Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1901-09-11

D"h"io, AN' AB ocpt. VI iColucht
Mckinley was shot and seriously
wounded by would be assassin, Leon
Czolgosz, while holding a reception in
the Temple Of Music at the Pan Amer.
lean grounds, few minutes after 4
o'clock this afternoon. One shot took
effect in the right breast the other in
the abdomen. The first IS not of ser.
ious nature and the bullet has been ex.
tracted. The later pierced the abdom,
inal wall.
1t was a few minutes after p. m,
while President Mckinley was holding
a public reception in the Temple of Mu-
sic, on the Pan-American grounds, that
the cowardly attack was made, with
what success time alone can tell.
Standing In the midst of crowds
numbering thousands, surrounded by
every evidence of good will, pressed by
a molly throng Of people, showered
with expressions Of love and loyalty,
besieged by multltudes all eager to
clasp his hands-amld these surround
ings, and with the ever recurring poul-
aits of an army of sight seers ring
ing in his ears, the blow of the assas
sin came, and in an instant pleasure
gave way to pain, admiration to agony,
folly TO fury, and pandemium followed.
1t was just after the daily organ re-
cital In the splendid Temple OF Music
that the dastardly attempt was made.
Planned with all the diabolical ingenu.
ity and finesse of which anarchy or nj
halism Is capable, the would be assassin
carried out the work without a hitch,
and should his designs fail and the
president survive, only to divine provi.
dence can be attributed that beniflcent
result.
The president though well guarded
by United States secret service agents,
was fully exposed to such an attack a
occurred. He stood at the edge of the
raised dais on which stands the great
pipe organ at the east end OF the mag.
nil,cent structure. Throngs OF people
crowded in at the various entrances to
gaze upon their executive, perchance to
shake his hand, and then file their way
out through the good natured mob that
every minute swelled and multiplied
at the point OF ingress and egress TO
the building. The president was In a
cheerful mood and was enjoying TO the
full the hearty evidence of good will
which everywhere met his gaze. Up
on his right hand stood John G.. Mil
burn OF Buffalo, president OF the Pan.
American exposition, chatting with
the president and introducing him to
the presidents left hand stood Mr.. Cor
telyou.
1t was shortly after 4 p. m, when
one OF the throng which surrounded
the presidential party, medium sized
man OF ordinary appearance and plain
ly dressed In black, approached as II to
greet the president. Both Secretary
Cortelyou and President Milburn motto
ed that the mans hand was swathed in
O bandage or handkerchief. Reports
OF bystanders differ as to which hand.
He worked his way among the stream
OF people up to the edge of the dias, un-
til he was within two feet of the presl-
utHt. IEtSlutnL oliilth, WV
ed, and extended his hand in that spirit
Of geniality the American people so
well know, when suddenly the sharp
crack of a revolver rang out loud and
GEAR above the hum Of voices, the shut
fling OF myriad feet and vibrating
waves OF applause that ever and anon
swept over the assemblage. There was
an instant OF almost complete silence.
The president stood stock still, with a
look OF hesitancy, almost OF bewilder-
mint, on his face. Then he retreated
a step. while a pallor 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 where great tragedy was
being enacted.
Then came a commotion. Three men
threw themselves forward as with one
impulse and sprang toward the would
be assassin. Two of them were Unit
ed States secret service men who we're
on the lookout and whose duty 1t was
to guard against just such calamity
as had here befallen the president and
the nation. The third was bystander
a negro, who had only an instant pre-
viously grasped the hand of the presi-
dent. In twinkling the assassin was
borne TO the ground. his weapon was
wrested from his grasp and strong
arms pinioned him down. Then the
multitude which thronged the ediice
began to come to a realizing sense of
the awfullness OF the scene OF which
they had been unwilling witnesses. A
murmer arose, spread and swelled TO
a hum OF confusion, then grew to a ba-
bel OF sounds and later TO pandemon-
ium OF noises.
The crowds that had a moment be-
fore had stood mute and motionless as