The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-10
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSlNATE
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY,

| this time the crush was terrific Spec
tators crowded down the stairways
| from the galleries. the crowd on the
| floor surged forward toward the ros-
| trum while despite the strenuous efforts
| or police and guards the throng with
| out struggled madly to obtain admis-
sion.
THE PRISONER
The presidents assaiiant in the mean
| time had been hustled TO the rear of the
building by exposition guards, where he
was held while the building was cleared
| and. later, he was turned over 10 Super
| intendent Bull of the Buffalo police de-
partment, who took the prisoner to No.
IL police station and afterward to police
| headquarters.
| THE SURGEONS AT WORK.
As soon as the crowd in the Temple
| of Music had been dispersed sufficient
1 ly the president was removed in the
| automobile ambulance and taken to the
| exposition hospital, where an examina-
| ton was made. The best medical skill
| was summoned and within a brief pc
| riod several of Buffaios best known
practitioners were at the patients bed
l side.
| THE WOUNDS.
The president retains the full exercise
! of his faculties until placed on the oper-
u
| thetic. Upon the first examination it
was ascertained that one bullet had
taken effect in the right breast just be-
low the nipple, causing a comparatively
harmless wound
The other took effect in the abdomen
about four inches below the left nipple
| four inches to the left of the naval, and
about on level with it,
( Upon arrival at the exposition hospi-
| tai the second bullet wound was probed.
| The walls Of the abdomen were opened,
but the ball was not located. The in
| cision was hastily closed and after a
| hasty consultation it was decided to re-
J move the patient to the home of Presi-
| dent Milburn. This was done, the auto
mobile ambulance being used for the
| purpose. Arrived at the Milburn resi-
| dence all persons outside the medical
| attendants. nurses and the officials i'm
| mediately concerned, were excluded and
| the task of probing for the bullet which
| had lodged in the abdomen was begun
| by DR.. Roswell Parke. When the news
| of the crime was telephoned to the home
| of President Milburn where Mrs. Nc
| Kinley was resting. immediate steps
| were taken to spare her the shock of a
| premature statement of the occurance
before the true condition Of the presi-
| dent could be aScertained. Guards were
| stationed and no one was permitted to
approach the house.
| BREAKING THE NEWS TO MRS. Nc
KINLEY.
Immediately the president was cared
| for at the exposition grounds, Director
| General w. I. Buchanan started for the
| Milburn's residence to forestall any in
| forma ation that might reach there by
| telephone or otherwise. Very luckily
| he was the first to arrive with the infor-
| nation. The Niagara Falls trip had
| tired Mrs. Mckinley and on returning e
| to the Milburn residence she took leave
| of her nieces. the Misses Barber, and the
presidents niece. Miss Duncan, as we'll
| as their hostess, Mrs. Milburn, and went
| to her room to rest.
Mr.. Buchanan broke the news as gent
~ as possible to the nieces and consult
ed with them and Mrs. Milburn as to
the best course to pursue in breaking
the news to Mrs. Mckinley. 1t was
finally decided that on her awakening
or shortly thereafter, Mr.. Buchanan
should break the news to her. if in the
| meantime her physician. DR.. Rixey, had
not arrived.
Mrs. Mckinley awoke from her sleep
at about $50 o'clock. She was feeling
splendidly and at once took up her
crocheting, as is well known, is one of
her favorite diversions. Immediately on
Mr.. Buchanan's arrival at the Milburn
home he had telephone communication
Herewith cut off, for already there had
been several calls and he decided on this
as the wisest course to pursue, lest Mrs.
Mckinley, hearing the continued ring
ing of the phone bell might inquire
what it meant.
While the light of day remained, Mrs.
Mckinley continued with her crochet
ing, keeping to her room. When it be-
came dusk and the president had not
arrived, she began to feel anxious con-
cerning him. Il wonder why he does
not come" she asked one of her nieces.
There was no clock in Mrs. McKin-
ley's room and when it was Z o'clock
she had no idea it was so late, and this
is when she began to feel anxious con-
cerning her husband, for he was due to
return to Mr.. Milburn's house about 6
o'clock.
At O'Clock DR.. Rixey arrived at the
Milburn residence. He had been hur-
riedly driven down Delaware avenue
in an open carriage. AS he came up Mr..
Buchanan was out on the lawn convers-
ing with a reporter.
At 7:2O o'clock DR.. Rixey came out of
the house accompanied by Colonel Webb
Hayes, a son of ex-PreSident Hayes,
who is a friend of President Mckinley.
They entered a carriage and returned
to the exposition hospital.
After DIR. Rixey had gone Director
General Buchanan said that the doctor
had broken the news in most gentle
manner to Mrs. Mckinley. He said she
stood it bravely, though considerably
affected. If it were possible to bring
him to her she wanted it done.
DR.. Rixey assured her that the presi-
dent could be brought with perfect safe
ty from the exposition grounds. and
when he left Mr. Miiburn's it was to
complete all arrangements for the re-
moval Of the president.
a big force of regular patrolmen were
assigned to the Milburn residence.
At 7:30 o'clock Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wilson and Miss Wilson called and
were admitted to the Milburn residence.
AT THE MILBURN HOME.
When it was decided to remove the
president from the exposition to the
Milburn residence the news was broken
to Mrs Mckinley as gently as might be.
by the members of the Milburn family.
She bore the shock remarkably well and
displayed the utmost fortitude.