Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-09-14

Ing and solve the mystery Of excite
ment and panic which every moment
grew and swelled within the interior OF
Tie ediflCe.
President tho Coolest of All.
Inside, on the slightly raised dais,
was enacted within those few feverish
moments n tragedy, so dramatic in
character, SO thrilling In It's intensity
that few who looked on Will ever be
able to give a succinct account OF what
really did transpire. Even the actors
who were playing the principal roles
came out OF 1t with blanChed faces,
trembling limbs and beating hearts,
while their brains throbbed with a
tumult OF conflicting emotions which
could not be clarified into a lucid mar
rative Of events as they really trans
pired.
But the multitude which witnessed
or bore IA part I'm the scene OF turmoil
ana turbulence there was but one mind
which seemed 10 retain It's equilibrium,
one hand which remained steady, one
eye which gaZed with unfiinching calm
ness and n voice which retained its
even tenor and faltered not at the
most critical %juncture.
They were the mind and hand and
the eye and the voice OF President Nc
Kinley. After the first shock OF the
assassin's shot. he retreated a step,
then as the detectives leaped upon his
assailant, he turned, walked steadily TO
a chair and seated himself, at the same
time reno ling his hat and bowling his
head I'm his hands.
In an instant Secretary Cortelyou
and President Milburn were At his side.
His waistcoat was hurriedly opened.
the president meanwhile admonishing
those about him to remain calm, and
telling them not to be alarmed.
But you are wounded" cried his
secretary. Let me examine"
mo, l think not" answered the pres
ident. II am not badly hurt, / assure
YOU
Nevertheless his outer garments were
hastily loosened. and when a trickling
stream OF crimson vas seen to wind its
way down his breast, spreading it's tell
tale stain over the white surface OF the
linen, their worst fears were confirmed.
A force of exposition guards were on
the scene by this time, and an effort
was mad to clear the building. BY this
time the crush was terrific. Spectators
crowded down the stairway from the
galleries, the crowd on the floor surged
forward toward the rostrum. while, deS-
pite the strenuous efforts OF police and
guards, the throng without struggled
madly to obtain admission.
The presidents assailant in the mean
time had been hustled to the rear OF
the building by exposition guards,
where he was held while the building
was cleared, and later he was turned
over to Superintendent Bull. Of the
Buffalo police department. who took
the prisoner to No. 10 police station
and afterward to police headquarters.
Wound Examined.
AS soon as the crowd in the Temple
OF Music had been dispersed sufficient
ly the president was removed in the
automobile ambulance and taken TO the
exposition hospital, where an examina-
ton was had. The best medical skill
was summoned, and within a brief per-
Tod several OF Buffalo's best known
practitioners were at the patients side.
The president retained the full exer-
else OF his faculties until placed or the
operating table and subjected to an
anaesthetic. Upon the first examination
1t was ascertained that one bullet had
taken effect in the right breast just
below the nipple, causing a compare
lively harmless wound.
The other took effect in the abdomen
about four inches below the left nipple,
four inches to the left of the navel and
about on a level with 1t.
Upon arrival at the exposition hos
pital the second bullet wound was
probed. The walls of the abdomen
were opened, but the ball was not To-
Gated. The incision was hastily closed.