The Washington times., 1901-09-07
A SHOCK TO WASHINGTON.
News of the Attack on the Presi.
dent Causes Profound Sorrow.
Thousands of People Rush to Secure
Details of the Tragedy-Newspape
Extras Eagerly bought - Excite
ment on PennsyIvanin Avenue.

ment on Pennsylvania Avenue.
When the first tidings that the Presi-
dent had been shot were shouted through
the city they were not credited. People
were unwilling to believe that deed simi-
lar to that which robbed Italy of King
Humbert had been perpetrated at Buffalo,
where all had seemed to wear the at
mosphere of holiday, and where the
Executive had been honored and feted.
Notwithstanding the grim precedents of
Lincoln and Garfield, it was with great
conservatism that the public of Wash
ington listened to the meagre and sad
dening news from the Rainbow City.
From one end of the city to the other,
however. there were excited groups on the
corners and in front of public buildings
and in the public parks. and the demeanor
of every citizen, the general air OF
solemnity. indicated that the unusual and
the tragic had happened.
The National Capital. involved in the
lethaTgy of late summer, suddenly grew
into a condition OF unwonted excitement.
Business and professional men, who had
been dining in the quiet restfulness of
the early evening hour, after the labors
of the day, hastened TO the central part
of the city, where details were to be had
The early dispatches to the effect that
Mr.. Mckinley had been fatally wounded
by two bullets fired by an unknown man
did not satisfy them Every man, Wo-
man, and every child who had reached
the years of understanding, sought more
information. ana the result was an out
pouring toward Pennsylvania Avenue
which rapidly brought crowd of i'm
mense proportions, and made sudden
panorama of seething life where a short
time befc-~ there had been quiet. broken
only by the necessary traffic of the hour
AT the newspaper bulletins, of course.
The curious crowds centred. They wanted
TO know the details of the crime at Buff
faio which might make a national trag-
edy. From all directions came men and
women to study the sheets that were fire.
quently posted for the benefit of the pub
lie.
The usual hum of the motor cars and
rattle of other vehicles was drowned by
the chorus of newsboys' cries as they
hawked the extra editions of newspapers,
which were eagerly purchased by thou
sands.
At the Treasury, the White House, the
State, War. anu Navy Building, which,
after the dismissal hour become ordinar-
lily as quiet as a mausoleum. there was
an unwonted excitement Groups of men
stood on the steps and in the doorways,
discussing in low tones the information
that had shocked everybody in the Capi-
tai At intervals carriages drove up to
the Executive Mansion or ratified hurried
ly away, carrying prominent men who
chanced to be in town and who had gone
there TO supplement If possible the brief
information secured by word of mouth.
The adage to the effect that bad news
travels rapidly was never better Illus
trated than last evening. 1t seemed as
though the tidings of the fate that had
befailen the President swept from one
end of the city to the other on the wings
of the wind.
In historic Georgetown it was spread
almost as soon as the telegraph had
brought it from the Rainbow City to the
National Capital. After digesting the an
nouncement for few moments, anger
became mingled with, grief. There were
bitter eXecrations against the man who
was responsible for the deed. Men declar-
ed that they wondered that he had not
been sunlmarily dealt with. There were
tears in women's eyes. and, as children
were informed in awe-stricken tones that
the President had been shot, they grew
Unnaturally solemn and in measure
seemed to appreciate the gravity OF the
situation.
As the night wore on, the increasing
throngs in the streets seemed to grow
more eager for news from Buffalo. Among
thousands there was no thought of seek
ing sleep. The benumbing shock OF the
first announcement had worn Off and they
were puzzled to know the motive of the
would assassin, his history. and other
details that would explain more fully the
crime which had shocked the American
people.
Along the business streets lights flashed
out from buildings that at this season Of
the year are usually deserted when the
sun goes down. Many men We're unable
to seek rest as though there had been
death in their families, and, possessed by
a feeling of depression, they left their
homes and sought their places of business
nearer the news centres.
The hands in the illuminated face of the
postofiice building timepiece crept
around hour after hour, but the crowds
did not diminish and the hundreds of
newsboys did not cease to cry extra"
The eyes of the crowds were fixed on the
bulletin boards as the night dragged on.
There were numerous rumors OF the Presi-
dents death. but the dense mass of peo-
pie did not credit them and welcomed the
hopeful dispatches that were posted for
their benefit.
Thus il was all through the night Thou
sands were awake and watchful. Many
of them recalled the exciting hours fol-
lowing the fatal assault upon President
Garfield. and related all the details of that
sorrowful tragedy. AS friend met friend,
he sought eagerly for further news from
the city where the President lay suffer
ing from his wounds. And even as the
day dawned, there were crowds, heavy
eyed, but still anxious for the latest It'd
ings from the bedside Of the distinguished
sufferer.
In the early evening when rumors were
current that the President would not sur
vive, there was much comment In regard
to the succession to the Presidential Office
and a surprising amount of ignorance on
this subject was displayed by those of
the street gatherings who undertook to
ask questions and express views in that
connection. public official, called to
his office by message announcing the
attempt TO kill the President, found the
messenger boy who summoned him very
uncommunicative.
When they werA leaving the electric car
that brought them to town together, the
other parade?" The official did not un-
derstand and said so. When Roosevelt
comes in, / mean" the boy answered.
and the official confessed afterward that
the boys question had opened up a wide
feld for thought and speculation as to
what procedure would be followed if
President McKiniey's wounds should have
proved fatal.
When President Garfield died. twenty
years ago this month. his death was an
nounced Immediately TO Vice President
Arthur. and on the following day. Sep
tember 20, he took the oath Of Office as
President at his residence in New York
City. Judge John r. Brady. of the New
York Supreme Court. administering IL.
President Arthur then came to Wash
fngton. and two days later, three days af-
ter Garfields death. he again took the
oath in the room Of the Vice President at
the Capitol, this time Chief Justice Waite,
of the United States Supreme Court, offici-
ating. The second oath taking was a pre-
caution to. .obviate any possible question
as to the legality of the oath administer
ed in New York by Judge Brady, and it
IS probable that had the bullet of the
Buffalo assassin proved fatal, Vice Presi-
dent Roosevelt would have been called to
Washington Immediately to be sworn In
as Executive.
II was interesting to hear the stories
fold In the crowds bV old WA Ia m