The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-07
State Journal Gets First News
of Shooting of President.
Papers Were on Street Before
Four O'clock.
PEOPLE WERE EXCITED
Continuous String of Anxious
Telephone Messages.
Example of Quick Work of AS
sOcIated Press.

How the news of President Mck1n-
ley's assassination Travelled throughout
the length and breadth of Topeka
1t is amazing and inexplieable. 1t
would require a great deal of careful
study to trace the manner in which the
terrible stoHy was circulated over so
much territory and into so many PEG
pies ears almost simultaneous with It's
publication in the State Journal
1t was about 80 when the news came
to the State Journal Office over the As
ISOLATED Press wires. 1t was the first
word received in Topeka
The news was at once communicated
by the Associated Press operator to the
telegraph editor of the State Journal
and a few members of the local force
who happened to be in the office In
stantly a brief bulletin of the tragedy
was hurried down to the composing
room to appear in the regular o clock
edition. Work was commenced within
five minutes on the preparations for an
first State Journal was on the street
at 3:45, giving the people the first in
formation of the sad news.
It was inside of that five minutes
that the first telephone message came
in.
what is this rumor about the presi-
dent being shot?" asked some one at
the other end of the line
at is true"
where was he shot2"
''At Buffalo,
ssWhen?''
Just a few minutes ago"
tsWho shot him?'
81 don't know"
rs he dead?"
Il don't know"
''Will he die?"
Il don't know"
Have they got the man who shot
him?"
Il don't know"
The inquisitor would have asked more
questions if an opportunity had been
given But the only thing the State
Journal knew about it at that time was
Just this brief flash bulletin. President
Mckinley has been shot twice in the
stomach. 1t happened in the Temple OF
Music"
From the time Of the first telephone
call, the State Journal received on an
average Of one call every 80 seconds
till the papers were on the streets Peo-
pie called up from the Santa Fe offices,
from the state house., from grocery
stores out in the suburbs of town, from
the Commercial club, from North To-
peka.
Hello" said one man, lis it true that
Mckinley has been shot2"
Yes, it's truce" was the reply from
the State Journal office.
MY God, car it be possiblei" said the
man at the other end of the line with
great emotion Then he begged for
A woman called up and said:
HAS President Mckinley been shot?'
An affirmative answer was given.
ooh. dear, dear, dear! Isn't it awful
said the woman, with tears in her
voice. And she rung off without ask
ing for more particulars
The only way to explain the rapid
circulation over town which the news
gained is that it was sent by telephone
As soon as the news once started down
Kansas avenue it Travelled very swift
" by word of mouth. After that every
body who had occasion to call up
anybody over the telephone told the
story.
Business men who had phones at
their homes told their wives about it.
Within half an hour after the news
reached Topeka the startling intelli-
gence was in everybody's mouth ali
over town.
The only thing which has occurred Of
late years to compare with it was the
way the news of battles in the Spanish
war was waited across the city as
though by the wind. The story OF
Dewey's victory and of the battle of
Santiago bay produced almost as much
sensation as the news of the presidents
ASA ssination, although the news Of both
these events reached Topeka at night.
The State Journal issued one extra at
o'clock giving details of the assault.
Another was issued at and another at
$40. People stood upon the street cor
ners waiting anxiously for the papers
and 100 neWsbOys were kept busy.