The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-07
When the News Was Confirmed IN
Atmosphere of Deep Gloom
Settled over the City.
BIG CROWDS DOWN TOWN
CITIZENS EAGER TO GET THE VERY
LATEST INFORMATION.
T-hroughout the Afternoon md Night
the Telephone Wires Were
Constantly Busy.

The news that President Mckinley had
been shot spread over Indianapolis with
ligh~tning-hke rapidity and created conster-
nation wherever it was received.
The announcement of the tragedy was
first made by bulletins over the Associated
until the terrible news was the one theme
CT conversation in every downtown bust
ness office. store and workshop. The news
was generally received with a suspension of
work. and the affair was discussed in low
tones. The newspaper bulletin boards were
quickly surrounded by large and eager
crowds.
Those who first heard the news had
many friends they wished to notify and
promptly sought the telephones. During
the afternoon the exchanges of both tele-
phone offices were perhaps the busiest in
their history. Scarcely any number could
be called that was not busy, and the opera
tors were so overwhelmed by calls that it
was difficult to get any communication
without delay.
DOUBTED AT FIRST.
The message was almost discredited by
many who first heard 1t, and with anxious
faces they questioned each other, saying:
Il wonder If it can be true?" Soon the re-
port was confirmed, and wherever the an
nouncement had been made that the Presi-
dent was hot there were deep express
sions of regret.
Many were excited and eagerly asked all
newcomers if they knew who the villain
was that committed the deed. Men left
their desks and walked to adjoining Of
fees of business associates to discuss the
tragedy, and practically closed their bust
ness for the afternoon. Groups of excited
men congregated in the streets at short
intervals and discussed the affair, and hum
dreds crowded to the newspaper Offices to
read the bulletins as they came in.
The meager information that accompa-
MED the first announcement of the murder
Gus assault threw the entire population OF
the city into feverish excitement and ex-
pectancy. Strangers accosted each other ON
the streets seeking the latest news regard
ing the condition of the wounded President.
Wild rumors flew thick and fast from I'M
known sources, and persons knew not what
to believe other than that the President
had been shot. A message came from some
where that President Mckinley had died,
and this added to the excitement and eager
inquiries.
EAGER INQUIRIES.
The newspaper offices and all possible
sources of news were besieged by inquiries
by telephone, and there was scarcely a
minute in the afternoon after the an
nouncement was received that all such
lines were not busy. Inquiries came to the
Journal from all points of the State. The
report Of the tragedy was received at the
StatehOuse by Secretary Wilson, of Gov
ernor Durbin's office, and he went to all of
the offices bearing the news. The clerks
and others laid down their work, and joviaI
expressions were changed to sadness. The
announcement in the courthouse produced
a similar effect, and telephones were hastily
sought to verify the report.
The report spread over the federal build
ing almost as soon as it was received, and
the employees, being more directly connect
ed with the national government than any
other institution in the city, realized more
keenly, if possible, the calamity that had
befallen the Nation. So it was wherever
the report was received, and, regardless of
politics, the deepest sympathy was ex-
pressed.
Late in the afternoon, when more encour-
aging news came. faces frightened. The
later announcement that there was a pos
sibility of the Presidents recovery caused
expressions Of regret to mingle with feel
ings of nope that it might be true.
In the early hours of the evening the resi-
dence portions Of the city were almost de-
serted, people coming TO the center of the
city in carriages and otherwise to be in
close touch with the last news from the
Presidents bedside. The crowds were large
in the vicinity of the newspaper offices and
remained until a late hour. In clubs, hotel
offices and on the streets nothing else ex-
cept the attempted assassination was
talked about