Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-12


lilo was licked as once rs q suspicious
person and when he reached Foster the
Secret Service man held hand on him
until be bad gotten to the President
and had clasped the Chief Executives
hand. Ireland was equally alert aud
the slightest move on the part of this
man, who is now supposed to have been
au accomplish, and for whom search
is being made. would have beec checked
by the officers.
the Presidents as4ailant, He was u
rather tall, boyish cooking fellow, ap
parently 20 years cd, and OF German.
American extraction. His smooth,
rather pointed face would not indicate
his PURPOSE in staying the nation 8
executive.
The Secret Servicemen noted that
about his right hand was wrapped a
handkerchief. As he carried the hand
uEiifted, as II supported by n sling
under his coat, the officers believed his
hand was injured. and especially MS he
extended his lett hand across the right
go as TO shake hands with the Presi-
dent. 1t was noticed that the person
who was 10 front OF the assassin held
back, apparently TO shield the young
man, 30 that Ii wss necessary iur
Ireland to push him on.
The organist had now reached the
climax to the wild strains OF the sonata
more inspiring scene could hardly
be imagined. lnnocently facing the
assassin the President smiled smile OF
dignity and benevolenco as he extended
his right hand to meet the left OF the
supposedly wounded fiend.
AS the youth extended his left hand
he, quick as fash, as IL trained by
long practice, whipped out his right
hand - the one which held the pistol.
Before anyone knew what was transpir-
ing two shots rarg out, one following
the other after the briefest poi ton OF q
second
For the first moment there was an
awful hush. The sonata died instantly,
the people stopped and could not
breathe. Then there was pardemonium.
The Chief Executive, 1t was known,
had been shot.
The President drew his right hand
quickly to his chest, raised his head
and his eyes rolled. He sweryed a
moment, reeled and was caught in the
arms of Secretary Cortelyou, TO his
right.
"MAY GOD FORGIVE HIM."
Catching himself for the briefest
second the President, whose face was
now of the whiteness of death, looked
at the assassin as the officers and
soldiers bore him to the floor aud said
teebly and with the most benevolent
look it is possible to Imagine:
hMav COd fnruiyp i'm -
The President was carried first one
way, then step In another direction.
The excitement was so sudden that for
a moment no one knew what to do.
Finally SOMEONE advised carrying him
inside tho purple edge Of the aisle and
seating him on ono Of the chairs.
The bunting was in q solid piece. No
one had time to produce knife had he
beer able to think of such thing. A
couple OF men tore the benches aside
and trampled the bunting down, while
Mr.. Milburn and Secretary Cortelyou
half carried the President over the line
aud into the passageway leading to the
stage, which had not been used.
The President was able to walk a
little but was leaning heavily on his
escorts. In passing over the bunting
his foot caught and for a moment he
stumbled. A reporter eSticated his foot,
and the President was carried to n seat,
where o nalf dozen men stood by and
famed him vigorously. Quick calls
were sent for doctors and to the ambu-
lance.
While seated for q moment Secretary
Cortelyou leaned over the President and
inquired:
do you feel much painY"
White and trembling, the President
slipped his hand into the opening OF
his shirt front near the heart and said :
This wound pains greatly. -
| As the President Withdrew his hand
the first and second fingers were covered
with blood. lie looked at them. his
hand dropped to his side, and he
became fainter. His head dropped
heavily to his chest and those about
him turned away.
During this pathetic scene, while
tears were filling the eyes OF those
about the President, who realized their
utter powerlessness to help him. Minis
ter Aspiroz Of Mexico, broke through
the little crowd excitedly and awakened
the faint into which the President had
sunk by dramatically exolaiming In
English:
"ob. my God, Mr.. Prosi lent, are
you shotY''
While the excited diplomat was being
restrained from caressing the executive
and falling at his feet, the President
replied. gasping between each word:
"Yes------I-believs --I---am.,
The Presidents head then fell back
ward and he partially tainted. MIR.
Milburn placed his hand back OF the
wounded mans head and supported 1t.
This seemed to rosuscitate tile presi
dent and he sat stoicAlly In the chair,
his legs spread out on the floor, his lips
olinohed firmly, MS il he would fight
determinedly against death. He was
giving the fight OF soldier, and more
than one turned away tremblingly-a all
In the building trembled and shook,
not from fear, but the tension and re-
4 marked;
/ "He Is certainly soldier. 2"
While all this was Transporting the
! tragedy had not yet ended on the scene
Of the shooting. The shots had hardly
been fired when Foster and Ireland were
on top OF tho assnilant. Ireland, Quick
/ as thought, had knocked the smoking
weapon rom the man 8 hand and at the
same time he and his companion officer,
with dozen Exposition police and nj
many artlllerymen, were upon the as
4 sailant He Was literally crushed tc
\ the floor.
4 While the President was being lee
away the artilerymen and guards
cleared tbs building in a few moment!
] OF those who had entered to meet In,
| Executive, but TO do this it was ntues
sary TO draw their saber bayonets ant
use extreme force.