Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-09-12

twinkling he was borne to the ground,
his weapon was wrested from his
grasp and strong arms pinioned him
down.
Then the multitude which thronged
the edifice began to came to a real
izing sense of the a%wfulness of the
scene of which they had been I'M
willing witnesses.
A murmur arose, spread and swelled
to a hum of confusion, then grew to
a babel of sounds, and later to a pan
| demonium of noises.
The crowds hat a moment before
had stood mute and m~otionless, as N
bewildered~ ignorance of the enormity
of the thing, now, with a single i'm
pulse surged forward toward the
stage of the horrid drama, while a
hoarse cry welled up from a thousand
threats and a thousand men charged
forward to lay hands upon the perpe-
traitor of the d~astardly crime.
For a moment the confusion was
terrible. The crowd surged forward
regardless of consequences. Men
shouted and fought, women screamed
and children Grief. Some OF those
nearest the doors fed from the edifce
in fear of a stampede, while hun
dreds of others from the outside
struggled blindly forward IN the eff
| fort to penetrate the crowded build
ing and solve the mystery of excite
ment and panic which every moment
grew and swelled within the longest
| ed interior of the edifice.
Inside on the slightly raised dais
was enacted within those few feverish
moments, a tragedy so dramatic IN
character, so thrilling in its intensity
that few who looked on will ever be
able to give a succinct account OF
what really did transpire. Even those
who attended the president came out
of it with blanched faces, trembling
limbs and beating hearts, while their
brains throbbed with a tumult of con-
ficting emotions which could not be
clarified into a lucid narrative of the
events as they really transpired.
Oh the multitude which witnessed or
bore a part in the scene of turmoil
there was but one mind which seemed
to retain its equilibrium, n hand
which remained steady, one eye which
gazed with ~unfiinching calmness and
one voice which retained it's even
tenor and faltered not at the most
critical juncture.
They were the mind and hand and
eye and the voice of President Nc
Kinley.
After the first shock of the assas-
sins shot he retreated a step, then,
as the detectives leaped upon his as
sailant, he turned, walked steadily to
a chair and seated himself, at the
same time removing his hat and bow
ing his head in his hands.
In an instant Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milburn were at his
side. His waistcoat was hurriedly
opened, the president meanwhile ad-
monishing those about him to remain
calm and telling them not to be
alarmed.
but you r wounded cried his
secretary, "let me examine"
"No, / think not" answered the
president. ST am not badly hurt, I
assure you."
Nevertheless his outer garments
were hastily loosened and when q
trickling stream of crimson was seen
to wind its way down his breast,
spreading its tell-tale stain over the
white surface of the linen, their worst
fears were confirmed.
A force of exposition guards were
on the scene and an effort was made
to clear the building. By this time
the crush was terrific. Spectators
galleries, the crowd on the floor