The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-09-12


an anarchist, he does not state to
what branch of the organization he
belongs.
Exposed TO Danger.
The president, though well guard
ed by United States secret service
detectives, was fully exposed to such
an attack as occurred. He stood at
the edge of the raised dais upon
which stands the great pipe organ at
The east side of the magnificent
structure. Throngs of people
crowded in at the various entrances
to gaze upon their executive, per-
chance to clasp his hand, and Inen
fight their way out in the good-na-
tured mob that every minute swelled
and multiplied at the points of in
gress and egress to the building.
The president was in a cheerful
mood, and was enjoying to the full
the hearty evidences of good will
which everywhere met his gaze. Up
on his right stood John G. Milburn,
of Buffalo, president of the Pan
American exposition, chatting with
the president and introducing to him
especially persons of note who APP
preached. Upon the presidents left
stood Mr.. Cortelyou.
The Assassin Approaches.
It was shortly after four p. M,
when one of the throng which sur
rounded the presidential party,
medium-sized man of ordinary ap-
in
black, approached as if to greet the
president. Both Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milburn noticed that
the mans hand was swathed in
bandage or hanuKerchief. Reports of
bystanders differ as to which hand.
He worked his way amid the stream
of people up to the edge of the dais
until he was within two feet of the
president.
Fires the shots.
President Mckinley smiled, bowed
and extended his hand in that spirit
of genialty the American people so
well know, when suddenly the sharp
crack of revolver rang out loud and
clear above the hum of voices, the
shutting of myriad feet and vibrat-
ing waves of applause that ever and
anon swept here and there over the
assemblage.
There was an instant of almost
complete silence. The president
stood stock still, look Of hesitancy,
almost of bewilderment on his face.
Then he retreated a step, while a
pallor began to steal over his fea-
lures. The multitude, only partially
aware that some thing serious had
happened, paused in surprise while
necks were craned and all eyes
turned as one to the rostrum where
a great tragedy was being enacted.
Captured.
Then came a commotion. With the
leapof a tiger three men threw them
selves forward, as with one impulse,
and sprang toward the would-be as
sassin. Two Of them were United
States secret service men who were
on the lookout and whose duty it
was to guard against just such a ca
lamity as had here befallen the presi-
dent and the nation. The third was
a bvstander, a negro who had only
an instant previously grasped in his
dusky palm the hand of the presi-
dent. As one man they hurled them
selves upon the presidents assailant.
in a twinkling he was borne to the
ground, his weapon was wrested
from his grasp and strong arms pin
toned him down.
Attempt at LynChing.
Then the multitude which thrOnged
he edifce began to come 10 a realiz-
ing sense of the awfuIness of the
scene of which they had been I'M
willing witnesses. \ murmur arose,
spread and swclled to a nun of con-
fusion, then grew to a babel Of
sounds and later to a pandemonium
of noises. The crowds that a mo-
ment before had stood mute and mo-
tionless, as in bewiIdered ignorance
of the enOrmity of the thing, nov
with a single impulse surged forward
toward the stage of the horrid drama
while a hoarse cry welled up from a
thousand throats and a thousand
men charged forward to lay hands
upon the perpetrator of the bastard
ly crime.
For a moment the confusion was
terrible The crowd surged forward
regardless of consequences. Men
shouted and fought, women screamed
and children cried. Some of those
nearest the doors fed from the edi-
fce 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 con-
gested interior of the edifice.
Inside on the slightly raised dais was
Enacted within those few feverish mo-
nents a tragedy so dramatic in char
acter, so thrilling in its intensity, that
few who looked on will ever be able to
give a succinct account of what really
lid transpire. Even the actors who
we're playing the principal roles came
out of it with blanched faces, trem-
bling limbs and beating hearts, while
their brains throbbed with tumult of
conflicting emotions which could not
be clarified into a lucid narrative of
the events as they really transpired.
Goodness of the President.
But of the multitude which wit
messed or bore part in the scene of
turmoil and turbulence there was but
one mind which seemed to retain its
equilibrium, one hand which remained