marvelous sight to see that woman standing there, looking into that coffin, holding herself under such control. But of course her face was hke marble. I never saw anything like it, for except Mrs, Garfield's there was not a dry eye in the room.” Immediately after the conclusion of the services, Mrs. Garfield, accompanied by her son Harry, CoL Swaim, Col. and Mrs. Rockwell, and Dr. Boynton and C. 0. Rockwell, left the cottage and boarded the first coach. The members of the Cabinet and their wives followed and took seats in the second coach. Mrs. Garfield was heavily veiled, and passing to the train exhibited the same fortitude which has characterized her manner throughout. Just before the train was ready to start, the Governor and other State officers of New Jersey. accompanied by members of the Legislature, arrived, and acted as a guard of honor. A few minutes before 10 o’clock the casket was removed from the cottage and placed in the third coach. The attendants and others who accompanied the party took seats in the fourlh car. At exactly 10 o’clock the train started from the cottage, moving from the grounds very slowly. The route to the national capital was found to be decorated with mourning emblems, the people standing with uncovered heads, and every church bell tolling in honor of the illustrious dead. Everywhere along the lino there were touching manifestations of popular grief. The flags in the grounds of the rich were at half-mast, and were intertwined with mourning emblems. The houses of the poor showed, from the doors and windows, the depth of the national grief. Through Jersey the farmers were assembled at the crossings, as they had been two weeks before, to witness the same Presidential train, which then bore the living, but which now carried back the living and the dead Presidents. Every switchtender had placed some mourning token about his house. The workmen in the cities that were passed suspended their labor as the train went by. The most touching incident of the day occurred at Trenton, near which is Princeton College. The students had telegraphed early in the morning to Secretary Blaine a request that the train might go slowly through Trenton, as (hey wished to tender some flowers. Their request was heeded. As the cortege approached Trenton, the train slowed down, and it was soon seen that the students, ranged on either side, had strewn the track with flowers. speed, too, had been so slackened that a large basket of choicest flowers were received by some one in the baggage car. They were intended for Mrs, Garfield.

As the train rolled into the depot at Washington every head was uncovered and a solemn silence was observed bv the immense crowd which had gathered. Officers of the army and navy to the number of 130 formed in single rank faeing the train. Mrs. Garfield, assisted by Secretary Blaine and her son Harry, was the first to descend from the carriage. Bhe was heavily veiled. She entered the state carriage in waiting for her, and was followed by her daughter Mollie, her son Harry and Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell The other members of the funeral party were President Arthur, Senator Jones, of Nevada, Gen. Grant, Gen. Beale, Gen. and Mrs. Swaim, Col. Rockwell, CoL Corbin, Dr. Bliss and daughter, Dr. Boynton, Dr. Agnew, Dr. Hamilton, Attorney General MacVeagh, wife and two sons, Secretary Lincoln, wife and son, Secretary and Mrs. Hunt, Postmaster General James and Mrs. James, Secretary and Mrs. Kirkwood. The coffin was borne from the depot to the hearse on the shoulders of eight soldiers of the Second artilThe Marme Band played “Nearer My God to Thee as the coffin was borne to the hearse. After the coffin had been placed in the hearse Uie remainder of the party entered their carnages and took places {n the procession. ~ J ho fu neral procession moved slowly no the avenne. A mass lined the sidewalks aU the way from Sixth street to the east front of the Capitol, aJong route the crowd wag apparently u great as BJTO tb» oocagJon of ifiSjUS

proa—ton. As tbe procession rowed op the avenue scarcely a sound was heard, save that from tbe feet of the moving men and horses. Hats were removed, and heads bowed as bya common impulse of deep and unfeigned grief as the procession moved on toward tbe CapttoL Here, at the east front, a vast assemblage had congregated to view the funeral cortege. At the foot of the steps there wss a doable file of Senators and Representatives, headed by their respective officers, waiting in respectful silence to escort the remains into the rotunda. At precisely 5:10 the head of the procession, moving around the sonlh side, arrived at the east front of the Capitol, the arms of the military being reversed, and the bands playing a dead march. The order was then given to carry arms, and the troops came to a front face, while to the muffled beat of the drams the hearse and its attendant train of carriages drew slowly np in front of the escort. A hash came over the multitude, and heads were reverently uncovered as the coffin waa carefully lifted from the hearse. The officers of tbe army and navy drew np in parallel lines on either side of the hearse, and the Marine Band played again, with much sentiment, “Nearer, My God, to Thee," as, with solemn tread, the remains of President Garfield were borne into the rotunda and placed npon the catafalque, the Senators and Representatives preceding and ranging themselves on either side of the da:s. Close behind tbe coffin walked President Arthnr ani Secretaiv Blaine, who were followed by Chief Justice Waite and Secretary Windom, Gen. Grant and Secretary Hunt, Secretary Lincoln and Attorney General MaoVeagh, Secretary Kirkwood and Postmaster General James, Co). Rockwell and Gen. Swaim, and Gen. Corbin and Private Secretary Brown. At 5:25 the lid of the coffin was opened, and tbe face of the late President was exposed. Noiselessly President Arthur .and Secretary Blaine approached and gazed upon the face of the dead, and then slowly and sadly passed ont of the balL A line was formed by Sergeant-at-Arms Bright, and, one by one, those present advanced and gazed at the emaciated and discolored face. The public at large were then admitted, and Lnndreds of persons testified by their reverential conduct and monrnful countenances the sorrow which they felt on looking npon the features of their murdered President

At Washington—Lying in State. The remains of President Garfield lay in state at the Capitol during Thursday and Friday, Sept 22-3, and were viewed by a continuous stream of citizens. At daybreak on Thursday laboring men, with the implements of their trades in hand, looked upon the coffin. After early breakfast the rush began, and it continued all day. The sun poured down with its relentless heat, but it could not disperse these thousands who had gatnered to pay the last token of respect to the dead. The people in some parts of the line were four abreast; in others two abreast. They moved at an ordinary pace. There were men, women and children, black and white, of all ages and conditions. The city swell marched side by side with the Virginia negro. Finelyattired ladies did not disdain to march by the side of women clad in rags. The majority of the poople in line were from the country. " Every traiu that arrived from the South, West and East was crowded and specials were run from interior points. The procession was orderly. There was no pushing or other disturbance. When the portico leading to the rotunda was reached every man and boy in line lifted his hat. At the catafalque the members of the guard of honor assisted the people to obtain a good view of the dead President, and preserved order. Decomposition, which set in Boon after the autopsy was performed, was not prevented by the embalming. A liberal sprinkling of powder over the face could not conceal the marks of decomposition. The face was of a dusky hue, sprinkled with black and yellow spots. The air-tight casket prevented the escape of disagreeable odors. At 6 o’clock Thursday evening the casket was closed by the undertakers. This action met with general approval. No one would have been able to recognize the features of Gen. Garfield living in the features of the dead. There was no abatement in the crowd, however. They poured in by the thousands, as eager to gaze upon the coffin as they had previously been to look upon tbe face of the dead. Floral decorations were scattered about the coffin and placed upon the floor of the rotunda. On the foot of the coffin rested an immense wreath of white rosebuds. Attached to it was a card bearing the following inscription: * Quoen Victoria to the memory of the late * : President Garfield, an expression of her ; ; sorrow and sympathy with Mrs. Garfield and : ; the American nation. The wreath was placed upon the casket by Mr. Hitt, Assistant Secretary of State. It wat prepared by telegraphic direction of the Queen at the British Legation. One of the most beautiful of the decorations was a piece prepared at the White House conservatory, representing “The Gates Ajar.” It stood on the floor near the head of the coffin. Friday witnessed a renewal of the scenes of Thursday, though the crowd was somewhat diminished. There was a constant stream of people pouring into the Capitol from early in the morning until noon, when preparations were beguu for the funeral services.