The Awful Crime Committed at the
Pan-American Exposition by
an Avowed Anarchist.
TWO SHOTS, POINT BLANK, AT TWO FEET
Boll, Take Effect in tlic President's
Hotly. One Inflicting n Dnntseron*,
Though. Plcnxe t.ori. Not K Kiltn 1
Wound—The Assassin Cnptnred
anti Protected from the Populace.
IHI.I.KTIN. ;i A. M.—President Me
lt In ley Bleeping anti renting fairly
easily. Temperature, 100.2; pnlse,
120; res piration, 24.
Buffalo, Sept. (i.—Just a brief 24
hours ago tlie newspapers of the city
blazoned forth in all the pomp of
headline type "The Proudest Day In
Buffalo’s History.”
To-night, in saekeloth and ashes, in
sombre type, surrounded by gruesome
borders of black, the same newspa
pers are telling in funeral tones to a
horrified populace the deplorable de
tails of "The Blackest Day In The
History Of Buffalo.”
President .McKinley, the idol of the
American people, the nation’s chief
executive and the city’s honored
guest, lies prostrate, suffering pangs
inflicted by the bullet of a cowardly
assassin while his life hangs in the
balance.
Out on Delaware avenue, at the
home of John G. Milburn, president
of the Pan-American, exposition, with
tearful face and heart torn by con
flicting hopes and fears, sits the faith
ful wife, whose devotion is known to
all the nation.
It was a few moments after 4 p. m.,
while President McKinley was hold
ing a public reception in t lie great
Temple of Music on the Pan-American
grounds, that the cowardly attack
was made, with what success time
alone can tell.
Stamlingin the midst of crowds num
bering thousands, surrounded by ev
ery evidence of good will, pressed by
a motley throng of people, showered
with expressions of love and loyalty,
besieged by multitudes, all eager to
clasp his hands—amid these surround
ings, and with ever-recurring plaudits
of an army of sightseers ringing in
his ears, the blow of the assassin fell,
and in an instant pleasure gave way
to pain, admiration to agony, folly
Turned to fury and pandemonium fol
lowed.
I o-night. a surging', swaying1, eager
multitude throngs the city's main
thoroughfares, choking the streets in
■front of the principal newspapers,
scanning the bulletins with anxious
eyes anti groaning or cheering in turn
at each succeeding announcement, as
the nature of the message sinks or
buoys their hopes.
> Down at police headquarters, sur
rounded by stern faces, inquisitors of
the law,, is a, medium-sized man of
commonplace appearance, with his
fixed gaze directed on the floor, who
presses his lips firmly together and
listens with an air of assumed indif
ference to the persistent stream of
questions, arguments, objurgations,
and admonitions with which his cap
tors seek to induce or compel him to
talk.
It was just after the daily organ re
cital in 1 lie splendid Temple of Music
that the dastardly attempt was made.
Planned with all the diabolical in
genuity and finesse of which anarchy
nr nihilism is eapable, the would-be
ussasin carried out the work without
a. hitch, and should his designs fail
ajnd the president survive, only to Di
vine providence can be attributed that
beneficent result.
The president, though well guarded
by United States secret service de
Iftrtives, was fully exposed to such an
attack as occurred. He stood at the
edge of the raised dais upon which
stands the great pipe organ at the
vast side of the magnificent structure.
"Throngs of people crowded in at the
various entrances- to gaze upon their
chief executive, perchance to clasp his
band, and then fight their way out in
the good natured mob that every min
«*te swelled and multiplied at the
\
points of ingress and egress to the
building.
The president was in a cheerful
mood) and was enjoying to the full
the hearty evidenceof good will which
everywhere met his gaze. Upon his
right stood John <’>. Milburn, of Ruf
falo, president of the Pan-American
exposition, chatting with the presi
dent, and introducing to him persons
of especial note who approached.
Upon the president’s left stood Mr.
Cortelyou.
It was shortly after four o’clock,
when one of the throng which sur
rounded the presidential party, a
medium-sized man of ordinary appear
ance and plainly dressed in black, ap
proached as if to greet the president.
Both Secretary Cortelyou and Presi
dent Milburn noticed that the man’s
hand was swathed in a bandage or
handkerchief. Reports of bystanders
differ as to which hand. He worked
his way amid the stream of people
up to the edge of the dais until he
was within two feet of the president.
President McKinley smiled, bowed
and extended his hand in that spirit
of geniality the American people so
well know, when suddenly the sharp
crack of a revolver rang out loud and
clear above the hum of voices, the
shuffling of myriad feet and vibrating
waves of applause that ever and anon
swept here and there over the as
semblage.
There was an instant of almost com
plete silence. The president stood
stock still, a look of hesitancy, almost
of bewilderment on his face. Then he
retreated a step while a pallor began
1o steal over his features. The mul
titude. only partially aware that
something serious had happened,
paused in surprise, while necks were
craned and all eyes turned as one
to the rostrum where a great tragedy
was being enacted.
Then came a commotion. With the
leap of tigers three men threw them
selves forward, as with one impulse
and sprang toward the would-be as
sassin. Two of them were United
States secret service men who were
tin the lookout and whose duty it was
to guard against just such a calamity
as had here befallen the president
and the nation. The third was a by
stander, a negro, who had only an in
stant previously grasped in his dusky
palm the hand of the president. As
one man the trio hurled themselves
upon the president’s assailant. In a
[winkling he was borne to the ground,
his weapon was wrested from his
grasp and strong arms pinioned him
down.
Then the multitude which thronged
the edifice began to came to a real
izing sense of the awfulness of the
scene of which they had been un
willing witnesses.
A murmur arose, spread and swelled
to a hum of confusion, then grew to
a babel of sounds, and later to a pan
demonium of noises.
The crowds that a moment before
had stood mute anti motionless, as in
bewildered ignorance of the enormity
of the thing, now, with a single im
pulse surged forward toward (he
stage of the horrid drama, while a
hoarse cry welled up from a thousand
throats and a thousand men charged
forward to lay hands upon the perpe
trator of the dastardly crime.
For a moment the confusion was
terrible. The crowd surged forward
regardless of consequences. Men
shouted and fought, women screamed
and children crief. Some of ihose
nearest the doors lied from the edifice
in fear of a stampede, while hun
dreds of others from the outside
struggled blindly forward in the ef
fort to penetrate the crowded build
ing and solve the mystery of excite
ment and panic which every moment
grew and swelled within the congest
ed interior of the edifice.
Inside on the slightly raised dais
was enacted within those few feverish
moments, a tragedy so dramatic in
character, so thrilling in its intensity
that few who looked on wilf aver be
able to give a succinct account of
what really did transpire. Even those
who attended the president came out
of it with blanched faces, trembling
limbs and beating hearts, while their
brains throbbed with a tumult of con
flicting emotions which could not be
clarified into a lucid narrative of the
events as they really transpired.
Of the multitude which witnessed or
bore a part in the scene of turmoil
there was but one mind which seemed
to retain its equailibrium, one hand
which remained steady, one eye which
gazed with unflinching calmness and
one voice which retained its e\en
tenor and filtered not at the most
critical juncture.
They were the mind and hand and
eye and the voice of President Mc
Kinley.
After the first shock of the assas
sin's shot he retreated a step, then,
as the detectives leaped upon his as
sailant, he turned, walked steadily to
a chair and seated himself, at the
same time removing his hat and bow
iny his head in his hands.
In an instant Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milburn were at his
side. 11 is waistcoat was Hurriedly
opened, the president meanwhile ad
monishing1 those about him to remain
calm and telling them not to be
alarmed.
“But you are wounded,” cried his
secretary, “let me examine.”
“No. 1 think not,” answered the
president. “1 am not badly hurt, 1
assure you.”
Nevertheless his outer garments
were hastily loosened and when a
trickling stream of crimson was seen
to wind its way down his breast,
spreading its tell-tale stain over the
white surface of the linen, their worst
fears were confirmed.
A force of exposition guards were
on the scene and an effort was made
to clear 1he building. By this time
the crush was terrific. Spectators
crowdedjdown the stairways from the
galleries, the crowd on the floor
surged forward toward the rostrum,
while, despite the strenuous efforts
of police and guards, the throng with
out struggled madly to obtain admis
sion.
The president's assailant in the
meantime had been hustled by exposi
tion guards to the rear of the build
ing, where he was held while the
building was cleared and later he was
turned over to Superintendent Bull
of the Buffalo police department, who
took the prisoner to No. 13 police sta
tion and afterward to police head
quarters. As soon as the crowd in the
Temple of Music had been dispersed
sufficiently,the president was removed
in the automobile ambulance and
taken to the exposition hospital,
where an examination was made. The
best medical skill was summoned, and
within a brief period several of Buf
falo’s best-known practitioners were
at the patient’s side.
THE SADDEST TASK OF ALL.
Breaking' the Kow» lo Mrs. McKinley
—Bravely Received.
Immediately the president was
cared for at the exposition grounds, Di
rector-General W. I. Buchanan started
for the Milburn residence to forestall
any information that might reach
there by telephone or otherwise. Very
luckily, he was first to arrive with the
information. The Niagara Falls trip
had tired Mrs. McKinley, and on re
torting- to the Milburn residence she
took leave of her nieces, the Misses
Barber, and the president’s niece,
Miss Duncan, as well as their h less,
Mrs. Milburn, and went to her room
to rest.
Mr. Buchanan broke the news as
gently as possible to the nieces and
consulted with them and Mrs. Mil
burn as to the best course to pursue
in breaking the news to Mrs. McKin
ley. It was finally decided that on her
awakening' or shortly thereafter Mr.
Buchanan should break the news to
her, if. in the meantime her physician,
Dr. Rixev, had not arrived.
Mrs. MeiKnley awoke from her.
sleep about 5:00 o'clock. She was
feeling splendidly, she said, and at
once took up her crocheting, which,
as is well known, is one of hei' favor
ite diversions.
Immediately on Mr. Buchanan's ar
rival at the Milburn home he had tele
phonic communication therewith cut
off, for already there had been several
calls, and he decided on this as the
wisest course to pursue, lest Mrs. Mc
Kinley, hearing the continued ring
ing of the telephone bell, might in
quire what it meant.
While the light of day remained
Mrs. McKinley continued with her
crocheting, keeping- to her room.
When it became dusk and the presi
dent had not arrived, she began to
feel anxious concerning him.
“I wonder why he does not come,”
she asked one of her nieces.
There was no clock in Mrs. McKin
ley’s room, and when it was seven
o’clock she had no idea it was so late,
and this is when she began to feel
anxious concerning her husband, for
he was due to return to Mr. Milburn's
house about six o'clock.
At seven o'clock, Dr. Kixey arrived
at the Milburn residence. He had
been driven hurriedly down Delaware
avenue in an open carriage. As he
came up Mr. Buchanan was out on the
lawn conversing with a reporter.
“Do you know,” said Mr. Buchanan,
“I had a sort of premonition of this?
Since early morning I had been ex
tremely nervous and feared that
something might go wrong. Our trip
to the falls was uneventful, but what
an awful sad ending to our day!”
At 7:20 p. m., Dr. Kixey came out
of the house, accompanied by Col.
Webb Hayes, a son of former Presi
dent Hayes, who is a friend of Pres
ident, McKinley. They entered a car
riage and returned to the exposition
hospital.
After Dr. Kixey had gone Direetor
General Buchanan said that the doc
tor had broken the news in a most
gentle manner to Mrs. McKinley, lie
said she stood it bravely, though con
siderably affected.
If it was possible to bring him to
her she wanted it done. Dr. Kixey
assured her that the president could
be brought with safety from the ex
position grounds, and when he left
Mr. Milburn’s it was to complete ail
arrangements for the removal of the
president.
At 7:30 Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson and Miss Wilson called, and
were admitted to the Milburn resi
dence.
THE VICE-PRESIDENT STINNED.
Announced I lie Awful Ycwk nnd
Started on u Special for Buffalo.
Burlington, Vt., Sept. 7,—The first
news of the attempted assassination
of President McKinley reached Vice
President McKinley at isle Lamotte
at 5:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon,
when the vice-president was informed
over the telephone that there was a
rumor that the president had been
shot. It was confirmed by another
message a moment later. The vice
president seemed stunned by the
news, put his hands to his head and
then exclaimed: “My God.”
Those around him were immediate
ly informed of the tragedy, and it was
decided to announce it to the com
pany of a thousand people, who had
gathered to hear Col. Roosevelt speak
at the annual outing of the Vermont
Pish and Game league.
Senator Proctor made the an
nouncement, and many persons in the
audience burst into tears. A later
bulletin was received stating that the
president was resting quietly, and
that the chances were favorable for
his recovery.
“Good,” exclaimed the vice-presi
dent, and his face lighted up. He
showed his pleasure by eagerly an
nouncing the good news to the as
sembly.
The vice-president then left imme
diately on the yacht El Prida, owned
by W. Seward Webb, and came to this
city as quickly as possible, having di
rected that all messages should be
held for liiip here. The yacht was to
have gone to Arrow Point, where a
special train was waiting for the vice
president, but the train was sent on
to Burlington, and was there when
the yacht came into the harbor at
S: 15 p. m.
President Clement of the Rutland
railroad placed the train at the dis
posal of the vice-president, and made
arrangements to take him on it to the
scene of the tragedy.
CONDITION MONDAY A. M.
Not Out of Danger But Physicians
Very Hopeful.
Buffalo, Sept. 9.—At an early hour
this morning physicians reportedothat
the president passed a quiet night and
that no unfavorable symptoms had ap
peared. Five consultations of the em
inent surgeons in attendance were held
Sunday, and each time their verdict
was favorable.
The president converses with the
physicians as they attend him ahd is
clear-headed all the time.
The doctors say that if the patient
shows no change for the worse by
Tuesday he will undoubtedly recover,
yet he is in a serious condition.
On Sunday from every pulpit and au
dience throughout the civilized world
was offered most fervent prayers for
the recovery of President McKinley.
Dispatches from all points in the United
States show the attendance at the
churches to have been the largest ever
known.
PURELY PERSONAL.
Gov. Orman, of Colorado, is one of
the best shots in that state and has
a collection of trophies won on hunt
ing trips into the Rockies which can
be equaled by but few in this country.
C. Barber, president of the Diamond
Match company, gives much of his for
tune to the town of Barberton, O.,
which he founded in 1891. Re is now
about to spend $100,000 on its public
parks. -m,
William C. Whitney will not allow
his great park in the Adirondacks to
be “lumbered” in the ordinary way.
Instead he cuts trees of over ten inches
in diameter, leaving the smaller ones
to grow, and thus always has a hand
some forest.
Almost everybody on Wall street has
taken a vacation this summer but
James R. Keene. He has been in his
office almost every day throughout the
heated term, an unusual thing for him,
and it is said that he has not planned to
indulge in any extra holidays later on.
Mr. Keene is supposed to have kept at
work unremittingly more in the inter
est of the market for United States
Steel corporation stocks than for any
other reason.
Most. Rev. Frederick Temple, arch
bishop of Canterbury, who is 80 years
of age, has been celebrating his silver
wedding. He was not married until
he was 55 years of age. yet he is an
excellent specimen of Queen Victoria’s
favorite type of bishop and happy
family man. His wife, who is the
daughter of a nobleman, is not a plat
form woman, but shows a live interest
in her husband’s faith in active work
and temperance.
AUb 1 KACAblAIM NOTJfcb.
New Zealand immigrants have cost
the colony £ 19 a head, Victoria’s £17
only.
Austria’s commerce has increased 78
per cent, in the past 80 years, Canada’s
54 per cent. .
In the last 15 years New South
Wales has spent £74.8,000 in destroy*
ing 24,000,000 noxious animals.
Australia has spent nearly £11,000,
000 in promoting immigration. On
an average the immigrants have cost
her £ 18 a head.
New Zealanders by birth comprise
0.8 per cent, of the colony’s population,
yet they only contribute 25 per cent,
to the prisoners in jail.
HOUSEWIFE SUGGESTIONS.
Copper nails with huge heads are
the latest for holding down floor
coverings. They are especially ef
fective on green or blue terry.
Cut glass knobs are considered
much smarter mi colonial furniture
just at present than even the per
fectly plain brass trimmings.
Pieces of unslacked lime in earthen
bowls placed in different rooms will,
it is said, improve the atmosphere on
a humid day. The lime will absorb
the water from the air.
Woodwork and floors painted
green in combination with delicately
flowered walls and big-blossomed
curtains are the favored bedroom
decorative scheme of the hour.
Milk, cream, machine oil and meat
juice should be washed out in cold
water immediately; soap may be
used on the meat juice. Tea and cof
fee stains should be treated just as
fruit stains. Soak medicine stain in
alcohol and it will respond.
To clean matting, sweep it twice—
first with a stiff broom, working
along the grain of the straw, then
crosswise with a soft broom dipped
in warm water, rinsing with clean
water. This brightens all sorts of
colored matting, and also saves it, in
a measure, from fading.