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| President William McKinley. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1901.
WOUND IN ABDOMEN REOPENED.
Minor Operation Performed to Allay Slight Irritation of Tissues.
NOT A CAUSE FOR ALARM.
Local Inflammation Produced by Piece of Coat Being Carried Beneath Skin by Bullet.
Physicians Have No Hesitancy In Declaring That President's Condition Has Passed Danger Line—Patient Moves About In Bed Without Assistance and Is Able to Take Food Through Mouth. Vice President Roosevelt, Senator Hanna and Other Visitors Leave Buffalo, Satisfied With Physicians' Conclusions—Visitors Still Excluded From Sickroom. Bullet In Back Will Probably Be Carried By President the Rest of His Life. Doctors Confident It Can Do No Harm. McKinley Will Be Taken to Washington As Soon As It Is Safe to Move Him.
BUFFALO, Sept. 11.—The following bulletin was issued by the president's physicians at 10:30 last night:
The condition of the president is unchanged in all important particulars. His temperature is 100.6; pulse 114; respiration 28.
When the operation was done on Friday last it was thought the bullet had carried with it a short distance beneath the skin a fragment of the president's coat. This foreign material was, of course, removed, but a slight irritation of the tissues was produced, the evidence of which has appeared only tonight. It has been necessary on account of this slight disturbance to remove a few stitches and partially open the skin wound.
This incident cannot give rise to other complications, but it is communicated to the public as the surgeons in attendance wish to make their bulletins entirely frank. In consequence of this separation of the edges of the surface wound the healing of the same will be somewhat delayed.
The president is now well enough to begin to take nourishment by the mouth in the form of pure beef juice.
P. M. RIXEY,
M. D. MANN,
ROSWELL PARK,
HERMAN MYNTER,
CHARLES MCBURNEY,
GEORGE B. CORTELYOU,
Secretary to the President.
The length of the consultation had created some uneasiness and this was somewhat increased when it was learned that Dr. McBurney, who had intended to leave for Stockbridge, Conn., at 11:20, had missed his train and had decided to remain over until tonight. But the doctor himself did all he could to dispel the idea that the change in his plans portended anything serious.
It seemed like a little cloud on the horizon which might grow and spread. But the most positive assurances were given that the only effect might be to slightly delay the healing of the wound. The irritation was not in any way the result, or a suggestion of blood poisoning. The physicians declared over their own signatures that it could not result in complication. Several of the stitches were simply taken out and after a thorough septic washing of the inflamed tissue the wound was again sewed up. No anesthetics were necessary. Considerable delay was caused by the fact that a certain dressing desired by the surgeons was not in the house and it was necessary to send into the city for it. The first time the messenger returned he did not have what was wanted and he had to make another trip.
DANGER LINE PASSED.
Physicians Unhesitatingly Aver That McKinley's Recovery Is Now an Assured Fact.
BUFFALO, Sept. 11.—The corps of eminent surgeons and physicians in attendance upon the wounded president commit themselves without reservation to the opinion that their patient is out of danger and that only the possibility of complications threatens his life.
They do not give assurance of his recovery collectively over their signatures as an official bulletin—that is more than could be asked in reason. Scientific men, no matter how strong their convictions might be, could not be expected to assume the grave responsibility of officially proclaiming the certainty of the recovery of a man lying on a bed of pain with a bullet hole in his stomach. But they have gone a long way toward it individually and separately. Each of them, with the exception of Dr. Rixey, who did not leave the Milburn residence yesterday, placed himself squarely on record, not privately, to the friends of the president, but publicly, through the agency of the press that the danger point had passed and that the president would survive the attempt upon his life.
"Of course we will all feel easier when a week has passed," said Dr. McBurney, the dean of the corps. "We would like to see every door locked and double locked but the danger from possible complications is now very remote."
As an evidence of the supreme faith he holds, Dr. McBurney after the morning consultation yesterday, made a trip to Niagara Falls.
The little piece of lead in the muscles of the back is giving the physicians no concern whatever. Unless it should prove troublesome to the president later on he probably will carry this grim souvenir of the anarchist with him to the end of his days. The doctors say that once encysted it can do no harm. Thousands of men are today walking the earth in perfect health with much larger chunks of lead in their bodies. The X-ray machine is ready for instant use, however, and if there is the slightest inflammation or pain in the vicinity of the bullet, an operation will be performed.
President's Recuperative Powers.
The president's physicians have been impressed with his remarkable recuperative powers and the rapidity of his improvement. Ordinarily an incision for such an operation as was performed upon the chief executive should heal within three weeks but in the president's case it may be strong enough for him to be moved a little sooner.
The president will be taken direct to Washington as soon as it is safe to move him.
Within the sick room many evidences of the president's improvement are apparent. The president himself began to show confidence in his ability to care for himself and from time to time he would carefully turn himself and gain a more restful position. Monday he took the precaution to ask if he might be permitted to move, but now he changes his position at his own volition without difficulty. The nurses naturally observe with care these evidences of growing strength and courage and are ready to see that there is no undue tax on the president's strength or the straining of the wound. These slight movements from side to side are all that he has attempted thus far and it is too early yet to think of his sitting up in bed or any other marked use of his muscles.
A most important development of the day was a private determination reached among those in charge of the case that food should be administered to the president today by the mouth. Not since the shooting has a morsel of food been given to the president by natural means, but the drain on his system has been met by dissolved foods administered by injection. There has been a period of four days of fasting from ordinary means of nourishment and today is the fifth day. The importance of this feeding by the mouth is that it will restore the normal action of the stomach for the first time since that organ had both its walls pierced by a bullet. The doctors are satisfied that the time has come to renew these normal functions, and the four days which have elapsed since the wounds in the stomach were closed give every assurance that the sutures are sufficiently healed to allow nature to resume her sway.
Although the house was fairly embowered with flowers yesterday, sent as tokens of sympathy and gratitude, none of the sweet scented blossoms were taken to the president's chamber. The most rigid system of simplicity prevails there and sentiment is not allowed to qualify the stern requirements of the case. The only persons admitted to the sick room other than the doctors and attendants are Mrs. McKinley and Secretary Cortelyou.
Visitors Still Excluded.
Although pronounced out of danger no member of the cabinet has yet been within the sickroom nor has the vice president or those closest to the confidence of the president, such as Senator Hanna and Judge Day, seen the president. But these restrictions were established by the doctors merely for the sake of encouraging every particle of energy in the patient, and relatives and friends alike accept the rigorous policy as decidedly for the best. Secretary Cortelyou sees the president much as the doctors and nurses do. There is never a breath of business, public or private, and at no time has there been the slightest reference to anything connected with the president's duties.
Each succeeding bulletin leads to expressions of pleasure from those within the household that the deliberations of so many eminent doctors have been marked by complete unanimity. There has been no division in the councils at any time. Each has loyally seconded the efforts of the others and all have joined in carrying on the masterly work done by Dr. Mann immediately following the shooting.
In referring to this, one of the president's associates who was present at the operation said Dr. Mann displayed his consummate skill and calmness by going about the operation as it the patient was a child with a slight complaint. And yet Dr. Mann has since told a friend that when he realized the duty before him, although he had performed hundreds of operations of laporatomy, he would have sacrificed all he possessed to have escaped the terrible responsibility of operating upon the president of the United States.
Exodus of Dignitaries.
The vice president, members of the cabinet, Senator Hanna and the other distinguished friends of the president who have remained here to await the issue, accepted the verdict of the physicians as practically conclusive and there was an exodus of those who considered their presence no longer necessary. Senator Hanna returned to Cleveland on business, to be gone two days, and Controller Dawes went back to Washington last night. Abner McKinley, the president's brother, will remain a few days longer, but his family have returned home and Mrs. Duncan and several other relatives of the president have gone. Judge Day, long associated with the president, returned to Canton yesterday. The five members of the cabinet still here will remain a few days, rather as friends who have been intimately associated with the president for years than as public officials.
Vice President Roosevelt left the city last night at 9:30 for Oyster Bay, perfectly confident that the president will recover. So confident was he, in fact, that when a question of doubt was put to him he answered it with a parry. He was asked: "Do you remember that President Garfield progressed for 10 days and then just when he was ready to get out he collapsed and finally died?"
Quick as thought the vice president answered: "Ah, but you forget 20 years of modern surgery, of progress. From what I can learn also the Garfield wound was much more serious than the wound of President McKinley. I believe that the president will recover and I hope it so thoroughly that I leave here tonight.
Questioned as to the mode of procedure so far as the state was concerned, he said: "I see no need for the calling of an extraordinary grand jury. The grand jury now in session composed of American citizens will undoubtedly take care of the would-be assassin and the authorities of Erie county will, for county, state and national pride, make a vigorous prosecution. Unless Governor Odell is asked to interfere I see no need of his calling an extra term or deputizing an assistant attorney general to prosecute."
Cannot Find Reason For Assault.
Asked as to the enacting of legislation against anarchists he said: "I have not thought much on the matter. What has disturbed me has been to find a reason for even anarchists to attack a man like President McKinley. Here as the one country where they are allowed perfect freedom of speech. Here as the ruler is a man descended from farmer stock. Here is a man who has no fortune or no means other than that which he may manage to save out of his salary as president. Probably many a workingman in the United States today has as large an amount of real estate as Mr. McKinley. In addition he is a kindly disposed christian gentleman and in every great emergency in which he could act he has been a friend of the common people. Why should he be shot at then, even by anarchists?"
The vice president declined with some little vehemence an invitation to see the Exposition. He said: "I do not believe, even though I am assured of the president's convalescence, that it would be entirely proper for me to take part in any of the festivities. I came here absolutely as a matter of duty, both to the president and to the people, and not for pleasure."
When the vice president stepped out to the sidewalk to go to the Milburn house, a secret service detective stepped up alongside of him. He turned around when he found the man following him: "I do not want you to follow me. I don't need anyone and I am not afraid."
Then to the newspaper men with him he added: "I am sorry to say that the Oyster Bay police force is not large enough to permit of the assignment of men to guard me and if I get used to it up here they might have to increase the force down there at the expense of the poor taxpayers of which I am one," and then he laughed most heartily.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Deeds of Anarchists.
In the category of human crimes there is none more difficult to account for than the crime of the Anarchist. The insanity which impels certain minds to attempt the assassination of the great and powerful is something beyond the theories of scientists to explain or the wisdom of lawmakers to correct. It is not even insanity in the common sense in which the term is used by alienists, says the Buffalo Express, for the Anarchist is not an irresponsible person. He is the most deliberate of murderers. He plots without passion and he acts without personal grievance. Degeneracy might be a better word to describe his mental condition, and yet he is not even degenerate in the sense of having lapsed back toward the state of beasts. Beasts are more kind and more reasoning.
It is a peculiarity of Anarchy that it strikes especially at the rulers of nations. Others among the great of the world are comparatively free from danger at the hands of Anarchist assassins. The rulers of nations are under constant menace. It matters not where or what the nation is, whether a free republic or an autocracy. The peril may not be realized. Who could have imagined last Friday that our great president could be in danger? Yet it seems that those whom their fellow citizens honor most are the very ones who most excite the peculiar hatred of these secret, death-dealing abominations of mankind. It is impossible to analyze; no normal mind can understand the workings of the brains which conceive these terrible deeds. We only know the results when they come, and they make such a record that the mind can but wonder, appalled and horrified.
The first of the great assassinations of recent times was that of Czar Alexander II of Russia on March 1, 1881. It was a peculiarly aggravated crime, for this was the czar liberator, the man who had freed the serfs and who at the very moment of his death was preparing a form of constitutional, representative government for his people.
The world was still bowed with the shock of this terrible event when the news came that our president, James A. Garfield, had been shot down. That happened on July 2, 1881, and President Garfield died on Sept. 19 following. The assassin did not profess to be a political Anarchist. Neither did the murderer of the first of our martyred presidents, the noble Lincoln, but both were Anarchists in fact and in deed.
On June 24, 1894, President Sadi Carnot of France was stabbed to death by an Anarchist named Casri Santo, an Italian. President Carnot was visiting the city of Lyons, where an exhibition of arts and sciences was being held, and was attacked in his carriage while driving through the streets and stabbed to death. This was the culmination of a series of Anarchist crimes which had alarmed France for months. In the December preceding one Vailant attempted to throw a bomb in the chamber of Deputies. The explosion injured only himself. He was executed in the following February. Only a week later Emil Henry threw a bomb into a cafe, crowded with customers, killing one person and seriously wounding several others. A month later an Anarchist named Pauwells was blown to pieces by a bomb which he was carrying into the Church of the Madeline, and at very nearly the same time a French Anarchist named Bourdin was similarly killed by his own infernal machine in London. Of the same group with these were Ravachol and Simon, two Anarchists who were executed in 1892 for exploding a bomb in the streets of Paris. It was partly in revenge for the punishment of these men that Sadi Carnot was assassinated.
In 1897, Senor Canovas del Castillo, the premier of Spain, was assassinated by an Italian named Golli. This also was the culmination of a succession of Anarchist crimes and punishments in Spain.
A peculiarly sad instance of Anarchical attack was the assassination of the Empress Elizabeth of Austria at Geneva, Switzerland, in September, 1898. An aged, gentle woman, bowed by family sorrows and respected by all the world, having never had any part in politics, it seemed that she, at least, should have been free from peril. But her virtues themselves seemed to provoke the assassin.
The assassination of King Humbert of Italy in July of last year is of too recent memory to require detailed description.
These are the more noted of the successful crimes of recent occurrence. The unsuccessful attempts at assassination are more numerous. There is hardly a ruler who has escaped them. The present king of England was attacked by an Anarchist in Belgium shortly before his succession to the throne. His mother, the adored Victoria, was several times the mark for an assassin's bullet. The emperors of Germany and of Austria have been frequently menaced. The precautious found necessary to guard the life of the czar are familiar to all newspaper readers. We of the United States had fondly hoped that our free republic might escape from the common peril, but with what futility the awful event of last week proved, as the assassinations of Lincoln and Garfield might already have taught us.
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| James Costello in fireman's uniform. |
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| Judge Rowland Davis. |
MEETING OF FIRE BOARD.
J. F. Costello Resigns—Fireman's Hall Must be Kept in Better Condition.
A regular meeting of the fire board was held last evening at the city clerk's office, at which all the commissioners, Messrs. Edward Alley, E. E. Ellis and E. J. Warfield were present.
The resignation of Jas. F. Costello as superintendent of the fire alarm system was read, and on motion the resignation was accepted to take effect upon the appointment of his successor. This appointment will come under the civil service rules. Mr. Costello, who has been the efficient superintendent of the alarm system for five years and who has been connected with the system for nine years, having been for four years the assistant of the former superintendent, Frank A. Bickford, has decided to enter the electrical business and has already rented the store at 17 North Main-st, where he hopes soon to open for the purpose of doing all kinds of electric wiring, electric bell work and general repairing, also planning and estimating in electrical lines. He already has some large orders on hand. His work has been very satisfactory to the board of fire commissioners, and it regrets that he cannot continue with the work on the alarm system.
City Judge R. L. Davis came before the board and renewed the complaint made by him before the police board in relation to the uncleanly condition of Fireman's hall, in which city court is held. The board was of the opinion that speedy arrangements for keeping the room clean would be made. The members of the board said that they had supposed the room was kept in a satisfactory condition till they read in the paper that the judge had been before the police board. The commissioners intimated that the litter in the room was more or less due to the fact that the police officers ate their luncheons there, and that there was some horseplay going on at times in the hall.
The following [monthly] bills were audited:
Jas. F. Costello, salary and help, $52.10
D. F. Waters, salary, 40.00
Cortland & Homer Electric Co., lighting, 22.08
F. D. Smith, supplies, 10.30
I. V. Johnson, feed, 14.00
Keator & Wells, supplies, 4.00
Manhattan Electric Supply Co., 29.56
R. M. Norris, box, 1.25
IN MEMORIAM.
Mary A. Copeland, Wife of John J. Taggart.
The many old friends in this city of the late Mrs. John J. Taggart will be interested in the following brief sketch of her life:
Mary A. Copeland, daughter of Joseph and Clarinda Copeland, was born in the town of Cortlandville, Feb. 12, 1827. At the age of thirteen years her mother was taken away, leaving her and three younger sisters to battle with life as best they could without a mother's watchful care. She was baptized by Rev. J. P. Simmons in May, I849. From that time till death called her away she lived the life of an earnest, devoted Christian. Oct. 15, 1851, she was united in marriage to J. J. Taggart by Rev. Henry Bowen, pastor of the Baptist church, Cortland. One daughter, Clara A., was born July 25, 1856, and was called home April 12, 1894. One son, Louis P., was born April 10, 1864, and still survives her. She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. L. C. Kinney, Cortland, and one brother, Thos. G. Copeland, of Clarksville, Ia., besides her husband and two grandsons, children of her daughter, viz: Louis J. and Worlie E. Peck of Cortland.
In her family she was ever a faithful, loving, devoted wife and mother. She had been a great sufferer for several years before her death. Had this been delayed seven weeks, she would have celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of her marriage. The most of her life was spent in Cortland, the past fifteen years in Binghamton. Her funeral was held in Binghamton, her pastor, Rev. Dr. Phillips, officiating, and burial was in Cortland Rural cemetery.
BREVITIES.
—Cortland Commandery, No. 50, Knights Templar, will meet at 8 o'clock tomorrow evening for drill.
—A regular meeting of the L. O. T. M. will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock. A full attendance is desired.
—Mr. J. W. Reese yesterday afternoon discovered two sun dogs in the sky. They must have been the forerunners of the unsettled weather of today.
—The funeral of Mr. Ogliva Mather who died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wavle, 8 Excelsior-st., will be held on Thursday at 8:30 A. M. at the house. The remains will be taken on the 9:27 train to Killawog for burial.
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