The Washington times., 1901-09-08
BEFORE THE BULLETIN BOARDS
Thousands Watch for TidinE. From.
the Rainbow City.

Thousands watched the ebb and flow Of
the Presidents condition as 1t was told
piecemeal on the downtown bulletin
boards last night. When midnight came
and with II no tidings of a turn for worse
most of the people went homeward. An
hour later Pennsylvania Avenue had as
sumed its appearance of early Sunday
morning desertedness. But around the
newspaper offices and the telegraph Offices
there were more loiterers than usual
There was but one query, What is the
latest?"
Throughout the residence districts of
Washington all seemed quiet, but there
was many a wakeful ear strained for
some cry of newsboy to signify there was
news Of some change. All night long tele-
phones rang constantly at the places
where information could be obtained In
answer to the statement that no change
had been reported there sounded gener-
ally remark of relief.
The crowds that lined Avenue side
walks and spread out on the asphalt
were not demonstrative. The American
trait of adaptability made them accept
the situation as a horrible matter of cir
cumstance. When, early in the evening.
an unofficial bulletin or two of an en-
couraging character had been posted
there were no cheers. But there were
many good. round. hearty expressions of
qualification. Men in the throng who
had never seen each other turned and
voiced their hopes. And when later on
there came nothing but an occasional
bulletin with little OF hope or encourage
ment in 1t. the crowds did not weep. In
stead of that there were bespoken the
sentiments of horror at such dastardly
crime. The bulletins were decidedly
cheerless. Generally the simple state
ment: There Is no change" followed by
a few figures-the temperature, the pulse,
and the respiration.
In the meantime. in the intervals when
there were no bulletins at all the peo-
pie discussed the affair. Men indicated
on their own bodies the places where the
bullets had struck the President Some
better informed than the others scatter
ed broadcast their knowledge. There was
no END TO speculation as to the condition
OF the President. Some had known peo-
pie who had been shot in similar manner
and had lived. Were the physicians at
the bedside of the President holding back
anything for fear of creating undue ap-
voiced.
There was to be occasionally seen a pro-
feSsional looking man scanning the bull
letin board from his buggy or carriage, or
the pulse figures and those Indicating the
temperature. They were doctors There
is hardly medical man in Washington
put Is as conversant with the details Of
the case as he can be from the informa-
tion at hand.
such cosmopolitan crowd as that of
last night is seldom seen even on the
streets of Washington Members and at
tacnes OF the Diplomatic Corps who sell
dom gather to watch the returns of an
election or a prizefight stood side by
side with negroes and Chinese laundry
men. 1t was not beneath the dignity of
officials of various kinds and chiefs of
divisions to jostle marines and cavalry
men from Fort Myer in an endeavor to
gain point of vantage bearing on a bull
letin board.
But those who were keen for the latest
news were not alone those on the streets
Scarce hotel but the clerk was kept
busy answering the queries of his guests
on the all-important topic. At the clubs
there was nothing that received such at
tentiOn.