Description of the Francklyn Cottage.--The Arrival at Long
Branch.--The President is Drawn up to the Open
Window.--Enjoys the Sea View and the Sea Breezes.--The
Surgical Force Reduced.--Incident on the Day of Prayer.
"The Francklyn cottage at Long Branch, to which the President was taken,
is about fifty yards southeast of the hotel. Its front is within one
hundred feet of the edge of the bluff, from which a pebble can be
dropped into the surf. The building contains twenty rooms. It is a long,
rambling structure, two and one-half stories high, having seven gables
and being in fashion a mixture of the Queen Anne and Swiss chalet style.
The lower stories are painted a sienna color, and gables and roof a dark
slate.
"A perfectly smooth lawn of well-kept turf surrounds it upon every side.
Its interior apartments are perfect; the kitchen is separated from the
main part of the building by a covered driveway, and none of the
culinary odors can reach the dwelling portion. Two spacious parlors and
an immense dining-hall faces the ocean, and a broad double window opens
upon a large uncovered veranda about six feet above the ground,
surrounded by a high railing.
"The west or rear part of the dining-hall opens upon the main hall, a
roomy thoroughfare, from which by the landings a broad flight of stairs
ascend to the second floor. The stairs are of ample width, and allowed
the President's bed to be carried up them without difficulty. The
chamber occupied by the President is in the northeast corner of the
building. It is about twenty feet square. There is one broad window
facing the ocean on the east, and the windows facing the ocean on the
south. By leaving the door of the chamber open a breeze can be obtained
from every point of the compass except the north. The windows are
protected from the sun by awnings and blinds."
The appointments of the chamber are perfect in every respect, being left
just as Mr. Francklyn's family occupied it. About one hundred yards
south of the Francklyn cottage is the cottage belonging to the hotel
assigned to Mrs. Garfield and her family.
It was about a quarter past one when the President's train was observed
slowly making its way over the new track at Long Branch. There was no
whistling, no bell-ringing, no noisy puffing of the engine, no shouts
nor cheers. A powerful locomotive slowly, and almost silently, pushed
before it the cars of the train, the centre one being the President's.
The train stopped opposite the Elberon, and immediately many flocked
about it to learn the particulars of the journey. All were told that the
trip had been successful, and the President was quite as well as when he
started. The delay was but for a moment. The forward car was uncoupled
from the train and a large force of men, held in readiness, gently
pushed it around the quarter circle and past the entrance to the
cottage. It was occupied by a few ladies and gentlemen of the
President's household, who at once left it and were escorted into the
house.
Another gang of men pushed on the President's car close after it. It was
stopped at the proper place, and immediately a soldier mounted by ladder
to the roof and the sailcloth awning was raised. It did not, however,
completely conceal the passage on the side where the people were
gathered. The planks were put in position, and in a moment two or more
soldiers were seen to pass bearing a low bedstead. Many thought that the
President was resting on it, but this was a mistake.
Three or four minutes later a mattrass on which was plainly discernible
under snowy coverings the form of a human body, was steadily and gently,
almost solemnly, borne from the car to the house, while two or three
hundred spectators, too far away and on too low a level to catch sight
of the face, held their breath in sympathy, their eyes meantime moist
with tears they cared not to conceal, and many doubtless praying with
deep earnestness that this heroic effort to save a precious life would
avail. There was not a cheer, not an audible sound uttered by any one.
Few scenes could be more impressive in their silence and their sympathy.
"Please move me up where I can see the water," said the President, soon
after being placed in bed. His couch was immediately pushed up to the
wide open window; he was slightly raised upon it, and lay there for some
minutes looking out upon the sea. Although he was greatly fatigued by
the journey and his pulse was high, he slept better that night than he
had done for weeks.
"Don't you think I look better!" he said next morning to one of the
attendants; "I feel better," he added. "This is good air."
Previous to leaving Washington, after it had been determined to remove
the President to Long Branch, it appears the President asked his wife if
all the attending surgeons were going along. Mrs. Garfield replied that
she presumed they were. The President then expressed an opinion, the
effect of which was that he did not see why that was necessary. Further
discussion on the subject brought out the President's wishes, and the
withdrawal of Drs. Reyburn, Barnes, and Woodward was the result. Dr.
Bliss stated that there was no cause for the withdrawal or retirement of
the surgeons beyond the fact that it was the desire or whim of a very
sick man, and, as the President had entertained the idea that a fewer
number of physicians could manage his case as well as the number
heretofore engaged upon it, it was desired by Mrs. Garfield that his
wishes be complied with. The doctor stated further that the best of
feeling prevailed among the entire corps of surgeons, and that the
retirement of Messrs. Reyburn, Barnes and Woodward would not in any
manner affect the intimacy which had grown up between them since the
President was shot. After the wish of the President was made known to
one of the attending surgeons in Washington by Mrs. Garfield, a
consultation on the subject took place, resulting in its reference to
Dr. Agnew, with a view to obtaining his opinion as to the best mode of
procedure. Dr. Agnew recommended that the President be requested to name
the surgeons he was desirous of retaining in charge of his case, which
was done. Dr. Bliss, it appears, objected to assuming the entire
responsibility of removing the President to Long Branch, and insisted
that the entire number of surgeons should accompany the patient thither.
A compromise was then effected, which was that all the surgeons should
come to Long Branch with the President, but upon arrival, or as soon
thereafter as possible, the three mentioned should retire.
The following day, September 8th, as the President sat in his reclining
chair by the open window he heard the stroke of bells from the little
church across the way.
"Crete," he said to his wife, "what are they ringing that bell for?"
"Why," said Mrs. Garfield, who had been waiting for the surprise, "the
people are all going there to pray for you to get well; and I am going
to pray too, James," she added, "that it may be soon, for I know already
that the other prayer has been heard."
From where he lay, Garfield could see the carriages draw up and group
after group go in. He could even hear the subdued refrain of "Jesus,
lover of my soul," as it was borne by on its heavenward way.
Thrilled with emotion, a tear trickled down the President's face. After
a while, a sweet woman's voice arose, singing from one of Sir Michael
Costa's noblest oratorios.
"Turn thou unto me and have mercy upon me," sang the voice, "for I am
desolate; I am desolate and afflicted; the troubles of my heart are
enlarged. Oh, bring thou me out of my distresses, out of my distresses,
my God."