The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-13
THE WOUND IS SERIOUS
PRESIDENT LIES IN A CRITICAL
CONDITION AT THE MIL
BURN HOME.
ONLY ONE TO KEEP COOL

After the Shots Are Fired Mr.. Mckin.
ley Admonishes Those About Him
to Remain calm-His Wife Is In.
formed by DR.. Rixey and Receives
the News With Utmost Courage.
Prisoner Is Leon Czolgosz.
Buffalo, Sept 1.-THE following is
the latest bulletin issued by the presi-
dents physician:
"The president passed a good night.
Temperature 102, pulse 10, respira-
ton "a"
Buffalo, Sept. 7.-President McKin-
ley was shot and seriously wounded
by a would-be assassin while holding
q reception in the Temple Of Music
at the Pan-American exposition a few
minutes after o'clock p. m. One shot
took effect in the right breast, the
other in the abdomen. The first is not
of a serious nature and the bullet has
been extracted. The latter pierced the
abdominal wall and has not been To-
Gated.
Standing in the midst of crowds
numbering thousands, surrounded by
every evidence of good will, pressed
by a motley throng of people, show
cred with expressions of love and
loyalty, besieged by multitudes, all
eager to clasp his hand-amid these
surroundings and with the ever re-
curing plaudits of an army of sight
seers ringing in his ears, the blow of
the assassin fell, and in an instant
pleasure gave way to pain; admiration
to agony; folly turned to fury and
pandemonium followed.
Down at police headquarters, sur
rounded by stern faced inquisitors of
the law, is a medium sized man of
commonplace appearance, with his
fixed gaze directed on the floor, who
presses his lips firmly together and
listens with an air of assumed indif-
ference to the persistent stream of
questions, arguments, objurgations
and admonitions with which his cap
tors seek to induce or compel him to
talk
Deed Was Well Planned.
1t was just after the daily organ
recital in the splendid Temple of Mu-
sic that fha daSt ardlU attanD nj WIGS
made. Planned with all the diabolical
ingenuity and fnesse of which an
archy or nihilism is capable, the would
be assassin carried out the work with
out hitch, and should his designs
fail and the president survive only to
Divine Providence can be attributed
that benefcent result.
The president, though well guarded
by United States secret service de-
tectives, was fully exposed to such an
attack as occurred. He stood 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 at the
various entrances to gaze upon their
chief executive, perchancC to clasp
his hand, and then fight their way
out in the good natured m b that every
minute 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 evidences Of good will which
everywhere met his gaze. Upon his
right stood John G. Milburn of Buff
falo, president Of the Pan-American
exposition, chatting with the presi.
dent and introducing to him especially
persons of note who approached. Up
On the presidents left stood Mr.. Cor
telyou.
Shot While Shaking Hands.
It was shortly after 4 p. m. when
one Of the throng which surrounded
the presidential party, medium sized
man OF ordinary appearance and
plainly dressed in black, approached
as If to greet the president. Both
Secretary Cortelyou and President
was swathed in q bandage or hand
terchief. Reports OF bystanders differ
as to which hand. He worked his way
amid the stream # people up to the
edge of the dais until he was within
WV AOSS Va LILO PlColuCuI IISSluSuI
Mckinley smiled, bowed and extend
cd his hand in that spirit Of geniality
the American people so well know,
when suddenly the sharp crack of
revolver rang out loud and clear.
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 step, while a pallor be-
gan to steal over his features. The
multitude, only partially aware that
something serious had happened,
paused in surprise, while pecks were
craned and all eyes turned to the
rostrum, where great tragedy was
being enacted. Then came a commo-
ton.
With the Leap of Tiger
three men threw themselves forward,
as with one impulse, and sprang to-
ward the wculd-be assassin. Two of
them were United States secret serv-
ice men who were on the lookout and
whose duty 1t was to guard against
fallen the president and the nation.
The third was bystander, negro,
who had only an instant previously
grasped in his dusky hand the hand
of the president. AS one man the
trio hurled themselves upon the presi-
dents assailant. In a twinkling he
was borne to the ground, his weapon
was wrested from his grasp and strong
arms pinioned him down.
Then the multitude which thronged