The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08
He Was Just Outside the Temple of
Music when President Nc
KinIey Was Shot.
THE EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE
ALL THE ANGER-STIRRED CROWD
NEEDED WAS A LEADER.
The Assassin Had a Narrow Escape
from Instant yengeance-Buf-
faIo In Mourning.

returned from Buffalo last evening Will
his family. and told an interesting story to
a Journal reporter Of the intense excite
ment that prevailed on the Pan-American
Exposition grounds just after the dastardly
attempt on the Presidents life. Il arrived
in Buffalo from New York Friday morning,
and went to the exposition grounds with
my family" said Mr.. Thornton. 1--WE spent
some time inspecting the exhibits in the
various buildings, and shortly after
o'clock started toward the Temple of
Music in order to hear the immense pipe
organ. AZ we neared the building the
Presidents party was approaching, the
mounted police clearing the way to the en-
trance.
The crowd increased In numbers, and it
was several minutes before could get near
the door. 1 was just about to enter when
the sharp report of a revolver startled the
crowd We all stood in breathless
pectancy, awaiting developments The
crowd in the building was hurriedly rushed
through the doors to the outside and the
doors were closed. No one made a loud an
nouncement that the President had been
shot, but. as IL by magic. the word was
passed to the thousands who were gathered
near the building.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
The excitement was intense. The regu-
lars cleared the building and the marines
rushed TO the scene to control the crowd.
They formed a line and gradually forced
the excited multitude away from the build
ing. When the crowd had been pressed
back safe distance from the Temple of
Music ropes ware stretched to prevent the
people from surging forward. 1t was neces-
he To obOt
into the air in order to impress the people
with the necessity OF not crowding toward
the building.
When the wouId-be assassin was hur-
ried from the building to patrol wagon
his face was pale and he looked as IL he
was laboring under intense excitement
The men in the front ranks of the crowd
stood with fists clenched and eyes staring
at the Anarchist while murmur passed
among them Let's lynch him. Others were
in favor of even tearing his heart out and
had there been man in the crowd as
serted himself as leader just at that time
all the police, regular soldiers. marines,
guards and detectives in the exposition
grounds could not have prevented the
crowd from lynching the Anarchist All
the crowd needed to speedily end the viii
covered with blood as the result of the con-
tact with the secret service directly
after he shot the President.
After the President was removed to the
hospital and the prisoner taken to the
police station, business at the exposition
grounds was suspended. Groups of men
could be seen everywhere discussing the
horrible tragedy in low tones A great
gloom spread over the exposition crowd
and the entire city OF Buffalo. Sorrow and
regret were mingled with a feeling of re-
Venge on the assassin.
CROWDS IN THE STREETS.
II left the grounds before 5 o'clock and
started towards the city. AS we neared
the central part OF the city the crowds in
the streets were so great that the cars had
to be stopped. Excited men and women
| hurried along the thoroughfares to the
newspaper and telegraph offices, where
bulletins were displayed. Although nearly
every one expressed himself that the
coward who sought the life of the Presi-
dent should be summarily dealt with, yet
| there was no open outbreak
I do not believe that there was sufficient
protection afforded the President OF
| course, he had always been opposed to
! having guard. as he believed that no
one would seek his life, but still there
should nave Deen more precaution taken
! 10 protect him from just such Anarchists
| or cranks as the man who shot him on Fri
day. When he approached the Temple of
Music in mis- carriage it would have been
an easy matter for man inclined as was
| CZolgosZ TO have fired at him. He entered
| the building and there were two secret
| service men stationed near him, yet the
| Anarchist was allowed TO approach and
| shoot the President. The act is deplorable
and ii Is out Of the question to censure
| the men who were there TO protect the
| chief magistrate. There should have been
| more secret-service men IN the building
| When / was on the car riding to the city
| from the exposition grounds L informed a
worlNngman sitting near of the shoot
| ing. He was greatly shocked, and said that
! while he had been Democrat all his life
| he would willingly give $1,000, all the money
| he had, If he could have prevented the
deed. Other men expressed themselves in
the same manner. l stopped in Cleveland
| on my way home for a few minutes. and
| the people of that city are as greatly
| grieved as the citizens OF Canton, the
| Presidents home"