The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-09-20
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY is DEAD
The Dark Angel Touched the Sufferer, and
He Fell Asleep. His End Was Pain
less and His Soul Serene.

William Mckinley, twenty fifth
President of the United States, died
at 2:l5 o'clock Saturday morning
from the effect of an assassin's
bullet.
Theodore Roosevelt, twenty sixth
President of the United States,
succeeds to that exalted office un-
der the conditions and laws of the
country, and with the oath of office,
administered, begins the exercise
of the functions of President.
In these statements are embraced
the contamination of an awful
tragedy and the historic event by
which the entire administration of
the government is changed, and a
new administration comes into be-
ing. But for a moment the trans
fer of the government is forgotten
in the sorrow which has fallen on
the nation. Soldier, statesman,
President, devoted husband and
friend, Mckinley was beloved by
all who knew him.
The death of President McKin-
ley came in the small hours of the
morning under circumstances of
peculiar weirdness. For hours he
mad lam unconsciously, with all
hope of his survival abandoned.
AS early as the last night the doc
tors had pronounced him a dying
man, and soon thereafter the rigors
of approaching death began to
creep upon him. The administra-
ton of powerful stimulants was
until Z o'clock, but
with no effect. 1t was seen that
the end was near at hand. and those
nearest and dearest to the Presi-
dent were summoned for the offices
of the last farewell. He came out
Of stupor about 7 o'clock, and
while his mind was partially clear,
there occurred the last endear-
ments, the last submission of the
sufferer to the win of the AL
mighty, the last murmured ex-
pressions from his dying lips and
the last good-bys.
In the interval of consciousness
Mrs. Mckinley was brought into
Lhe death chamber. The President
had asked to see her. She came
ind sat beside him, held his hand,
md heard from him his last words
If encouragement and comfort.
Then she was led away, and not
again during his living hours did
she see him.
The President himself fully real |
zed that his hour had come, and
his mind turned to his Maker. He
whispered feebly, "Nearer, My |
God, to Thee" the words Of the |
lynn always dear to his heart.
Then in faintest accents he muir
nured, "Good-by, all good-by; it's
Gods way. His will be done, not
,urs."
A GRIEF-sTRIcKEN ASSEMBLY.
With the sublime display of
christian fortitude the President
con after lapsed into conscious
less.
The members of the cabinet,
,rief stricken, were gathered in
he large drawing-room of the
dilburn house. The time had
ome when they, too, we're to look
Ipon the President for the last
ime in life. They assembled the
tairway one after the other noise
essly approaching the threshold of
he chambe where the dying man
az and gazed within. Those who
anne first turned back appalled,
md overwhelmed and did not pass
within the chamber. Secretary |
Wilson remained below unwilling |
o have imprinted on his memory
he picture of his expiring chief.
Secretary Long, who arrived on
! late train, went at once 10 the
,hamber and passed directly to the
bedside of the President, grasping |