The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-09-19
IT'S PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
Ec Takes the Oath OF office With Inn
DresSive Ceremonies.

| WAen the announcement VI IiS
death CT President Mckinley was
flashed CvCr the wires Eice-Pre'ident
Roosevelt was 25 miles from ra:!road
station in the Adirondac mountains on
a hunting expedition. Then began
the effort to convey the intelligence to
| him. Special relays If messengers
were detailed to notify him and toke
him to Buffalo. He w23 found anG
escorted to the railway station where
q special train took him to the scene
of the Presidents death. He reached
Buffalo on Saturday and repaired to
| the Milburn House. His fl s. act was
to express to Mrs. Mckinley his con-
dolence. The president was attired in
q black frock coat and dark striped
trousers. and wore a silk hat. He
was sombre Of countelance. and ap-
peared 10 feel both the solemnity OF the
! clcas sion and its responsibilities TOT
him.
He alighted at the Milburn house al
exactly 2:3S oclccS. He was accom-
panied by his host Mr.. Ansley Wilcox,
and one of the secret service force.
President Roosevelt came oat OF tho
Milburn house at 2:J6 and drove to the
Wilcox home. reaching there at 3:l5.
a ten minutes wait for the members
of the cabinet ensued, AMI preparations
were made for taking the oath OF o.
fee.
The place selected was the library
CT Mr.. Wilcox's house, i rather small
room. but picturesque, the heavy
oak trimmings and the massive book
cases giving it somewhat the appear
ance of legal den. A pretty bay
window. with stained glass and heavy
hangings, formed a background, and
against this the president took his pL.
stion. Surrounding him were the fiVe
members of the cabinet-SecretarIe3
Root. Hitchcock. Long Wilson and
Postmaster General Smith. Nearby
him was Senator Chaulcey NJ. Dspew,
Judge OF the Court o. Appeals Haight,
John Scatthard, Mr.. and Mrs. Ansley
Wilcox, Miss Wilcox, George P. saw
yer. Drs. Mann. Park and Stockton.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carleton Sprague. Ir.,
George B. Cortelyou. secretary to tn:
dead president; DR.. and Charles Carey,
R. C. Scatchard, J. D.. Sawyer, VIM.
Jcffers, official telegrapher OF the Uni
ted States Senate, and Judge OF the
United States District Court John K
Hazel.
At precisely 3:32 o'clock Secretary
Rect ceased his conversation with The
president and stepping back, while an
absolute hush fell upon everyone IN
the room, said, in almost inaudiole
voice:
Mr.. Vice President: T-Then nj:
voice broke, and for fully two minutes
the tears came down his face and his
lips quivered 50 that he could not con
tinue his utterance5. There were
sympathetic tears from these about
him, and two great drops ran down
either cheek of the successor OF vii.
liam Mckinley. Mr.. Roots chin wa:
on his breast. Suddenly, throwing
back his head as if with an effort, .!e
continued, in broken voice:
Il have been requested. on behalf Ct
the cabinet of the late president. 1t
least those who are present in Buffalo,
all except two. 10 request that, for re2.
sons of weight affecting the affairs CT
government. you should proceed tc
take the constitutional oath OF pres
dent of he United States
Judge Hazel had stepped to the rca!
Of the president and Mr.. Roosevelt,
coming closer to Secretary Roget. sail
in a voice that at first wavered. but
finally came deep and strong. while.
az if tc control his nervousness. hs
held firmly to the lapel OF his coat with
his right hand:
Il shall take the cath at once. in a.
cArGarre with your request, and in tbs
hour OF deep and terrible national b.
reavement | wish to state that It snal
he my aim to continue absolutely ur
broken the policy CT President M"kic'
ley for the peace and prosperity and
honor Of our beloved country"
The president stepped farther ialo
the bay window. and Judge HaZal. :al-
ing up the constitutional cath # Of
flee. which had been prepared OF
par "hment. asked the president -
raise his right hand and repeat it a?,e-
him. There was hush like death in
the room as the judge read a few
words at time ard the president. Ill
a strong voice. and without a tremo!.
and with his raised hand as steady IS
if carved from marble, repeated i. after
him. And thus | swear" he ended.
The hand dropped by his side. the chin
for an instant rested on the breast,