Messages and Papers of the Presidents, Vol. VIII.: James A. Garfield | Page 8

10 p.m. After the bulletin was issued at half past 5 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 ran to 120 and was somewhat more feeble. At ten minutes after 10 o'clock he awoke, complaining of severe pain over the region of the heart, and almost immediately became unconscious, and ceased to breathe at twenty-five minutes to 11.
D.W. BLISS. FRANK H. HAMILTON. D. HAYES AGNEW.
ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT.
[From the New-York Times, September 20, 1881.]
[Long Branch, N.J., _September 19, 1881_.]
Hon. Chester A. Arthur, _No. 123 Lexington Avenue, New York:_
It becomes our painful duty to inform you of the death of President Garfield and to advise you to take the oath of office as President of the United States without delay. If it concur with your judgment, we will be very glad if you will come here on the earliest train to-morrow morning.
WILLIAM WINDOM, _Secretary of the Treasury._ WILLIAM H. HUNT, _Secretary of the Navy._ THOMAS L. JAMES, _Postmaster-General._ WAYNE MacVEAGH, _Attorney-General._ S.J. KIRKWOOD, _Secretary of the Interior._
[The Secretaries of State and of War were absent from Long Branch.]
REPLY OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT.
[From the Evening Star, Washington, September 20, 1881.]
New York, _September 20, 1881_.[A]
I have your message announcing the death of President Garfield. Permit me to renew through you the expression of sorrow and sympathy which I have already telegraphed to Attorney-General MacVeagh. In accordance with your suggestion, I have taken the oath of office as President before the Hon. John R. Brady, justice of the supreme court of the State of New York. I will soon advise you further in regard to the other suggestion in your telegram.
C.A. ARTHUR.
[Footnote A: Addressed to the Cabinet.]
ANNOUNCEMENT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES ABROAD.
[From the Sun, New York, September 21, 1881.]
[Long Branch, N.J., _September 20, 1881_.]
Lowell, _Minister, London:_
James A. Garfield, President of the United States, died at Elberon, N.J., last night at ten minutes before 11 o'clock. For nearly eighty days he suffered great pain, and during the entire period exhibited extraordinary patience, fortitude, and Christian resignation. The sorrow throughout the country is deep and universal. Fifty millions of people stand as mourners by 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 by telegraph to the American ministers on the Continent for like communication to the Governments to which they are respectively accredited.
BLAINE, Secretary.
ANNOUNCEMENT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
[From official records, Department of State.]
Department of State _Washington, September 20, 1881._
Sir: It is my sad duty to announce to you that the illness of the President of the United States, which you have followed with an anxiety similar to our own and a sympathy which you have repeatedly testified to this Department during the sorrowful period that has passed since he was shot by an assassin on the 2d of July, terminated last evening, when he expired at thirty-five minutes past 10 o'clock.
As soon as the order and details of the funeral ceremonies are arranged you will be duly informed thereof.
ROBERT R. HITT, _Acting Secretary._
ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE ARMY.
[From official records, War Department.]
General Orders, No. 71.
Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, _Washington, September 20, 1881._
I. The following order of the Secretary of War announces to the Army the death of James A. Garfield, President of the United States:
War Department, _September 20, 1881_.
With profound sorrow the Secretary of War announces to the Army that James A. Garfield, President of the United States, died at Elberon, N.J., at twenty-five minutes before 11 in the evening of September 19, 1881.
The great grief which is felt by the nation at the untimely death of the President will be especially felt by the Army, in whose service he bore so distinguished a part during the War of the Rebellion. In him the Army has lost a beloved Commander in Chief, friend, and former comrade.
Proper honors will be paid to the memory of the late Chief Magistrate of the nation at headquarters of each military department and division and at each military station.
The General of the Army will give the necessary instructions for carrying this order into effect.
ROBT. T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War.
II. On the day after the receipt of this order at the headquarters of military commands in the field, and at each military station, and at the Military Academy at West Point, the troops and cadets will be paraded