The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-17
The Presidents Marvel
Gus Self Possession.
.DR.W|THROW'SSTORY
His Presence at the Hospital
Purely AceidentaI--Teiis
Of Scene Following
the Shooting.

DR.. J. M. Withrow, of Cincinnati,
who was at Buffalo with his family on
the day of the shooting of the president,
was among the first at the bedside OF
the wounded chief executive, and the
impression of that scene is indelibly
impressed upon his mind. His pres
ence at the hospital was purely acci-
dental, as Mrs. Withrow wanted to find
temporary place where she could rest
prior to meeting her father, General
Andrew Hickenlooper, the entire party
intending to make a call upon the pres
ident when he returned to the Ohio
building. DR.. Withrow is we'll ac-
quainted with the physicians of the
Emergency hospital of Buffalo, and he
and Dr. Storer, of Chicago, who was
also in the party. were talking together
when the ambulance bearing Mr.. Nc
Kinley rolled up. Preceding the
stretcher bearers walked Secretary
Cortelyou. and his greeting was:
Gentlemen, it is the president"
cat first" said DR.. Withrow, while
talking with a Cincinnati newspaper
representative, 81 thought that the
president had been suddenly taken i'll
and inquired as to his malady. The
president has been shot, said Mr.. Cor
telyou. Then
AN AWED SILENCE
fell upon the nurses and internes that
stood around. Meanwhile he was car
ried to the operating room, an apart
ment about Is by 20. and laid upon a
bed. followed into the room, having
quickly told one of the internes to tele-
phone for Drs. Mann and Park, not
knowing at the time that the latter was
at Niagara Falls. With the assistance
of the nurses we removed the presi-
dents clothing, and just then DR.. Myn-
ter came in. OF all who were in that
sick chamber Mr. Mckinley was the
most composed. There was not q
tremor in his body, no excitement evil
denced in his face. and l never saw n
more marvellous self-possession in any
human being, AS took his hand for
the purpose of feeling the pulse IL was
as steady as my own. and when / asked
him how he felt he answered compos-
edly: L am feeling WELL I looked
at his face again and again, but no
change was. perceptible, and / noted
the pulse-it was just 80. From the i'm
preston then gathered believed that
while he was badly hurt he would
EVENTUALLY RECOVER.
There was something in that counten
ance which told me that there was a
large stock Of energy to draw from In
the struggle for life.
Il then withdrew, leaving Secretary
Cortelyou and DR.. Mynter in charge
and when | saw the latter again he
showed me the bullet which had struck
the president in the chest, glanced off
against the sternum and was found in
his undershirt. When left the hospi-
tai / was dazed by the thought that
such man could be the target selected
by brute in disguise to wreak a venge-
ance conjured up by distorted mild.
AS | fingered near l was surprised at
the quiet that prevailed. The startling
news had spread like wildfire. and even
later, when the whole city knew of the
tragic act, that section in the immediate
vicinity of the hospital where the pres
ident lay was as quiet as the grave. No
morbid mobs gathered, and 1t was not
even necessary to guard the rear of
the institution against intrusion. Then
| marveled at the wonderful American
good sense displayed, and in my heart
thanked the people of Buffalo for the
Difference they had paid Mr.. Mckinley
in his misfortune irrespective of how
much they might differ with him poll
tically."