Hopeful Symptoms.--Official Bulletin.--Telegram to Minister
Lowell.--Incidents at Long Branch.--Sudden Change for the
Worse.--Touching Scene with his Daughter.--Another Gleam of
Hope.--Death ends the Brave Heroic Struggle.--The Closing
Scene.
On the evening of September 12th, the following official bulletin was
published:--
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 12--6 P. M.
The President has experienced since the issue of the morning
bulletin further amelioration of symptoms. He has been able
to take an ample amount of food without discomfort and has
had several refreshing naps. At the noon examination the
temperature was 99.2, pulse 106, respiration 20. At 5.30 P.
M. the temperature was 98.6, pulse 100, respiration 18.
D. W. BLISS.
D. HAYES AGNEW.
The Attorney-General telegraphed:--
_To Lowell, Minister, London_--10 P. M.--In the absence of
Mr. Blaine, the attending physicians have requested me to
inform you of the President's condition. He has during the
day eaten sufficient food with relish, and has enjoyed at
intervals refreshing sleep. His wound and the incisions made
by the surgeons all look better; the parotid gland has
ceased suppuration, and may be considered as substantially
well. He has exhibited more than his usual cheerfulness of
spirits, his temperature and respiration are now normal, and
his pulse is less frequent and firmer than at the same hour
last evening. Notwithstanding these favorable symptoms, the
condition of the lower part of the right lung will continue
to be a source of anxiety for some days to come.
MACVEAGH.
The day before the President had been raised on his air pillows, so that
he lay looking out on the lawn beneath his window, and beyond that to
the sea. A soldier on duty as a guard was patrolling his beat at the
edge of the bluff. The soldier chanced to look toward the window of the
sick chamber, and the suffering President feebly raised his hand to give
the old soldier a salute. The President of the United States never
received a more heartfelt salute than the old soldier gave in return for
this gracious salutation, and about the camp all day the soldier, with
tears in his eyes, told how the great sufferer had honored him. But the
incident was of more than sentimental value, in that it showed that the
President took an interest in his surroundings, and had vitality enough
to tender a salute. There were hours at Elberon, when the listless eyes
would have looked out upon the sea and not have recognized the soldier.
When Secretary Hunt called on the President, he informed him that there
was no business in his department requiring his (the President's)
attention. It had been the custom of the President to refer to the
secretary in various nautical terms, and after shaking the hand of the
President the secretary, pointing toward the ocean, remarked, "Well, Mr.
President, I see you have had to resort to my domain." "Yes," said the
President, "there it is, and isn't it beautiful?"
Everything seemed to indicate certain, though it might be slow,
recovery. The people read the bulletins, and went about their work with
renewed hope and courage. On the 17th of September, however, Dr.
Hamilton stated that "the conditions, altogether, were more hazardous
than at any time since the patient had been at Long Branch." Severe
rigors had been followed by increased pulse, and there was constant
danger of his sinking into a comatose state.
On the morning of the 19th Dr. Agnew remarked,--
"The vitality of our patient is something more remarkable than I have
ever met with in all my practice."
The President awoke from a light slumber, and said to Dr. Bliss,--
"Doctor, I feel very comfortable, but I also feel dreadfully weak. I
wish you would give me the hand-glass and let me look at myself."
General Swaim said: "Oh, no, don't do that, general. See if you cannot
get some sleep."
[Illustration: In reclining chair, at Long Branch.]
"I want to see myself," the President replied.
Mrs. Garfield then gave him the hand-glass. He held it in a position
which enabled him to see his face. Mrs. Garfield, Dr. Bliss, Dr. Agnew,
General Swaim, and Dr. Boynton, stood around the bed, saying not a word,
but looking at the President. He studied the reflection of his own
features. At length he wearily let the glass fall upon the counterpane,
and, with a sigh, said to Mrs. Garfield,--
"Crete, I do not see how it is that a man who looks as well as I do
should be so dreadfully weak."
In a moment or two he asked for his daughter Mollie. They told him that
she would see him later in the day. He said, however, that he wanted to
see her at once.
When the child went into the room she kissed her father, and told him
that she was glad to see that he was looking so much better.
He said: "You think I do look better, Mollie?"
She said: "I do papa," and then she took a chair and sat near the foot
of the bed.
A moment or two after, Dr. Boynton noticed that she was swaying in the
chair. He stepped up to her, but, before he could reach her, she had
fallen over in a faint. They carried her out where she could get the
fresh breeze from the ocean, and, after restoratives were applied, she
speedily recovered. The room was close, the windows were closed, and,
as Miss Mollie had not been very well, all these causes, combined with
anxiety, induced the fainting-fit.
The President, they thought, had not noticed what had happened to his
petted child, for he seemed to have sunk into the stupor which had
characterized his condition much of the time. But, when Dr. Boynton came
back into the room, he was astonished to hear the President say,--
"Poor little Mollie. She fell over like a log. What was the matter?"
They assured the President that the fainting-fit was caused by the
closeness of the room, and that she was quite restored. He again sank
into a stupor or sleep, which lasted until the noon examination.
Hope returned during the afternoon, as there was no recurrence of the
rigors, and the evening bulletin was more encouraging than the one
issued at noon. There seemed to be every indication that the President
would pass a comfortable night.
"Dr. Bliss," said the Attorney-General, "at 9.30, went to the cottage to
make his final examination before he retired for the night. He found
that the pulse, temperature, and respiration were exactly as they were
when the evening bulletin was issued. There had been no change of any
kind. There was every promise of a quiet night. All of the doctors
retired at once for the night, as did all of the attendants, except
General Swaim and Colonel Rockwell. They remained, and nothing
transpired until about 10.20; then the President said, 'I am suffering
great pain. I fear the end is near.' The attendant sent for Dr. Bliss,
who had retired to Private Secretary Brown's cottage. Dr. Bliss came
very rapidly. When he entered the room he found that the President was
in an unconscious state, and that the action of the heart had almost
ceased. Dr. Bliss said at once that the President was dying, and
directed the attendants to send for Mrs. Garfield and Drs. Agnew and
Hamilton."
A _Herald_ postscript had the following from Long Branch: "The death-bed
scene of the President was a peculiarly sad and impressive one. As soon
as the doctors felt that there was no hope, the members of the family
assembled. The lights in the sick-room were turned down. Dr. Bliss stood
at the head of the bed with his hand on the pulse of the patient, and
consulted in low whispers with Dr. Agnew. The private secretary stood on
the opposite side of the bed, with Mrs. Garfield. Miss Lulu Rockwell and
Miss Mollie Garfield came into the room at the time the President lost
consciousness. Those about the bed occasionally went into the corners of
the room and spoke to each other. The solemnity of the occasion fully
impressed itself upon them. There was no sound heard except the gasping
for breath of the sufferer, whose changing color gave indication of the
near approach of the end. After he had repeated 'It hurts,' he passed
into a state of unconsciousness, breathing heavily at times and then
giving a slight indication that the breath of life was still in his
body. The only treatment that was given was hypodermic injections of
brandy by Dr. Agnew, assisted by Dr. Boynton. Occasionally they spoke
with Dr. Bliss in quiet whispers. The President suffered no pain after
the time he placed his hand upon his heart. He passed away almost
quietly. The line between life and death was marked by no physical
exhibition, nor any word. There was absolutely no scene. The intervals
between gaspings became longer and presently there was no sound. Every
one present knew that death had come quickly without pain. When it
became evident that he was dead, Mrs. Rockwell placed her arm around
Mrs. Garfield and led her quietly from the room. She uttered no word.
One by one the spectators left the scene, the doctors only remaining in
the room, and windows were closed. Directly afterward Private Secretary
Brown telegraphed the boys, James and Harry, at Williams College, Mass.,
and Mrs. Eliza Garfield. Those were the first despatches sent after the
death."
The following and last "official bulletin" was issued at Elberon:--
_September 19th, at half-past eleven, P. M._
"The President died at 10.35 P. M. After the bulletin was
issued at 5.30 this evening, the President continued in much
the same condition as during the afternoon, the pulse
varying from 102 to 106, with rather increased force and
volume. After taking nourishment he fell into a quiet sleep
about thirty-five minutes before his death, and while asleep
his pulse rose to 120, and was somewhat more feeble. At ten
minutes after ten o'clock he awoke, complaining of severe
pain over the region of the heart, and almost immediately
became unconscious, and ceased to breathe at 10.35."
(Signed) D. W. BLISS.
FRANK H. HAMILTON.
D. HAYES AGNEW.