Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-09-12


PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
pressions of love and loyalty, besicged
by multitudes, all eager to clasp his hand
amidst these surroundings and with
the ever-recurring plaudits of an admir-
ing army of sightseers 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.
Last night a surging, swaying, eager
multitude thronged the city's main
thoroughfares, choking the streets in
front of the principal newspapers. scan
ming the bulletins with anxious eyes and
Sroaning or cheering in turn each sue
ceeding announcement as the nature of
the message sang or buoyed their
hopes.
Was Fully Exposed.
The president, though well guarded by
United States secret service detectives,
was fully exposed to such an attack as
occurred. He stood Mt the edge of the
raised dais upon which stands the great
nificent structure Throngs of people
crowded in at the various entrances, to
gaze upon their well-belovcd executive,
pcrchance to clasp his hand, and then
fight their way out in the good-natured
mob that every minute swelled and null
tipled at the points of ingrcss and egress
to the building.
1t was shortly after 4 p. IN. when one
of the throng which surrounded the pres
idcntial party a medium-sized man Of
ordinary appearance and plainly dressed
in black, approached as if to greet the
president. His right hand was bandaged
in a white handkerchief, as if the hand
was sore. He was patient in line and
presented no appearance out of the or
dinary. He stepped briskly up to the
president when it came his turn, graspcd
the extended hand in his left hand and
pressed the bandaged hand against the
presidents body. There were two quick,
slightly muffled reports and wisp of
smoke rose from the bandaged hand.
The bandage was merely the covering Of
revolver, with which the dastardly
crime was committed.
For n moment there was silence-the
silence that follows the discharge Of a
bombshell. The president stood stock
still, look of hesitancy, almost of be-
wilderment on his face. Then he re-
treated a step while a pallor began to
steal over his features. The multitude,
only partially aware that something Sc
rious had happened, paused in the silence
of surprise, while necks We're craned
and all eyes turned as one toward the
rostrum where great tragedy was being
enacted.
Assassin Quickly Captured.
Then came Il commotion. With the
leap of tiger three men threw them
selves 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 lookout and
whose duty it was to guard against just
such a calamity as had here befallen the
president and the nation. The third was
n bystander, IL negro, who had only an
instant previously grasped in his dusky
palm the hand of the president.
AS one man the trio hurled themselves
upon the presidents assailant. In a
twinkling he was borne to the ground
his weapon was wrested from his grasp
and strong arms pinioned his arms.
a murmur arose, spread and swelled to
a hum Of confusion, then grew to babel
of sounds and later to a pandemonium of
noises. The crowds that moment be-
fore had stood mute and motionless in
bewildered ignorance of the enormity of
the thing now with single impulse
surged forward toward the stage of the
Mortified drama, while a hoarse cry
welled up from a thousand throats and
a thousand men charged forward to Law
hands upon the perpetrator of the das
tardly crime.
The assailant was quickly seized by
secret service men and policemen. He
was knocked down and kicked about the
head and body severar times, but was
finally rushed to a carriage, while officers
with drawn rcvolyers rode with him.
The carriage was driven at a gallon to
the gates. Several attempts were made
to upset it, but it got safely outside and
the prisoner was landed at police head-
quarters. lie refused to say anything
further than that his name was Fred