The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-09-17

nal Corps and mounted police. So rur d
IS did his drivcrprocced that his csc ,,.5
was left couple of books behind, with
the exception Of the commanding officer
and lieutenant Of police.
CALL Or CONDOLENCE.
Tho president was attircd in Il black
frock coat and dark striped trousers,
and wOro II silk hat. He was sOmbrr
OF countcnancc, and appeared TO feel
both the solcmnity Of the occasion aud
its responsibilities for him.
He alightcd vt the Miburn housa at
exactly 2:3S o'clock. He was accom-
panied by his host, Mr.. Ansley Wllrox,
and one OF the secret service force.
President Roosevelt came out Of the
Milburn house at 2:56 and drove to the
Wilcox homo, reaching there At 3:l5.
a ten minutes wait for the members
OF tho cabinet cnsucd, and prcpar;,.
tion5 were made for taking the oath Of
office.
The place selected WAS the library Of
MIR. WiIcoX's house, Il rather small
room, but picturesque, the heavy oak
trimmings and the massive bookcases
giving it somewhat the appearance Of
legal den. a pretty bay window,
with stained glass and heavy haugings,
formed background, and against this
the president took his positi,n Sur
rounding him were the five members
OF the cabinet Root, Hitch
cock, Long, Wilson and postmas ter
General Smith. Nearby him was Scra-
tor Chaunccy M. Dcpcw, Judge Of the
Court of Appeals, John Scachard,
Mr.. and Mrs Ansley Wilcox, Miss
Wilcox, Geo. =. Sawyer, Drs. Mann,
Parks anl Stockton, MIR. and Mrs.
Carleton 81 "aguc, Jr., Geo. b. Cortcl-
you, secret =. y to the dead president:
DR.. and Mrs. Charles Carey, X. G. |
}. ID. Sawyer, VIM. JcrrrS,
official tclcgraphcr Of the United States
senate, and Judge Of the United Stutcs |
District Court John Il. Hazel.
Judge Hazel stood near the president |
In the bay window, and the latter
showed his almost extreme urrvuus-
ness by plucking at the lapel Of his |
long fr"ck coat and ncrvouSly tapping
the hardwood floor with his heel. He
stepped over once to Secretary Root,
and for al out five minutes they con
versed earnestly. The question ut is
sue was whethcr the president should
tlrst sign an oath Of office, and then
swear in, or whcthor he shouii swear
in first and sign the document in the
cuSc after.
SECRETARY ROOT BREAKS DOWN.
At precisely 3:}2 ocltck Secretary
Root ceased his conversation with tie
preside ut and, stepping back, while an
absolute hush fell upon everyone in
the room, said, in an almost innubibe
voice:
"Mr. Vice President: p Then his
voice broke, aud for fully two minutes
tho tears came down his face and his
lips quivcrcd SO that he could not con-
tinuc his utteranccs. There were SYM
pathetic tears from those about him,
and two great drops ran down either
check Of the successor of William Nc
kinlcy. Mr.. Roots chin was on his |
breast. Suddenly, throwing back his
head as If with an effort, he continued,
la broken voice:
81 have been requested, on behalf OF
the cabinet OF the late president, at
least those who arc present in Buffalo,
oil except two, to request that, for
reasons Of weight affecting the affairs
OF government, you should proceed to
take the constitutional oath of prcsi-
dent, and Mr.. Roosevelt, coming closer
to Secretary Root, said in voice that
ut first wavered, but finally came deep
aud strong, whilo, as if to control his
nervousness, he held firmly to the lapel
Of his coat with his right hand.
81 shall take the oath at once, in ac-
cordanco with your request, and In this
hour OF deep and terrible national be-
rcavcmcnt 7 wish to state thnt it shall
bo my aim to continue absolutely un-
broken the policy Of Prcsicnt Mckinley
for the peace and prosperity and honor
OF our beloved country"
THE OATH OF OFFICE TAKEN.
Tho president stepped farther into
tho bay window, and Judge Hazel, TAX
Ing up the constitutional oath OF office,
which had been prepared on parchment,
asked the president to raise his right
hand and repeat 1t after him. There
was hush like death in the room as
the judge read few words at u time
and tho president, in strong voice,
and without tremor, and with his rails
ed hand as steady as If carved from
marble, repeated 1t after him. "And
thus | swear" he ended. The hand
dropped by his side, the chin for an in
stant rested on the breast, and the sill
ence remained unbrokcn for Il couple
OF minutes, as though the new prcsi-
dent of the United States was Offering
sile' |rayer. Judge Hazel broke it,
sayi "Mr. President. please attach
your signature" and tho president,
TURNING tn n small tablo non rhy ,,rot,