Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-09-11

Wnicn tney nau Deen unwilling wit.
nesses.
A murmur arose, spread and swellcd
to hum of confusion, then grew to q
babel Of sounds and later to pandemo.
mum Of noises.
The crowds, that q moment before had
stood mute and motionless as In be-
wildered ignorance of tho enormity of
the thing, now with single impulse
surged forward toward tho stage of the
horrid drama, while hoarse cry welled
up from thousand throats, and thou
sand mon charged forward to lay hands
upon the perpetrator Of the dastardly
crime.
MEN FOUGHT AND WOMEN SCREAMED.
For moment confusion was terrible.
The crowd surged forward regardless of
consequences. Men shouted and fought,
women screamed and children Dried.
Some of those nearest the doors fled
from the edifloe in fear of stampede,
while hundreds of others from the out
sido struggled blindly forward in the
effort to penetrate tho crowded building,
and solve the mystery of excitement and
panic which every moment grew aud
swelled within the congested interior of
the edifce.
Inside on the slightly raised dais was
enacted within those few feverish mo-
ments tragedy 30 dramatic in character,
30 thrilling In it's intensity that few who
looked on will ever be able to give all
account Of what really did transpiro.
Even tho actors who were playing tho
principal role came out of it with
blanchod faces, trembling limbs and
beating hearts, while their brains
throbbed with q tumult of conflicting
emotions which could not be clarified
into lucid narrative of the events as
they really transpired.
PRESIDENT COOL AND COLLECTED.
But of tho multitude which witnessed
or boro part in tho scone of turmoil and
confusion thore was but ono mind which
seemed to retain it's equilibrium, one
hand which remained steady, ono eye
which gazed with unflinohing oalmness,
and one voice which retained its oven
tonor and faltered not at tho most criti-
cal juncture.
They wero tho mind and the hand and
tho eye and the voice of President Nc
Kinley. Aftor tho first shock of tho as
sassin's shots ho retreatod stop, then,
as tho detectives loaped upon his assail-
ant, he turned, walked steadily to chair
and seated himself, at tho same time re-
moving his hat and bowling his hoad in
his hands.
81 AM NOT BADLY HURT" HE SAID.
In an instant Secretary Cortolyou and
President Milburn wero at his side. His
waistcoat was hurriedly opened, tho
President meanwhile admonishing those
| about him to remain calm and telling
them not to alarmed.
"But you are wounded" cried his sec
rotary; "let mo examine
"No, think not" answered tho Pres-
don't. 81 am not badly hurt, l assure
YOU"
Nevertheless his outer garments were
hastily loosencd and when a trickling
stream of crimson was soon to wind it's
way down his breast, spreading it's tell
tale stain over the white surface of the
linen, tho worst of fears wero confirmed
THE CROWD sURaED FORWARD.
A forco of Exposition guards were on
tho scene by this time and an effort was
mado to cloar the building. BY this time
tho crush was terrific. Spectators crowded
down the stairways from tho galleries,
the crowd on the floor surged forward
toward tho rostrum, while despite tho
strenuous efforts of police and guards,
tho throng without struggled madly to
obtain admission.
The Presidents assaiant in tho mean
time had been hustled to the roar of the
building by Exposition guards, whore ho
was hold while the building was cleared,
and lator he was turned over to Suporin-
tendent Bull, of the Buffalo police de-
partment. AS soon as tho crowd in tho
Temple of Music had been dispersed suf.
ficiently the President was removed in
the automobile ambulance and taken to
tho Exposition hospital, whore an exam
ination was mado Tho best medical
skill was summoned and within brief
period several of Buffalo's best known
practitioners were at the patients sido
BREAST WOUND NOT DANGEROUS.
The President retained tho full exor-
ciso Of his faculties until placed on tho
operating table and subjected to an
an@sthctic. Upon tho first examination
it was ascertained that ono bullet had
taken effect in the right breast just be-
low the nipple, causing comparatively
harmless wound.
The other took effect in the abdomen,
about four inches below tho loft nipple,
four inches to tho left of tho navel and
about on a lovol with it.
PROBING THE SECOND BULLET WOUND.
Upon arrival at tho Exposition hospi-
tai the second bullet wound was probcd
Tho walls of tho abdomen were oponcd,
but tho ball was not located. Tho incis-
ion was hastily closed, and after hasty
consultation it was decided to remove
tho patient to tho homo of President
Milburn. This was done, tho automobile
ambulance being used for the purpose.
I|ees