Evening star., 1901-09-10
DESCRIBED BY A VISITOR
INCIDENTS AT BUFFALO WHEN THE
PRESIDENT WAS SHOT.
Victims Intervention Saved His As
sailant From Possible Death
Severer Penalties Needed.

Mr. Wilton ]. Lambert of this city, who
was in Buffalo when President Mckinley
was shot talked as follows to a Star re-
porter this morning:
"Yes, 1 was at the exposition in Buffalo
at the time the dastardly attempt was
made by the assassin CZolgosz upon the
life Of the President, and while our party
had no intention Of participating in the
public reception we were IN close proxim-
ty throughout the occurrence. BY the
time the signal for the beginning OF the
reception was given a tremendous crowd
was congregated within and around the
entrances to the music building which rem
dered 1T difficult for other than those COM
posing the immediate circle surrounding
the presidential party to gain an accurate
view Of the assault itself. The noise ere
ated by the crowd and augmented by the
repeated discharge Of rifles by the Indians
and others In front OF their respective viii
lagos dulled ones natural Apprehension at
the report of firearms, SO while the SOUND
Of the assassin's pistol was audible. 1t was
some moments before the situation could
be realized.
Presidents Intervention Saved Czol-
gOsE.
"As soon as the colored man Parker and
others had felled Czolgosz, thus eliminate
ing the chance Of third shot, those who
had already come to the Presidents aid,
assisted by others, did all possible for his
relief, and at this time, but for the prompt
Intervention Of the President on behalf of
the prisoner, the latter's moments Of life
would have been few. Indeed, I was told
at the time by one near enough to hear
that when the President signaied for the
safety of the culprit he said: Poor man,
he knew not what he did Upon the pass
ing Of a few moments the ambulance, at
at the door. but quicker yet the crowd had
grown, until thousands Of Americans, some
weeping, some awed in the realization of
the outrage and many consumed with in
tense anger toward the assassin thronged
the avenues upon every side..
Taken to the Hospital.
1.-The President was borne out tenderly
upon the stretcher. and witnessed a ride
to the hospital never to be forgotten. Part
Of the police escort, scarcely able to keep
In the van by galloping headlong through
the narrow passage, gradually being af-
forded by the mass of humanity, were fol-
lowed by the ambulance, drawn by two
splendid horses, who pushed madly at their
heels. The sharp turn from the Amherst
gate to the hospital was made In mastery
style, with hardly a slack In speed, and
lust at the hospital door, in advance Of the
crowd, the President was carefully with
drawn from the carriage, amid the wonder
Ing gaze OF fifty or more half-groWn boys
and girls collected at the gates, none Of
whom had the slightest idea regarding the
identity of the distinguished victim. The
President, intensely white and marked with
his life blood, rested calmly, one hand upon
his chest and the other just below. From
this time on the hospital became the Mecca
for the people and after the arrival OF the
surgeons, every bulletin was awaited with
fcverish anxiety.
Suspension OF Exposition Attractions.
First, the entertainments In the Streets
OF Cairo were suspended, and then one by
one the exhibits and music Of the Md
way were stopped People In attendance,
as yet ignorant Of the cause, rushed into
the driveways, and the word was passed
from mouth to mouth that the President
WAS dying; they were told to watch the
flags upon the buildings; that these would
be dropped to halfmast as soon as death
arrived Groups everywhere, their eyes
from time to time riveted upon the flags, dis
cussed in hushed voices one topic until the
hour OF 1850 approached, when, for the