The Washington times., 1901-09-07
GRIEF ATfHE WHITE HOUSE
officials Coming in for the News
Much Affected.
Direct Communication Established
With the MiIburn Residence and
Frequent Bulletins Reccived-Dip-
Iomat. and Lending Citizens Call.

Iomats and Leading Citizens Call.
The news of the attempted assassina
ton came as n thunderbolt upon the Of
ficials at the White House Upon its re-
ceipt over the telephone from the news
paper offices, Colonel Montgomery, who
is in charge of the telegraph service at
the Executive Mansion, lost no time in Sc
curing a through wire to the hospital to
which the President was taken immedi-
ateiy after he was hurt.
The first news received from Buffalo
by Colonel Montgomery was from the
chief operator of the Western Union, in
that city. who had previously Informed
the White House officials that he would
send them direc' any news of the trag-
edy which he could obtain. The message,
which was a brief one, told of the shoot
ing in the Temple of Music. and the i'm
mediate removal of the President to the
hospital in the grounds. The operator in
Buffalo termed the Presidents assailant
an American Anarchist"
During the receipt of this message, the
little telegraph room in the White House
was crowded with newspaper men and
Government officials. Among the latter
were Charles G. Dawes, Comptroller of
the Currency, Frank w. Hackett. Acting
Secretary of the Navy; General Spaulding,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury: Jud-
son Lyons, Register of the Treasury, to-
gether with number of the Presidents s
official family.
AS the message was read slowly but
distinctly by Colonel Montgomery. a
death-Iike silence pervaded the little
room. Tears were to be seen In the eyes
of several of the high Government Off
cials, and Colonel Crooks, the White
House disbursing officer gave way under
the strain and sobbed aloud. Every MEM
ber of the party was visibly affected.
Within half an hour after the receipt
of the first message at the White House,
second message was received over the
long distance telephone from Mr.. Baden,
assistant to the President of the Pan
American Exposition. Mr.. Balden in
formed Colonel Montgomery that DIR.
Rixey. together with two other physi-
clans, was in attendance upon the Presi-
dent, and that their actions fully evil
denced the fact that the Executive had
been seriously injured.
BY this time most of the officials pres
ent during the reading of the first mes
sage had left for their homes. Later on.
however. Mr.. Dawes returned. accompan-
led by his wife, and was given the mes
sage.
There was comparatively little excite
mcnt about the White House from the
time the first news was received up TO
a late hour in the night.
After the receipt of the first message.
several members of the Diplomatic Corps
drove rapidly to the mansion and handed
in their expressions of sympathy Among
those were Senor CaIderon, the Peruvian
Minister, and Senor Infante. the Chilean
Charge. Both remained but a short time
Shortly after o'clock another message
was received from the chief operator of
the Western Unic1 in Buffalo stating
that he had ascertained on good authority
that the Presidents wounds were not
necessarily fatal. A copy Of the message
was given 20 the Government officials and
to the representatives of the press. Its
reading caused feeling of general relief.
Notwithstanding the fact that the news
of President Mckinleys attempted assas-
sination had been heralded throughout the
city in the newspaper extras, but few
residents of the National Capital Invaded
the White House grounds. However, as
the hours passed dozens of citizens ap-
preached the policeman on duty outside
of the structure End cnquired as to the
condition of the wounded Executive.
Upon receiving the Information, they
walked away, none of them lettering in
the vicinity.
By arrangement with the telephone and
telegraph companies, Colonel Montgomery
secured d special wire TO the Milburn
home, where the President was removed
from the Exposition hospital. He will re-
ceive hourly bulletins from Buffalo giving
the condition of the President.
At late hour last night the Office rooms
in the Executive Mansion Were thronged
with Government officials and prominent
citizens who gathered in knots in the
corridors. At intervals the operator In
the telegraph room would emerge with a
bunch of paper, and instantly the groups
would scatter toward him, all eager.to
learn further details in regard to Mr.
McKinleys condition.
At the same time other officials who
were unable to call at the White House
earlier began to drop in and were shown
all the dispatches Colonel Montgomery
posse ssed.
The first official telegram received at
the Mansion relative to the tragedy was
shortly after z o'clock, when brief de-
spatch arrived from Secretary Cortelyou.
1t stated that the physicians were at that
time performing an operation upon the
Executive and that the patient was rest
ing quietly and comfortably.
/ About 7:20 o'clock Secretary Cortelyou
called I'D over the long distance telephone,
and he and Colonel Montgomery discussed
the tragedy with each other for some lit
tie time The Secretary stated that the
Presidents condition was greatly i'm
proved, and that the bullet in his chest
had been successfully removed lie was
resting easily, and Mr. Corteiyou stated
! that he had been removed TO the home OF
| John G. Miiburn, the President OF the
! Pan-American Exposition, where Mrs.
Mckinley was. Immediately at the close
II Mont FsAttN.4r
came out of the telegraph room and gave
| a synopsiseof the conversation between
| the Secretary and himself to the eager
1 crowd. The announcement called forth
! expressions of relief from the entire party.
| Among the visitors who called at the
| White House at late hour were Milton
| w Allies. Assistant Secretary of the
! Treasury; ex-senator Blair, Captain
| Meredith. Director of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing. and Judge Ander-
| son. All We're shown the late dispatches.
When speaking of the tragedy to a
! Times reporter, Captain Meredith, who is
| an old nd of the Executive. having
roomed a, the Ebbitt House with him
when the President was a member of
| Congress, said:
| at is n terrible tragedy, and one which
| deplore. cannot express my feelings
at this time. l do not feel like discussing
! the matter.
| Assistant Secretary Allies, in discussing
| the matter. said:
/; THE accident which befell our beloved
| President is an unspeakabie calamity.
| Those now associated with his policies
| realize that il has been his ambition to
| make the United States the greatest and
| happiest nation on earth. Party bitter
ness has diminished during his Admins
| tration and he is today beloved by the
| people of the South well those of
| the North. The terrible tragedy which
look place todaY will undoubtedly cause
| sorrow and regret among the millions of
| true Americans. who loved and respect
| ed him AS a representative citizen"
| Despite the fact that the avenues in the
city overfiowed with people. but few. for
| some reason, entered the grounds. Con-