The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08
THE STORY RETOLD
EYE WITNESS OF CRIME TELLS
ITS DETAILS.
FIRST THOUGHT OF HIS WIFE.
PRESIDENT WANTED THE NEWS
KEPT FROM MRS. MCKINLEY.

Newspaper Reporter. Who Was Not
Ten Feet Away, Tells How Cool
gosx Approached the President
and Committed His Fearful Crime.
He Thought Ais Intended Murder
err Had Keen Injured and Leaned
Forward With a Smile of Sym
pathy-Then the Shots Were Fired.
Courage of President WINS Sub
lime.
Buffalo, Sept. Ton many material
points and particularly the utterances
of the President after he was shot,
the witnesses of yesterdays tragedy
at the Temple of Music, fail to agree.
The action of the tragedy was very
fast, and its commission was followed
by scene of confusion in which 1t was
difficult to either see or hear with ac-
caracy, however close one stood to the
President and his assailont,
1t is now conceded that the President
did not say: May God forgive him."
after he was shot, and agreed that his
ifst audible speech was a reference
to his wife. II trust Mrs. Mckinley
will not be informed of this: at least.
hope it will not be exaggerated.
A newspaper reporter who stood just
behind the President when the shoot
ing occurred. gave one of the clearest
accounts related so far. He said:
President Thought Him Wounded.
Il stood about ten feet from the
President and saw Czoigosz approach
him. The latter had his right hand
drawn up close to his breast. and a
white linen handkerchief wrapped
about it.. It bore the appearance OF
a bandage. He extended his left hand
and I am quite sure the President
thought he was injured, for he leaned
forward and looked at him in a SYM
pathetic way.
when directly in front of the Pres
ident, Czolgosz threw his right hand
forward and fired. I saw the fash and
smoke, followed by the report, and
then heard the second shot. Instant
ly John Parker. the eolored man, and
Secret Agent Foster were upon Cool
gosz, and they bore him to the floor.
Czolgosz, lying PROSTATE. still retain
ed hold on his revolver and seemed
to be trying to get his arm free 10
FIRE again.
THE President did not fall He
raised his right hand and felt OF his
breast, and seemed to be maintaining
his upright position only by wonder
full effort. I am sure he did not speak
at that moment He gazed hxedly at
his assailant with a look which can
not describe, but which I shall never
forget, and in moment reeied back
into the arms of Secretary Cortelyou.
Keep the News From Wife.
"Czolgosz's revolver had. by that
time, been knocked from his hand. and
some. one had picked I'D the burning
handkerchief which lay at his feet.
Czoigosz was picked up. forced back
and again knocked down. Mr.. Cor
President, and led him to chair.
heard him ask that the news be kept
from his wife, and a moment later,
VIXEN Secretary Cortelyou asked him If
he felt much pain, he said:
This wound hurts very much
He seemed to be fairly easy as he
rested in the chair. and some OF the
fading color came back to his face.
He reached his right hand inside his
shirt, and when he withdrew it his I'm
gers were tipped with blood. He paled
again at the sight of the blood, and I
think he tainted. Senior Azpiroz, the
Mexican minister. broke through the
crowd and, rushing up to the Presi-
dent. cried:
my God. Mr. President. are you
shot?'
1.-THE minister seemed to about throw
himself at the feet of the President,
bur was restrained. The Presidents
answer came very slowly, and in
halting subdued voice. He said:
Hes, believe am
President Did Not Speak.
"The Presidents attention was at
tracted by the noise of the officers who
were dragging the murderer away, but
he did not speak. His head rested on
the arm of Mr.. Milburn and he seemed
only partly conscious. His courage
was superb and while he was concious
he was the master Of the pain which
he suffered. When the ambulance came
and a stretcher was brought in he
started forward and partially regained
his feet unassisted. heard not a word
from the assailant of the President.
He was struck down the moment he
fired the second shot, and If he did
speak it probably was in exclamation
at the very rough treatment he was
~. a