Evening star., 1901-09-14
The Nations Capital City Shares the
Nations Grief.
IT is A COMMUNITY OF MOURNERS
Sad Story of a Night That viii
Never Be Forgotten.
VIGILS OF THE RONGS

lHe PROUD nag OF the nation ilS
folds mournfully like veil of sorrow over
the capital city of the nation, emblemizing
gloom and grief Never before have the
stars and stripes been called upon to SYM
bolize such anguish; never before has
mournng been tempered so universally
with love and personal affection.
The sun rose this morning on a stricken
city The dawn had been preceded by
night of watching and prayer, but with an
ever growing dread and realization that
hope was useless. The citizens Of the fed
eral city did not sleep. They kept dumb
and silent vigil with their President.
A Trying Season.
From the first great shock when the
news of the Presidents assassination was
received the emotions which have been
prompted by the bulletins from Buffalo
have run the gamut of human sentiment.
After the shock at the dastardly deed came
the joyful assurance that the President
would live This hope fed on the reassur-
ing news which continued to arrive until
the O'Clock edition of The Star yesterday
morning promulgated the news of the sud
den and alarming change for the worse.
The middle of the afternoon hope found
renewed strength in the announcement of
the physicians. There was an undertone,
however in the reports in the regular edi-
tion of The Star which made Washing
tonians restless, and crowds began to surge
around the bulletin boards early in the
evening.
OutpOurins of People.
When the indications began to show that
the physicians had given up all hope
mighty wall seemed to vibrate throughout
the city. The news penetrated to all parts
of the city, and those who heard 1t were
prompted to read the tidings for them
selves, and constantly augmenting crowds
gaZed with strained eyes at the various
phases of the Presidents struggle for life,
as set forth on the bulletin boards.
The first extra of The Star, issued at 7:15
last night, was eagerly read, and it served
to induce more people to leave their homes
and come down town. AS the throngs
grew in size they also grew in solemnity
They were not, however, without individ-
ualS who expressed themselves in vigorous
terms. 1t would have been a welcome re-
lief if the assassin of the President could
have been available. There were Others
too, who spared no criticism of the attend
Ing physicians. These remarks, which
could be heard on every hand, seemed to
act as a sort of safety valve, and the same
individuals would end their sentences with
expressions of grief, the feeling overshad-
owing all others.
AS fast as bulletins arrived from the bed
side of the President they were announced
from The Star office by megaphone. The
words as they rang out seemed to sound
his death knell.
A Solemn Moment.
When the Presidents last words were
announced In which he resigned himself
to the will Of God heads were barred by
common impulse. Women buried their
faces in their handkerchiefs and strong
men were not ashamed of the tears which
coursed down their cheeks.
Those who remained at home kept
similar vigil Long after midnight there
was no sign of retirement and when the
cry of Extra Star echoed through the
city streets a few minutes after the doc
tors had announced the end In Buffalo
doors We're opened and the papers purchas-
ed in silence. Every one knew that Presi-
dent Mckinley was dead.
At the Executive Mansion.
At the White House the night and day
forces of telegraph operators were on duty.
Secretary Cortelyou at Buffalo had an
nounced early in the evening that he would
keep In constant communication with the
Executive Mansion. Secretary Hay can
celed his proposed trip to his New Eng
land summer home, and divided his time
last night between his residence and the
State Department
He had left the President in Buffalo with
the strong assurance of the physicians that
recovery was certain.
Postmaster General Smith arrived in
Washington yesterday morning from Buff
falo. but took the 7:15 train to return to
that city last night Secretary Gage, the
only other cabinet officer in the city, was
In constant touch with the White House
by telephone from his home at Woodley.
Nearly every bureau official in the city
called at the White House during the even
ing. besides many! prominent citizens and
diplomats, and all were grief-stricken. The
same spirit sanctified every spot in the city
The spirit Of dread. reverence and love
hallowed all hearts as they were wrung
with the realization of the end