The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and LettersBrown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
History
The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and Letters
Brown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
"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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account