The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-07


or nihilism is capable, the assassin car
ried out without a hitch.
The president, though well guarded
by United States secret service detec-
tives, was fully exposed to such an at
tack as occurred. He stood al the edge
of the raised dais upon which stands
the great pipe organ at the east side
of the magnificent structure. InfOnSS
of people crowded in at the various en-
frances to gaze upon their executive
perchance to clasp his hand, and then
file their way out in the mob that ever
sWelled and multiplied at the points of
ingress and egress to the building.
The president was in a cheerful mood
and was enjoying to the full the hearty
evidence of good Will which every
where met his gaze. Upon his right
stood John G. Milburn of Buffalo, presl-
dent of the Pan-American exposition,
chatting with the president and intro
ducing to him especially persons or
note who approached. Upon the presi-
dents lift stood Mr.. Cortelyou.
It was shortly after D. m. when the
throng which surrounded the presiden-
tial party. a medium sized man OF or
binary appearance and plainly dressed
in black, approached as if to greet the
president. Both Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milburn noticed that the
mans hand was swathed in a bandage
or handkerchief. Reports of bystand-
ers differ as to which hand He work
ed his way amid the stream of people
up to the edge of the dais until he was
within two feet of the president
President
and extended his hand in that spirit OF
geniaIity the American people SO we'll
know when suddenly the sharp crack
of a revolver rang out loud and clear
above the hum of voices, the shutting
of myriad 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, look of hesitancy, almost
| of bewilderment, on his face. Then he
retreated a step, while pallor began
to steal over his features. The multi
| tudes only partially aware that some
thing serious had happened, paused in
! surprise, while necks were craned and
! all eyes turned as one to the rOSuum
where a great tragedy was being en-
acted
Then. came a commotion. Three men
/ threw themselves forward, as with one
i impulse, and sprang toward the assas-
4 sin. Two of them We're United states
4 secret service men, whose duty it was
4 to guard against just such a calamity
as had here befallen the president and
i nation. The tnird bystander was a
negro, who had only an instant pre-
viously grasped the hand of the presi-
dent In a tvinkling the assassin was
borne to the ground, his weapon was
wrested from his grasp, and strong
arms pinioned him down.
Then the multitude which thronged
the edifice began to come to a realiz ng
sense of the awfulness of the scene of
nesses. A murnur arose, spread and
| swelled to a hum of confusion. then
! grew to a babel of sounds and later to
a pandemonium of noises.
The crowds that a moment before had
stood mute and motionless, as in bewild-
! cred ignorance of the enormity of the
| thing, now with single impulse surged
forward toward the stage and horrtd
drama while a hoarse cry welled UP
/ from a thousand threats and a thousand
| cha cr.d a1-0 n
| the perpetrator of the crime.
For a moment the confusion was ter
rible The crowd surged forward re-
| gardless of consequences Men shout :
| ed and fought, women screamed ana
| children cried Some of those nearest
! the doors fed from the edifice in fear
| of a stampede, while hundreds of others
| from the outside struggled blindIy Tor
| ward in the effort to penetrate the
! building and solve the mystery, and
within the congested interior of the ed
ifice.
Inside on the slightly raised dais was
| enacted within those feverish moments
| a tragedy so dramatic in character, 50
thrilling in its intensity that few who
looked on will ever be able to give a
succinct account of what really did
transpire. Even those who attended
the president came out of it with
blanched faces, trembling limbs and
eNAAA-
throbbed with tumult of conflicting
emotions which could not be clarified
into a lucid narrative of the events as
they rally transpired.
OF the multitude which witnessed OF
bore a part in the scene of turmoil and
turbulence there was but one mind
which seemed to retain its equilibrium
one hand which remained steady, one
eye which gazed with unfiinching calm
ness and one voice which retained its
even tenor and faltered not at the mos;
critical juncture-
They were the mind and hand ans
the eye and the voice of President Nc
Kinley.
After the first shock of the assassin's
shot he retreated a step Then, as tbs
detectives leaped upon his assailant he
turned, walked steadily to chair anc
seated himself at the same time reTnov-
ing his hat and bowling his head in his
hands.
In an instant Secretary Cortelyou anc
President Milburn were at his side. Hi!
waistcoat was hurriedly opened, tbs
president meanwhile admonishing those
near him to remain calm, and telling
them not to be alarmed
But you are wounded cried his sec
rotary; t'let me examine
mo. 1 think not" answered the pres
ident II am not badly hurt, / assur
you"
Nevertheless his outer garments wer
hastily loosenad and when a tricklinl
. stream of crimson was seen to wind it
!, way down his breast, spreading its tell
: tale stain over the white surface of tn
= linen, their worst fears were confirmed
force of exposition guards wer
soon on the scene, and an effort wa
made to clear the building. BY thl
) time the crush was terrific. Spectator
crowded down the stairway from tn
: galleries, the crowd on the floor surge
RY TIL