The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-17


objective point.
Not until he dashed up to the special
train at North Creek at 5:22 o'clock
this morning, did he learn that Presi-
dent Mckinley had passed away at
Buffalo at 2:15 o'clock. Mr.. Loeb, his
secretary, was the first to break the
news to him. The new president was
visibly affected by the intelligence and
expressed desire to reach Buffalo as
soon as possible.
Within one minute after his arrival
at North Creek he boarded the special
train which at once pulled out in the
direction of Buffalo via Saratoga and
Albany. He did not complain of IA
tigue, but looked somewhat pale and
careworn.
THE ARRIVAL AT BUFFALO.
Buffalo. n. Y. September 14-Presi-
dent Roosevelt reached Buffalo at lao
o'clock this afternoon. accompanied
only by his private Secretary, William
Loeb. Jr. An immense crowd which
had been awaiting his arrival for hours
was gathered about the station eager
to catch a first sight of the president.
The train, however. did not enter the
station proper, but the president landed
at the Terrace. When he left the train
an escort of the Fourth signal corps,
formed about him and conducted him
to an automobile with his friend, Ansley
| Wilcox. in waiting.
The demonstration which greeted his
| appearance was in keeping with the
solemnity of the occasion. Those who
saw his did not raise a cheer, but at
| tested their respect by lifting their hats.
AS soon as he entered the vehicle, the
| chauffeur turned the lever and the au-
| tomobile went skimming away to the
| residence of Mr.. Wilcox on Delaware
| avenue. Twenty mounted police clat-
| tering along on either side could with
| difficulty keep the peace which the au-
| tomobile set.
President Roosevelt declined to make
any statement whatever for publica-
| ton.
| The president arrived at the Wilcox
home at 1:45 o'clock. his only attend
| ents being Mr.. William Loeb, Jr., his
secretary and Mr.. Ansley Wilcox.
With hardly any conversation he re-
| tired at once to his room, where he
bathed and dressed. AT 2:3O o'clock he
was ready to leave for the Milburn
| house, where he desired to make his
| official call of coincidence. He was es-
corted by detail from the Fourth sig
nal corps and mounted police. So rapid
| ly did his driver proceed that his escort
| was left a couple of blocks behind, with
the exception of the commanding Of
ficers and a lieutenant of police.
The president was attired in a black
frock coat and dark striped trousers
and wore a silk hat. He was sombre
of countenance and appeared to feel
both the solemnity of the occasion and
its responsibilities for him.
He alighted at the Milburn house at
exactly 2:3S o'clock. He was accom-
panied to the house by his host, Mr.
Ansley Wilcox and one Of the secret
service force.
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE
President Roosevelt came out of the
Milburn house at 1855 o'clock and drove
to the Wilcox home. reaching there al
3:15 o'clock. A ten minutes wait for the
members of the cabinet ensued and
preparations were made for taking the
oath of office.
The place selected was the library OF
Mr.. Wilcox's house. a rather small
room, but picturesque, the heavy OAK
trimmings and the massive book cases
giving it somewhat the appearance OF
a legal den. A pretty bay window with
stained glass and heavy hangings form.
ed a background and against this the
president took his position. Surround
ing him were the five members of the
. cabinet, Secretaries Root. Hitchcock
| Long. Wilson and Postmaster Genera
Smith. Nearby. We're Senator Chaunce1
NJ. Depew, Judge of the Court of Ap
peals. Hight. John Scatherd, Mr.. ant
Mrs. Ansley Wilcox. Miss Wilcox
. George P. Sawyer, Doctors Mann, Parl
and Stockton; Mr.. and Mrs. Carleton
Spra que, Mr.. and Mrs. John G.. Milburn
Secretary William NJ. Loeb. Jr., Secre
. tary George B. Cortelyou. DR.. and Mrs
, Charles Carri. r. C. Scattered, ]. D
Sawyer. William Jeffers. official tele
grapher of the United States senate
and John R. Hazel Judge of the United
States district court.
Judge Hazel stood near the presiden
in the bay window, and the latte
showed his almost extreme nervousness:
by plucking at the lapel Of his Ion,
frock coat and nervously tapping tn,
: hardwood floor with his heel. H
stepped over once to Secretary Roo
. and for about five minutes they con
: versed earnestly. The question at is
sue was whether the president shoult
3 first sign an oath of Office and thel
: swear in or whether he should swea
in first and sign the document in tn
2 case after.
: a PATHETIC SCENE.
1 At precisely 1892 o'clock Secretar,
81 Root ceased his conversation with tn