Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-09-14

sassin, while his life hangs In the bal
ance. Out on Delaware avenue, at the
home OF John Milburn, president OF the
Pan-American exposition, with tearfuI
face and heart torn by conflicting hopes
and fears, sits the faithful wife, whose
devotion Is known to all the nation.
Occurred About 4 y. m.
II was a few moments after 4 p. m.
while President Mckinley was holding
a public reception In the great Temple
of Music on the Pan-American grounds
that the cowardly attack was made,
with wha success time alone can tell.
Standing in the midst OF crowds num-
bering thousands, surrounded by every
evidence OF good Will, pressed by a mot
ley throng OF people, shoWered WIN
expressions OF love and loyalty, be-
sieged by multitudcs, all eager to clasp
his hands, amid these surroundings II
with the ever recurring plaudits or an
army OF sightseers ringing In his ears,
the blow OF the assassin fell and In an
instant pleasure gave way to pain; al
miration to agony, folly turned TO fury
and pandemonium followed.
Last night a surglng, swaying, eager
multitude thronged the city's main
thoroughfares, choking the streets In
front OF the principal newspapers,
scanning the bulletins with anxious
eyes and grooming or cheering In turn
each succeeding announcement as the
nature of the message sank or buoyed
their hopes.
Down at police headquarters, sur
rounded by stern-faced inquisitors of
the law, is a medium-slZed man OF
commonplace appearance with his fXed
gaze directed on the floor, who presses
his lips firmly together and listens with
an air of assumed Indifference to the
persistent stream of questions, argu-
ments, objurgations and admonitions
with which his captors seek TO induce
or compel him to talk.
Scene OF Attack.
IT was Just after the daily organ re-
cital in the splendid Temple OF Music
hat the dastardly attempt was made.
Planned with all the diabolical ingenu-
ity and fnnesse OF which anarchy or
nihilism Is capable, the would-be as
sassin carried out the work without a
hitch, and should his designs fail and
the president survive. only TO divine
providence can be attributed that
benefcent result.
The president, though guarded by
United States secret service detectives,
was fully exposed to such an attack as
occurred. He stood at the edge Of he
raised dais upon which stands the
great pipe organ at the east side of the
magnificent structure. Throngs of
people crowded in at the various en-
frances to gaze upon their executive.
perchance to clasp his hand, and then
fight their way out in the good ma
tured mob that every minute swelled
and multiplied at the points or ingress
and egress to the building.
The president vas in n cheerful MOOD,
and was enjoying to the full the hearty
evidences OF good will which every
where met his gaze. Upon his right
stood John G.. Milburn OF Buffalo,
president OF the Pan-American eXposi-
ton, chatting with the president and
introducing him especially to persons
Of note who approached. Upon the
presidents left stood Mr.. Cortelyou.
1t was shortly after 4 p. m. when one
of the throng which surrounded the
presidential party, q medium sized
man, Of ordinary appearance and
elainly dressed in black, approached
As II to greet the president. Both Sec
rotary Cortelyou and President Milburn
noticed that the mans hand was
swathed in a bandage or handkerchief
Reports Of bystanders differ as 10
which hand. He worked his a 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 land in that spirit of
yenialty the American people SO well