The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-09-12

President Mckinley was shot and
seriously >.eanded by a wou!d-he a.
sassin while holding reception In
he Temple of Music at the Pan-Amer-
lean exposition, at Buffalo, N. Y,
few minutes after 4 o'clock Friday at
ternoon. One shot took effect In the
right breast, the other in the abdomen.
The first shot was not Of serious ma.
.ure, and the bullet was soon ex-
>-acted.
Specials from Buffalo tell the story
# the tragedy as follows:
President Mckinley, the idol OF the
american people, the nations chief
..xecutive and the city's honored guest,
les PROSTATE, suffering the pangs in
..icted by the bullets of cowardly as
sassin, while his life hangs in the
balance.
Out on Delaware avenue, at the
aome of John G. Milburn, president OF
the Pan-American exposition, with
fearful face and heart torn by con-
tlicting hopes and fears sits the faith
ful wife, whose devotion is known to
all the nation.
It was a few moments after 4 p. M,
while President Mckinley was hold
ing q public reception in the great
Temple of Music on the Pan-American
grounds that the cowardly attack was
made, with what success time alone
can tell. Standing in the midst OF
dense crowds, numbering thousands,
surrounded by every evidence Of good
will, pressed by a motley throng OF
people, showered with expressions OF
love and loyalty, beseiged by multi
tudes, all eager to clasp his hand, amid
these surroundings and with the ever
recurring plaudits Of an admiring
army Of sight-seers ringing in his ears,
the blow of the assassin fell and in an
instant pleasure gave way to pain. ad-
miration to agony, folly turned to fury
and pandemonium followed.
Planned with the diabolical inge-
nuity and fineness OF which anarchy
or nihilism is capable, the would-be
assassin carried out the work without
hitch, and should his designs fail
and the president survive, to Divine
Providence can be attributed the re-
suit.
The president, although well guard
ed by United States secret service de-
tectives, was fully exposed to such an
attack as occurred. He stoed at the
edge of the raised dais upon which
stands the great pipe organ at the
east side Of the magnificent structure.
Throngs of people crowded in to gaze
upon their executive. perchance to
clasp his hand, and then fight their
way out in the good-natured mob that
every minute swelled and multiplied
at the points Of ingress and egfess to
the building.
The president was in cheerful
mood, and was enjoying, to the fullest
extent, the hearty evidences Of good
will which everywhere met his gaze.
Upon his right stood John @. Milburn,
of Buffalo, president Of the Pan-Amer-
lean, chatting with the president and
introducing to him any especial per-
sons of note who approached. Upon
the platform stood Secretary Cortel-
you. It was shortly after p. N. when
one of the throng which surrounded
that party, a medium-sized man Of or
binary appearance and plainly dressed
in black, approached as II to greet the
president. Both Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milbuxn noticed that the
mans hand was swathed In bandage
or handkerchief. Reports OF bystand-
ers differ as to his hand. He worked
his way amid the stream Of people up
to the edge Of the dais until he was
within two feet Of the president.
Mr.. Mckinley smiled, bowed and e1-
tended his hand in that spirit Of ge-
niality the American people so well
know, when suddenly the sharp crack
Of a revolver rang out loud and clear
above the hum of voices, the shutting
of myriads Of feet and vibrating waves
of applause that ever and anon swept
here and there over the assemblage.
There was an instant Of almost COM
plete silence. The president stood
stock still, a look Of hesitancy, almost
of bewilderment, on his face. Then
he retraced step, while a pallor be-
gan to come over his features. The
multitude, only partially aware that
something serious had happened, paus.
ed In surprise, while the necks were
craned and all eyes turned as one to-
ward the rostrum where great trag-
edy was being enacted. Then came a
commotion.
With the leap of tiger three men