The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-15

attested their respect by lifting their
| hats.
chauffeur turned the lever and the au-
tomobile went Swimming away to the
residence of Mr.. Wilcox. on Delaware
avenue. Twenty mounted police, clat-
tering along either side, could with Diff
ficulty keep the pace which the auto
mobile set. President Roosevelt de-
clined to make any statement whatever
for publication.
He Has Made No Plans.
II was so shocked" said he, "by the
terrible news brought to me last night
and by the calamity which it entailed
upon the country, ais we'll as by per-
sonal sorrow which feel, that have
no time to think of plans for the fu-
ture conduct of the Office which has
been so suddenly and sadly thrust up
on me-
The President arrived at the wilcox
home at 1:45 o'clock. his only attend
ants being William Loeb, Jr, his Sec
rotary. and Mr.. Ansley Wilcox. With
hardly any conversation he retired at
once to his room, where he bathed and
dressed. Before 2:3O o'clock he was
ready to leave for the Milburn 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
a couple of blocks behind, with the ex-
eeptiop of the commanding officer and
lieutenant of police.
The President was attired in a black
frock coat and dark striped trousers
and wore silk hat. He was somber
of countenance and appeared to feel
both the solemnity of the occasion and
its responsibilities for him. He alight-
ed at the Milburn House at exactly 2:3O
o'clock. He was accompanied by Mr..
Ansley Wilcox and one of the secret
service force
President Roosevelt came out of the
Milburn house at 1855 and drove to the
Wilcox home, reaching there at 3:15.
A ten-minutes' wait for the members
of the cabinet ensued, and preparations
were made for his taking the oath of
office. The place. selected was the
library of Mr.. Wilcoxs house, a rather
small room, but picturesque the heavy
oak trimmings and massive book cases
giving 1t somewhat the appearance of
legal den.
In Presence of the Cabinet.
A pretty bay window, with stained
glass and heavy hangings, formed a
background, and against this the Pres
ident took his position. Surrounding
him were the five members of the cab
met Secretaries Root, Hitchcock,
Long, Wilson and Postmaster General
Smith. Near by were Senator Chaun-
cey M. Depew, Judge of the Court of
Appeals Haight, John Scatchard. Mr..
and Mrs. Ansley Wilcox, Miss Wilcox,
George P. Sawyer. Drs. Mann, Park
and Stockton, Mr.. and Mrs. Carleton
Sprague, Jr., George B. Cortelyou. Sec
rotary to the dead President, DR.. and
Mrs. Charles Carey, ]. d. Sawyer,
William Jeffers. official telegrapher of
the United States Senate, and Judge
of the United States District Court
John r. Hazel.
Judge Hazel stood near the President
in the bay window and the latter
showed his almost extreme nervous
ness by plucking at the lapel of his
long frock coat and nervously tapping
the hardwood floor with his heel. He
stepped over once to Secretary Root
and for about Ave minutes they con-
versed earnestly. The question at is
sue was whether the President should
FIRST sign an oath of Office and then
swear in. or whether he should swear
in nrst and sign the document In the
case after