The Washington times., 1901-09-14
AT THE DEPARTMENTS
| Sorrowful vigil of OmciaIs During
EARLY Part of the Night.

n n
Enr1y Part of the Night.
The State. War. and Navy Departments
building was dark and sombre last night
except for the few faint lights shining
through the windows of the one or two
offices which were occupied Telegraph in
struments throughout the night clicked
messages of abandoned hope to the anx-
ions group of haggard officials gathered
in the telegraph ROOM Among those who
kept the vigil and watched in vain for en-
couraging word from the fatal bedside In
Buffalo were Gen. George l. Gillespie the
Acting Secretary of War in the absence
of Secretary Root: Col. Thomas Ward.
Acting Adjutant General; NJ. o. Chance,
private secretary to Secretary Root: Lieu
tenant Morton. of the Ordnance Depart
ment. and Colonel Edwards. Chief OF the
Insular Division of the War Department.
A large force OF operators were In charge
of Capt. C. o. Pearson. Messages were
received almost constantly. As soon as
the dispatches were received they were
Immediately transmitted to the various
Cabinet officers.
When the first news Of the attempted
assassination was received at the War
Department one week ago. steps were
taken Immediately to secure a through
wire to Buffalo, and while the critical
condition of the President continued at
first, the wire was retained. When the
first reassuring news from Buffalo ar
rived. the necessity for the private wire
was not so acute, and with the indication
of permanent Improvement in the con-
dition Of President Mckinley. the through
line was dispensed with. Messages at the
War Department last night we're there
fore received after having been repeated
at New York. but only a slight delay oc-
CURED.
Scarcely had the latest intelligence been
received by the anxious and grief stricken
watchers at the Milburn residence before
the instruments in the War Department
were clicking the very latest word As
each bulletin was received an awe-stricken
group gathered about. almost afraid to
receive the message, and dreading. with
the appearance of each bulletin, the news
that President Mckinley was no more.
The early night wore on. and as mes
sage after message arrived. showing that
the President was barely holding his own.
and that with the passage Of each min
ute his life breath was ebbing fast away.
creased The strain of the past week
showed upon their faces and in their sad
dened eyes. Colonel Ward left the build
ing shortly before 10 O'Clock. Private
Secretary Chance followed him. Colonel
Edwards and General Gillespie remained.
Neither Secretary Hay nor Assistant
Secretary Adee was present at the State
Department last night, though both were
kept informed by constant bulletins of
the condition of the dying Executive.
Early in the evening a discouraging
telegram was received from Major Sy-
mons. at Buffalo, which indicated all too
plainly that all hope had fed The brief
message was addressed to General Giles
pie. and was as follows:
's:H p. m.-Just from Miiburn house.
President extremely low and sinking
rapidly. only kept alive by artificial
respiration. All hope abandoned; end
may come any moment.
Other dispatches from the various press
associations were received constantly.
They showed that the outlook was indeed
without hope, and sorrow and gloom set
lied like pail about the mammoth build
ing. To the east the White House was
shown so clearly in the light that every
letail stood out with perfect disrinctness.
There was curiosity on the part of
thoss who passed the department build
ing, although there was the suspicion of
4 tear in the eyes of men who passed
the almost deserted Executive Mansion.
and remembered the gay festivities of the
last inauguration of President Mckinley.
Among the doorkeepers at the War De-
partment, many of whom have been at
The same posts for years. and who knew
President Mckinley, but one topic was |
discussed in hushed whispers-the death |
of the President. |
He was a Christian gentleman" said |
an aged attendant, whose services at the |
War Department have extended over a |
period of many years. and who knew the |
President when he was in Congress. He |
was Christian. and perfect Christian. |
and 1t is hard for man to live a Chris |
tian life in this world. He was bold. up |
right, and courageous. never knew him |
to be guilty of a mean or discourteous |
act. There were few like him in public |
life. We, here on the DOORS ought to |
know. for we see and are acquainted with |
almost all of them. [ have seen Prtsi- |
dents come and go. in my time but not |
20 single one have | ever felt the at
achment l have known for President Nc
Ilinley.
The old mans eyes were filed with |
ears as he paid his humble tribute.