The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
The new President.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT TAKES The
Oath OF OFFICE.
The Scene in the Library of Mr..
Wilcox, in Buffalo.

Milburn House, Buffalo, n. Y, Sep
tember 14.-President Roosevelt reach
ed Buffalo a 1.3o this afternoon, &C
companied only by his private secre-
tary, William Loeb, Jr. An immense
crowd, which had been awaiting his
arrival for hours, was gathered at the
station eager to catch first sight OF
the President. The train, however,
did not enter the station proper, but
the President landed at the Terrace.
When he left the train an escort OF the
fourth signal corps formed about him
and conducted him to an automobile,
which his friend, Ansley Wilcox, had
in waiting.
The demonstration which greeted
his appearance was IN keeping with
The solemnity, of the occasion. Those
who saw him did not raise a cheer,
but sttested their respect by lifting
their hats.
AS soon as he entered the vehicle
the chauffeur turned the lever and the
automobile went skimming away to
the residence Of Mr.. Wilcox on Dele
ware avenue. Twenty mounted police
clattering alongside could with diff
Guilty keep the pace which the auto
mobile set. President Roosevelt de-
clined to make any statement whatever
for publication.
the terrible news brought to me last
night and by the calamity which it
entailed upon the country, as well as
by personal sorrow which I felt, that
nave had no time to think of plans
for the future conduct OF the Office
which has been so suddenly and sadly
thrust upon me. "
The President arrived at the Wilcox
home at 1. 40 O'Clock, lis only attend
ants being William Loeb, Jr., his sec
rasary, and Mr.. Ansley Wilcox.
With hardly any conversation he
retired at once to his room, where he
bashed and dressed. At 2.30 O'Clock
he was ready to leave for the Miiburn
House, where he desired to make his
official call of coincidence. He was
escorted by detail from the fourth
signal corps and mounted police. So
RAPIDLY did his driver proceed that his
escort was left q couple OF blocks be-
hind, with the exception of the com
manding officer and lieutenant Of
police.
The President was astired in black
frock coat and dark, striped trousers
and wore silk hat. He was sombre
OF countenance and appeared to feel
both the solemnity OF the occasion
and its response Utilities for him.
He alighted at the Milburn house at
exactly 2.3s O'Clock. He was accom-
panied by his host, Mr.. Ansley Will
cox, and one of the secret service
force. President Roosevelt came out
of the Milburn house at 2.56 and
drove to the Wilcox home, reaching
there at 3. Is. A ten minutes wait for
the members of the Cabinet ensued
and preparations were made for taking
the oath of Office. The place selected
was the library of Mr.. Wilcox's house,
a rather small room, but picturesque,
the heavy oak trimmings and the mas
siye bookcases giving it somewhat the
appearance of legal den. A pretty
bay window, with stained glass and
heavy hangings, formed background.
and against this the President took
his position. Surrounding him were
the i've members Of the Cabinet, Sec
retaries Root, Hitchcock, Long, Will
son and Postmaster General Smith.
Nearby were Senator Chauncey N.
Depew, Judge of the Court of Appeals
Halght. John Scatcherd, Nh. and
Mrs. Ansley Wilcox, Miss Wilcox,
George P. Sawyer, Drs. Mann, Park
and Stockton, Mr.. and Mrs. Carleton
Sprague, Jr., secretary to the dead
President, George B. Cortelyou, DR..
and Mrs. Charles Carey, R, G.
Scatherd, J. D. Sawyer, William
Jefers. Official telegrapher Of the Uni
ted States Senate, and Judge of the
United States District Court John R.
Hazel.
Jude Hazel stood near the President
in the bay window, and the latter
plucking at the lapel of his long frock
coat and nervously tapping the hard
wood floor with his heel. He
stepped over once to Secretary
Root and for about five min
utes they conversed earnestly.
The question at issue was whether
the President should sign an oath of
Office and then swear IN, or whether
he should swear in first and sign the
documnet in the case after.
At precisely at 3.32 O'Clock Secre-
tary Root closed his converse
ton with the President and,
while an absolute hush fell
upon every one in the room, said in
almost inaudible voice:
''Mr. Vice President, L. then his
voice broke, and for fully two minutes
the tears came down his face and his
lips quivered so that he could not con-
Sinue his utterances. There were sym
pathetic tears from those about him
and two great drops ran down either
cheek of the successor Of William Nc
Kinley. Mr. Roots chin was on his
breast. Suddenly throwing back
his head as if with an effort, he con-
tinued in a broken voice:
'sI have been requested on behalf Of
the Cabinet of the late President, at
least those who are present in Buffa-
10, all, except two, to request that for
reasons of weight affecting the affairs
OF government you should proceed
TO take the constitutional oath of Pres