The Washington times., 1901-09-15
SCENES at THE pEATHBEDs
The Pathetic Parting of the Presi-
dent uEd His wife. -

BUFFALO. Sept IA. = Throughout
the length and breadth of the
land. to. every State and i, city.
town and faifilet went forth the
announcement at 2:2O o'clock this
morning. five minutes after President
Mckinley had breathed his last, that The
President was dead Never was mes
sage fraught with such moment, never
did a message carry more suFrow TO mill
lions of people than this simple announce
ment that the end had come to the gall
LIANT soldier and statesman. in the brave
fight for life which had been going on for
q week.
For nearly twenty-four hours the end
had been expected, but no amount of prep
aration or expectation could deaden the
force of the blow. There are many TO
whom the scenes of last night recall the
tragic deaths of Lincoln and Garfield.
but the anguish of 4 sorrogins country
cannot be lessened by rejecting that Pres
ident Mckinley has only met the fate
which befeli two other well-beIoYed Pres
idents death by an assassin's bullet.
The memory of the events of the past
week will live in the minds of millions
for a long time and will be transmitted
to their posterfty. All the love and affec-
ident were poured out in prayers and sup
plications for his recovery, and. now that
he is dead, nothing can assuage the grief
that has stricken them.
A little over a week ago President Nc
Kinley was the embodiment of health,
striving to advance the welfare of his
country, anxious for its prosperity, and
mingling with the people who loved him
so we'll Then came the announcement
which plunged the nation into gloom,
that he had been shot. The anxious wait
for definite news, the first faint rays of
hope gave growing confidence that after
all ne would be spared 10 them These
llickering hopes were famed into posi-
tive confidence, and the whole country
began to rejoice that the assassin's at
tempt had been balked. Then ike a
binding flash, came the announcement of
his collapse. Fear gradually gave way to
despair, and then death stepped in and
claimed him.
The hope that had buoyed up everyone
until yesterday morning makes all the
harder the blow that fell SO suddenly
When the first reports went out in the
grey dawn of yesterday that the Presi-
dent had had a relapse and WAS in grave
danger. many looked upon it as only
temporary setback There was keen dis
appointment when the first bulletins is
sued by the hastily summoned surgeons
did not show n quick rally. The omnous
tidings continued to come and those who
tried to read between the lines realized
in a dull way that the tragedy whose first
scene was laid in the Temple Of Music
was nearly finished and the curtain about
to be ruEg down forever All day long
a ceaseiess watch was kept to satiate the
anxious longing for news. Not even the
most optimistic. however. could bring
themselves to feel confident. The night
with its attendant horrors and eNaSgerat-
ed fears settled down and the dread OF
that intangible something which it was
expected the night would develop increas-
cd. The faint hopes that pure optimism
had inspired in the breasts of some wan
ed and everyone simply wai;od for the
end.
Emanating from no one knows whore
r,mors of death flew thick and fast dur
ing the evening. The wide stree is lined
with trees. were dark save for large
electric light suspended OYER the corncr.
The trees shut oat the i!Safs from the
houses on either side and threw Eei:d
shadows across the street The lights
were subGped on the staops Of the house.
where gathered the inmates, who sat 81
lentiy watching or whispering "a low
tones All eyes were centred on the vine
covered. aag-draped house whore the
President was dying. Standing bac; from
the street and shaded with trees. the bare
outline of Il could be seen. Lights burned
low in every window Scareelv sound