The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-09-12

BuIrain, Sept. 9. - PRESIDENT MciAiiiSs
was shot and seriously wounded by
wouid-be assassin while holding reeep-
tion In the Temple of Music at the Pan
American exposition few minutes after
o'clock yesterday afternoon. One shot
took effect in the right breast, the other
in the abdomen. The first is not Of Sc
rIous nature and the bullet has been ex-
tracted. The latter pierced the abdominal
wall and has not yet been located At
8:3e a. M the following bulletin by the
attending physicians was the only indi-
cation Of the condition of the presidents
wounds:
'"Tbe president passed a good night and
IL resting comfortably this morning; tenn
perature 1904 degrees, pulse l24. respira-
ton "a.
II was few minutes after 4 p. m,
while President Mckinley was holding a
public reception in the great Temple OF
Music ON the Pan-American grounds,
that the dastardly attempt was made,
with what success time alone can tell.
Planned with all the diabolical ingenuity
and fnesse OF which anarchy or nihilism
is capable, the wouid-be assassin carried
OUT the work without hitch, and should
his designs fail and the president survive.
only to divine providence can be attrib-
uted that beneficent result
The president. thought well guarded by
United States secret service detectives,
was fully exposed 10 such an attack as
occurred He stood at the edge Of the
raised dais upon which stands the great
pipe organ. at the east side OF the mag
nificent structure. ThronGs OF people
crowded. In at the various entrances to
gaze upon their executive, perchance
To Clasp His Hand,
and then fight their way out in the good;
natured mob that every minute swelled
and multiplied at the points, of inSress
and egress to the building.
The president was In a cheerful mood
and was enjoying to the full the hearty
evidences of good will which everywhere
met his gaze. Upon his right stood John
G. Milburn OF Buffalo, president Of the
Pan-American exposition, chatting with
the president and introducing to him es-z
pecially persons of note who approached.
Upon the presidents left stood Mr.. Cor
telyou.
It was shortly after 4 p. M, when one
Of the throng which surrounded the presi-
Dental party, medium sized man Of
ordinary appearance and plainly dressed
in black. approached as II to greet the
president. Both Secretary Cortelyou and
President Milburn noticed that the mans
hand was swathed In bandage or hand
kerchief. Reports Of bystanders differ as
to which hand. He worked his way amid
the stream of people up to the edge of the
dais. until he was within two feet Of the
president. President Mckinley smiled,
bowed and extended his hand In that
spirit OF genia!ity the American people SO
well know, when suddenly the sharp
crack of a revolver rang out loud and
clear above the hum of voices, the shuf-
fling OF myriad feet and vibrating waves
Of applause that ever and anon swept
here and there over the assembiage.
There was an instant of almost COM
plete silence. The president stood stock
STILL look Of hesitancy. almost of be-
on his face Then ne
Rctrented Step
while palior began to steal over his
features. The multitude, only partially
aware that something serious had hap
pened, paused IN surprise, while necks
were craned. and all eyes turned to the
rostrum where great tragedy was being
enacted.
Then came commotton. With the leap
OF tiger three men threw themselves
forward as with one impulse and sprang
toward the would-be assassin. Two of
them were United States secret service
men, who were on the lookout and whose
duty ii was to guara against just such q
as had befalien the epresident
and the nation. The third Was by
stander negro, who had only an in
slant previously grasped in his dusky
hand the hand of the president. AS one
man the trio hurled themselves upon the
presidents assailant. In twinkIing he
was borne to the ground, his weapon was
wrested from his grasp and strong arms
pinioned him down.
Then the multitude which thronged the
edifiee began to come to a realizing sense
Of the awfulness of the scene of which
they had been unwilling witnesses. A
arose, spread and swelled to
hum of confusion, then grew to a babel
OF sounds, and later to a pandamonium OF
noises. The crowds that moment be-
fore had stood mute and motionless, as
in bewildered ignorance Of the enornity
OF the thing, now with a single impulse
surged forward toward the stage of the
horrid drama, while q hoarse cry welled
up from thousand throats and a thou
sand men charged forward to lay hands
upon the perpetrator of
The DastardIy Crime.
For a moment the confusion was ter
rible. The crowd surged forward regard
less of consequences. Men shouted and
fought, women screamed and children
cried. Some OF those nearest the doors
Gsd from the edidce In fear of staTn-