The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-14

Washington Sept. 1s.-The news of the expected death of President Mckinley came as a crushing blow to the nations capital. Nowhere perhaps had the eiti- zens been so full of confidence in the ultimate recovery of their beloved Presi- dent and the buoyant bulletins Of the past week from the sick bed had lulled them into a false sense of security which made the shock terrible when the news came that the Buffalo tragedy would nave fatal ending.
 All day long the bulletin boards were surrounded by crowds waiting in sup pressed excitement for the last word fr' m the Miiburn home and nu n .rols news paper extras were eagerly snapped up. Little work was done in the great execu- tive departments, as at the slightest eA- cuse the clerks dropped their pens ana turned to talk in small awe-strickefi groups of the chances that their chief magistrate had against death.
 Cabinet Officers Distressed.
 The three cabinet officers in tine capital today were pictures of distress. Two days ago Secretary Hay mad left his chief apparently on the road tc "eLovery.
  here this morning and said t"at WI en he came from the Mnburn home yts'ef- day that the President was, according 10 his best information, surely on the m"no' returned to Buffalo on the 7:40 tram 'o- night. Secretary Hay prepared for IDS sorrowful duty of conveying to the nations of the world in official form the news of the demise of the thiro Aiheri- can President through :he agency or an assassins bullet within the snort space of one human life. As the senior h"Ih- Der in rank of the cabinet, upon MT Hays shoulders also will rest the ourdeh of government of the great re2uLnc m the short, but important interval that must elapse before the Vlce-Presi1ent' under the terms of the consIlt ltion. as- sumes the cares and responsibilities ck the great Presidential office.
 Gage Awaits the End.
 At his home at Woodley, Secret Gage mournfully awaited the close Of his chiefs life. During the day he had ocen at the Treasury Department and mad kept in touch with financial affairs in crotr that the Presidents end miShS nnt cause any commercial disturbance that fmS, sight on the part of hls depa tment co.Io avert General Gillespie Acting Seer, ta- ry of War, stuck at his post in the War Department for the purpose ot nal ing such army orders as the sad even woIi' % munication with General Miles at SeAfle and the latter notified the Departm'bt that he would return immediately.
 The fact that the physicians had given up all hope caused some discussion among the public men in the city or the probability of an extra session or Con gress and of early changes ,in, m tne caol, wos that no cabinet changes or importanI departures in public policy were at all likely for some time to come and that Congress would not be assembled until It's regular session in December. All the cabinet. the chief diplomatic officials and the heads of important bureaus, accord tions to relieve the President of emDar- rassment, but it is believed Mr. Roose- welt would follow the precedent set by President Arthur after Garehlds q sIn,se and request them to continue in office.
 Would Welcome Relief.
 Some of the cabinet officers are not in good health and would sincerely welcome a relief from their offices. Under the presidential succession act a cabinet of fcer becoming chief magistrate would sion. but this readirement does not apply to a Vice-President succeeding to the of flee of his dead predecessor. and 1t Is be- lieved no extra session would be called
 
 as the, three months, intervening, until December can be bridged over without difficulty. and there Is no special occa- sion for Congress assembling.
 In many of the local churches today men and women assembled for quiet prayer that the life of the President might be spared.
 The largest of these meetings were held at the Metropolitan Methodist Church, where the Prsident and Mrs. Mckinley v'orshipped. Here many women, offered earnest prayers that the life of the Pres ident might be spared. A number of them quietly told of pretty incidents on the part of ths President that they had witnessed and dwelt especially on his
 o'?H Do You ' remember Children's Day?'' was said by one Sunday School teacher, when he invited the little boys who could not find seats to come in his pew? They were so proud and happy"
 ''They say that just little while be- fore he was shot" broke in another, The had shaken hands and spoken the kind est words to some little child"
 Thus incident after incident illustrat- ing the kindness, the love and charity, the religion of the President was recalled by the little group of women standing