The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-09-13

swathed in a bandage or handker.
chief. 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 with
in 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
shuilling of myriads of feet and vi.
brating waves of applause that ever
and anon swept here and there over
the sssemblage.
There was an instant of almost com
plete silence. The president stood
stock still, look of hesitancy, almost
Of bewildorment, on his face Then
he retreated step, while pallor be-
gan to steal over his features. The
multitude, 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.
Assailant Borne to the Ground.
Then came a commotion. With
the leap of a tiger three men threw
themselves forward, as with one I'm
pulse, and sped toward the would-be-
assassin. Two of the men were
United States secret service men. who
were on the lookout, and whose duty
1t was to guard against just such a
calamity as had here befallen the
president and the nation. The third
was a bystander, negro. who had
only an instant previously grasped
in his dusky palm the hand of the
president. AS one man the trio
hurled themselves upon the presi.
dents assailant. In a twinkling 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 editice begun to come to real
lzlng scene of the awfulness of the
scene of which they had been unwill.
ing witnesses.
to hum Of confusion, then grew to
babel of sounds and later to pande-
monium of noises.
The crowds that a moment before
had stood mute and motionless as in
bewildered ignorance of the enormity
of the thing, now, with a single i'm
pulse surged forward toward the stage
lrny ,t,hi
cry swelled up from a thousand
throats and a thousand men charged
forward to lay hands upon the perpe-
traitor of the dastardly crime.
Confusion Was Terrible.
For a moment the confusion was
terrible. The crowd surged forward
regardless of consequences. Men
shouted and fought, women screamed
and children cried. Some of those
nearest the doors fed from the edifice
in fear of stampede, while hun
dreds of others from the outside strug-
gled blindly forward in the effort to
penetrate the crowded building and
solve the mystery of excitement and
panic which every moment grew and
swelled within the congested interior
of the edifice.
Inside, on the slightly raised dais,
was enacted within those few feverish
a tragedy so dramatic In
character so thrilling in it's intensity,
that few who looked on will ever be
able to give a succinct account of what
really did transpire. Even those who
attended the president came out of il
with blanched faces, trembling limbs
and beating hearts, while their brains
Lhrobbed with tumult of conflicting
emotions which could not be clarified
into lucid narrative of the events
as they really transpired
OF the multitude which witnessed
Or bore a part in the scene of turmoil
and turbulence there was but one
mind which seemed to retain it's
equilibrium, one hand which remained
steady, one eye which gazed with un-
iinching calmness and one voice
which retained it's even tenor and
ALTERED not at the most critical juno
,ure.
They were the mind and hand and
he eye and the voice of President |
Mckinley.
After the first shock of the assas.
sins shot he retreated step, then, as
he detectives leaped upon his assail- |
INT, he turned, walked steadily to q
hair and seated himself, at the same |
ime removing his hat and bowling his |
lead in his hands.
In an instant Secretary Cortelyou |
Ind President Milburn were at his |
ide. His waistcoat was hurriedly |
opened, the president meanwhile ad- !
nonishing those about him to remain |
aim, telling them not to be alarmed. |
But you are wounded" cried his
ecretary, "let me examine"
mo, think not" answered the
president. Il am not badly hurt,
.ssure you"
Nevertheless, his outer garments
we're hastily loosened and when a
stream of crimson was seen
o wind its way down his breast, |
preading its tell.tale stain over the
White surface of the linen, their worst
ears were confirmed.
A force of eXDOsitiOn guards were |