New-York tribune., 1901-09-07

their well beloved Executive. perchance 10 ciaSi
his hand and then fight their way out in the
good natured mob that every minute sweiied
and multiplied at the points of ingress and
egress to the building. The President was in a
cheerful mood. and enjoying TO the fun the
hearty evidences of goodwill which everywhere
met his gaze Upon his right stood John IT,
NiIburn. of Buffalo. president of the Pan-Ameri-
can Exposition. chatting with the President and
introducing to him especially persons OF note
who approached Upon the Presidents lett stooo
Mr.. Cortelyou.
II was shortly after D. when one or the
throng which surrounded the Presidential party
a medium sized man of ordinary appearance ana
plainly dressed in black. approached as II 10
greet the President.
r,o.h Secretary Cortelyou and President Mil
burn noticed that the mans hand was s"IsfIied
in q bendage or handkerchief. Reports OF D!-
ISLANDERS differ as TO which hand He WORKED
his way amid the stream of people up TO the
edge of the dais. until he within two feet
Of the President
President Mckinley smiled bowed and ex-
tan5ad his hand in that spirit of genality the
American people so well know. when suddenly
the sharp crack Of revolver rang out LOUD
ard clear above the hum Of voices the shuffns
Of myriad feet and the vibrating waves Of aP-
plause that ever and anon swept here and there
over the assemblage.
There was an instant Of almost complete
silence like the hush that follows a clap Of
thunder or the momentary stiffness that ensues
after the explosion Of bonbshen. The Presi-
dent stood stock still, look Of hesitancy' al
most ~ bewilderment on his face. Then he re-
treated q STEP while a pallor began to steal
over his features The multitude only par
TALLY aware that something terrible had hap
nened. paused in the silence CT surprise. while
rAcks were craned and all eyes turned as one
toward the rostrurn, where great tragedy was
being enacted.
CAPTURE OF THE CRIMINAL.
Then came a commotion. With the leap Of a
.,gar three men threw themselves forward as
with one impulse and sprang toward the would
be assassin Two Of them were United states
Secret Service men, who were on the watch and
whose duty il was guard against just such
a calamity as had here befalen the President
and the nation. The third was a bystander.
negro, who had only an instant before graspeo
in his daskr palm the hand of the President
AS one man the trio hurled themselves on
the Presidents assaflant In a twinkling he
was borne to the ground. his weapon was
vrested from his grasp. and strong arms PIN
toned him down.
Then the vast multitude which thronsed the
edifice began TO come TO q realizing sense Of the
awfuIness of the scene Of which they had been
unwilling witnesses.
nlurrnur arose. spread and swelled 10 hum
Of confusion. then grew to a babel of sounds and
later to a pandemonium of noises
VAST CROWD IN FRENZY.
The crowds that moment before had stood
mute and motionless in bewildered ignorance of
the enorrnity Of the thing with a single
impulse surged forward toward the stage OF the
horrid drama, while a hoarse cry welled up from
thousand throats and a thousand men charged
forward to lay hands upon the perpetrator Of
the dastardy crime.
For a moment the confusion terrible. The
crowd surged forward regardless of conse-
quenoes Men shouted and fought women
screamed and children cried. Some of those
nearest the doors fed from the edihce in fear Of
a stampede. while hundreds of others from the
outside struggled blindy forward in the effort
10 penetrate the crowded building and solve the
mystery Of excitement and panic which every
moment grew and swelled within the congested
interior OF the palatal edifce.
Inside on the slightly raised dais was enacted
in those few feverish moments a tragedy so
dramatic in character. so thrilling in its in
tensity. that few who looked on will ever be able
TO give a clear account OF what really did hap
pen. Even the actors who were playing the
principal roles came out Of IT with blanched
faces. trembling limbs and beating hearts while
their brains throbbed with a tunault of conflict
ing emotions which left behind only chaotic
tumble OF impressions which could not be clari-
fed into a lucid narrative of the events as they
really occurred.
THE PRESIDENT ALONE CALM
But OF the multitude which witnessed or bore
a part in the scene OF turmoil and turbulence
there one mind which seemed TO retain its