The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-09-13
HUNDREDS WITNESS THE TRAGEDY
WOPSTOL BULLETS FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE TAKE EFFECT
ONE In BREAST, THE OTHER IN ABDOMEN

especial persons of note who ap
preached. Upon the presidents lef
stood Mr.. Cortelyou.
1t was shortly after 4 p. m. wher
out of the throng which surrounded
the presidential party,a medium sized
man Of ordinary appearance and
plainly dressed in black, approached
as if to greet the president. Both
Secretary Oortelyou and President
Milburn noted the mans hand was
swathed in a bandage or handker-
chief. Reports of bystanders differ as
to which hand. He worked his way
amid the stream of people up to the
edge Of the dais until he was within
two feet of the president.
President Mckinley smiled, bowed
and extended his hand in that spirit
of geniality the American people so
well know, when suddenly the sharp
crack of a revolver rang loud and
clear above the hum of voices.
There was an instant Of Rlmost
complete silence. The president stood
stock still, look of hesitancy, al
most of bewilderment on his face.
Then he retreated step while pal
lar began to steal over his features.
The multitude, only partially aware
that something serious had happened,
paused in surprise while necks were
craned and all eyes turned as one to
the rostrum.
CAPTURE OF THE ASSASSIN.
Then came a oommotion. With the
leap of a tiger three men threw them
selves forward, as with one impulse
and spranR toward the would-be as
sassin. Two of them were United
tates secret service men who were or
the outlook and whose duty it was t.
guard against just such q calamity as
had here befallen the president of che
nation. The third was o bystander,
q negro, who had only an instant pre-
viously grasped the hand of the presi-
dent. As one man the trio hurled
upon the presidents as
sailant. In twinkling he was borne
to the ground, his weapon was wrest-
ed from his grasp and strong arms
pinioned him down.
Thesmultitude which thronged the
edifice began to come to realizing
sense of the awfulness Of the scene of
which they had been unwilling wit
osses.
A murmur arose, spread and swell.
ed to a hum Of confusion, then grew
to q babel of sounds and later to a
p sndemonium Of noises.
The crowd that q moment before
had stood mute and motionless, as in
ignorance Of the enormity
Of the thing, now as with a single
impulse surged forward, while a
hoarse cry welled mp from thousand
threats and a thousand men charged
forward to lay hands upon the perpe-
traitor Of the crime. For a moment
the confusion was terrible. The
crowd surged forward regardless of
Some Of those nearest
the doors fed from the edifice in fear
Of . stampede, while hundreds of
others from the outside struggled
blindly forward in the effort TO pene-
trate the crowded building and solve
the mystery.
A THRILLING TRAGEDY.
Inside on the slightly raised dais
was enacted within those few mo-
ments . tragedy 90 dramatic in char |
lcter, 90 thrilling in its intensity that
lew who looked on will ever be able |
20 give . succinct account of what |
really did happen. President McKin-
10y, after the first shock Of the assas-
in . shot retreated . step, then as the
detectives leaped upon his assailant, he
;urned, walked steSdily to . chair |
md seated himself. 1t the same time |
his hat and bowling his
read in his banda In an instant Sec-
'etary Ccrtelyou and President Mil
,urn were at his side. His waist coat I
Fas harriedly opened, the president |
admonishing those about |
ia to remain calm and telling them |
loS to b alarmed
"But you are wounded, I" said the |
ecretAry; "let me examine.
"No. I think not" answered the |
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N American missionary, who Was