McKinley

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..................

THE SHOOTING OF
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY

As reported in the Coquille Bulletin (newspaper)

September 13, 1901

A Dastardly Deed.

    Again our nation is wrapped in gloom and our uppermost thoughts are
centered on Buffalo, where the nation's stricken chief lies at deaths [sic] door
from the effects of an attempted assassination by a cowardly anarchist.
President McKinley was visiting at the Pan-American Exposition, and was
holding a public reception, grasping the hands of his beloved fellow-
countrymen, when a coward of the deepest dye steps [sic] forward, and the
president, in his friendly way, extends the hand of friendship and receives in
return a bullet. The blow on our government is a severe one; this has been the
third president that has fallen victim to such a cowardly act. The news of the
condition of President McKinley is anxiously awaited every moment by every
citizen of our nation and their sympathy is extended to his beloved wife.

PRESIDENT SHOT.

Dastardly Attempt Made to Assasinate President McKinley.

   Buffalo, Sept. 6. -- President McKinley was shot and seriously wounded by
a would-be assassin [sic] while holding a reception in the Temple of Music at
the Pan-American grounds a few minutes after 4 o'clock this afternoon. One
shot took effect in the right breast, the other in the abdomen. The first is not
of a serious nature, and the bullet has been extracted. The latter pierced the
abdominal wall and has not been extracted.
   The assassin was immediately arrested and proved to be Leon Czolgozy
[sic], an anarchist of Detroit, Mich. The shooting was most cowardly and was
done while the president was shaking hands with the people. The assassin
came forward with one hand in a sling, and the president extended his hand to
him but instead of taking it he threw off the handkerchief from his hand and
revealed a revolver, with which he fired twice at the president with the above
effect.
                 ________________
                   LATEST NEWS.

    Milburn House, Buffalo, Sept. 10 -- The President will live but will
probably carry the bullet of the would-be assassin with him to the grave. This
is the expressed opinion of Dr. McBurney, of New York, in a statement to a
representative of the associated press after the consultation of the physicians
this morning. He announced that the President had passed the danger point,
and now only the possibility of complications remains. He also announced
that unless the bullet embedded in the muscle of the back causes trouble, there
will be no necessity to extract it.
                  ______________

   Chicago, Sept. 10. -- Emma Goldman, the high priestess of anarchism,
whose speeches, it is declared, turned to fire the brain of Leon Czolgosz, the
would-be assassin of the president, was arrested today, with a warrant
charging her with conspiracy to assinate [sic] President McKinley.   [M. note,
Czolgolz name sic in each place, once being misspelled.]

September 20, 1901
.
PRESIDENT DEAD.

Succumbs to his Wounds Saturday Morning, after One Week's Battle for His Life -- Members of the Family at the Bedside.
              _________

THEODORE ROOSEVELT IS NOW PRESIDENT

             __________

Was sworn in as President of the United States, by Dist. Judge Hazel, immediately After the Death.

     MILBOURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 14. -- President McKinley died at
2:45 A.M. He had been unconscious most of the time since 7:50 P.M. His last
conscious hour on earth was spent with the wife to whom he devoted a life
time [print] of care. He died unattended by a minister of the gospel, but his
last words were in humble submission to the will of God in whom he believed.
He was reconciled to the cruel fate to which an assassin's bullet had
condemned him and faced death in the same spirit of calmness which has
marked his long and honorable career.
    His last conscious words, reduced to writing by Dr. Mann, who stood at his
bedside when they were uttered, were: "Good-bye all, goodbye. It is God's
way. His will be done."
    His relatives and the members of his official family were at the Milburn
house except Secretary Wilson, who did not avail himself of the opportunity,
and some of his personal and political friends who took leave of him. This
painful ceremony was simple. His friends came to the door of the sick room,
took a longing glance at him and turned tearfully away.

THE PARTING WITH HIS WIFE.

He was practically unconscious during this time. But powerful heart
stimulants, including oxygen, were employed to restore him to consciousness
for his final parting with his wife. He asked for her and she sat at his side and
held his hand. He consoled her and bade her good-bye. She went through the
heartrending scene with the same bravery and fortitude with which she has
born the grief of the tragedy which ended his life.
   Those present at the bedside when the end came were Mrs. McKinley; his
brother Abner, Miss Hellen [sic] McKinley, Mrs. Sarah Duncan and Mrs. Mary Barber, sisters; Miss Duncan, niece; Lieutenant McKinley, Wm. Duncan and John Barber, nephews; F.M. Osbourne, cousin; Private Secretary Corteyou [sic], Comptroller of Treasury Daws [sic], Webb C. Hayes and William C. Brown.
    Shortly after his arrival in Buffalo, President Roosevelt paid a short visit of
condolence to Mrs. McKinley.

               _________
                 FUNERAL PROGRAM.

    The program for President McKinley's funeral, formulated by the cabinet,
included a prayer service at Milburn House, Buffalo, Sunday evening.
    Monday morning a special train conveyed the dead President to Washington
where available military commands assembled to act as an escort.
    Then the funeral cortege proceeded to Canton, Ohio, for interment. [sic]

                   _________
   Salem, Sept. 14. -- The State House is being draped in crepe from the ground
to the top of the dome.

CAUSED BY THE WOUNDS

    Buffalo, Sept. 14. -- Surgeons performed an autopsy on the body of the late
President this afternoon. At the close of the autopsy it was announced that the
bullet which was supposed to have lodged in the muscles of the back was not
found. Death was caused by toxemia, due to the presence of the bullet in the
body.
    Later Dr. Mynter stated that death was the direct result of gangrene
produced by the bullet wound.
    An X-ray machine will be used to ascertain the location of the bullet in the
President's body. A machine has been sent for and it is said the examination
will be made today. The doctors engaged in the autopsy here have taken a
recess for luncheon.

    Buffalo, Sept. 14. -- An autopsy on the body of President McKinley, late
this afternoon, revealed the fact that death was caused from gangrene
(mortification) about the bullet wounds.

                    ______

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

    Buffalo, Sept. 14. -- Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as President
of the United States at the residence of Ainsley Wilcox at 3:32 this afternoon.
The oath was administered by United States District Judge John R. Hazel.
    In taking the oath the President said:
    "In this hour of deep and National bereavement, I wish to state that it shall
be my aim to continue the policy of President McKinley for the peace and
prosperity and honor of our beloved country."

                    _______

   PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S RECORD

Born at Noles, Trumbull County, O., January 29,1843.
Entered Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., 1860.
Enlisted as private, Company E, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, June
11, 1861.
Participated in battles South Mountain and Antietam, September 14 and 17,
1862; promoted from Commissary Sergeant to Lieutenant.
Promoted Captain, battle of Kexmstown, July 24,1864.
Commissioned Major by brevet March 14,1865.
Studied law, law school at Al ..ny [can't read; assume must be Albany, not
long enough for Allegheny], N.Y.; admitted to bar at Warren, 0, March, 1867.
Elected Prosecuting Attorney, Stark County, Ohio, 1869.
Elected to Congress, 1876.
Re-elected to Congress for seventh time, November, 1888.
Inaugurated Governor of Ohio, January 11, 1892.
Elected President of United States, November, 1896.
Renominated for President, June 21,1900.
Re-elected, November 4,1900.
Shot September 6,1901.
Died September 14,1901.

President's Exercise Habits.
                            _____

    President McKinley was adverse to a bodyguard or to restrictions on his
movements, and was exceedingly informal and democratic while in
Washington. On many pleasant mornings he indulged in a half hour's stroll
entirely alone through the southern portion of the grounds surrounding the
White House. Often he left the gate at the western side of the grounds and
was joined by Controller [print] of the Currency, Chas Dawes, also an early
riser, and together these two men would make the circuit of the eclipse south
of the White House Grounds. Upon these occasions he was never
accompanied by a bodyguard or a Secret Service man. It is said that Mr.
McKinley was often warned that the strolls alone were dangerous.
    Frequently Mr. McKinley drove alone about the city and its suburbs.
Seldom the President himself handled the reins, but at no time was there a
sexeret service [sic] man in attendance, eigher [sic] near or at a distance. The
closest attendant in the secret service [print] that the President had was George
Foster, who constituted his personal bodyguard.   A few days ago a
Washington Post reporter, while at Buffalo, talked with Captain Valleley [sic],
of the exposition force, on the precautions he would take to insure the
president‘s safety. Captain Valleley said he had picked men of the country
under him, and that all the time that the president was in the exposition
grounds he would be surrounded by alert detectives, who would form a
constant bodyguard. The captain ridiculed the possibility of danger. –Ex.

Theodore Roosevelt, who has become president on account of the death of
Wm. McKinley, pledged himself to the American people to pursue the policy
of his predecessor. Of course, Roosevelt’s record as a president is to be made,
and it is hoped that he will not prove unworthy of the trust that has been
placed in his hands by the American people. President Roosevelt is a man of
firm convictions, and has in the past at all times been an upholder of the right.
He has the confidence of the whole nation, and it can only be hoped that he
will make as good a record as did Wm. McKinley.

The third president, who has met death at the hands of an assassin, is now
being mourned for by our nation. President McKinley died at the Milburn
House, Buffalo, last Saturday, from the effect of the wounds inflicted by
Czolgosz, the anarchist. The president was aware of the end and was prepared
to meet his maker, as is judged from the words which were uttered by him just
before the soul took its flight: “Good bye all, goodbye. It is God’s way. His
will be done.” The shock of the President’s death came with double force as
the country had been rejoicing over the news that he was steadily gaining and
would recover, and the sudden change in his condition was unexpected. The
whole nation is dressed in mourning.

When the news reached the hopyard west of town that McKinley had been
shot, a foolish young man in the crowd of hoppickers [sic] remarked that he
was glad of it. A young girl standing near remonstrated with the unpatriotic
American, and when he reiterated the statement, the girl whacked him over the
head with a hop pile, and to say that she was seconded by every other picker in
the yard is expressing it mildly. The boy is a resident of this city, but has been
more discreet in his utterances since the hopyard incident. –Albany Herald.
[M. assume this is Albany NY and a national item, since a following issue
quotes that paper as a source.]

September. 27, 1901

President Cleveland took the precaution during his last term of office to keep a
trustee [sic] body-guard almost continually by his side when travelling or in
public. At receptions the guard, dressed in citizen’s clothes, took his position
on the left of the president where he could carefully scrutinize approaching
strangers and catch the right arm of the man about to shake hands with the
President in case of suspicious action. Those who criticized Cleveland for
taking such precautions for personal safety now have occasion to commend
his foresight. Cleveland, as well as other presidents, received threatening
letters and thought it best to keep on the safe side. –Ex.

It is a serious fact that the name of Czolgosz is a Polish word meaning, "a
creeping, crawling thing, like a snake." +

The Post Office Department is contemplating the issuance of a special series
of stamps, commemorative of the life of President McKinley.+

The expression of sorrow and the tributes paid to our martyred President by
the leading journals of the south go to show the spirit of Union which now
prevails among the American people. There is no North nor South but all are
united in the one grand thought of building up and upholding the principals
[print] of our great nation. +

The father of Czolgosz says of the assassin: "He came home nights to sleep.
All day he was away fishing or idling. He said he was not well and could not
work." This sizes up pretty correctly the majority of the anarchists who have
dedicated themselves to a general destruction of the existing order. These
people are either loafing or steeping themselves in anarchistic literature. Work
is what they would avoid whenever possible. --Albany Herald.   [M. I assume
this is Albany NY, a national filler.]

   Czolgolsz Is Guilty.
       ______

And Will Be Sentenced to Death by Electrocution.
          _______

    Buffalo, Sept. 24. -- The trial of Leon Czolgsz, the assassin of President
McKinley, was brought to an early termination today. The jury returned, after
a few minutes' deliberation, with a verdict of murder in the first degree. The
sentence will be pronounced tomorrow and shall be death by electrocution. +

A gentleman who has just returned from Humboldt county says that an
employee of a saw mill near Eureka upon hearing of the president's death
expressed his gratification by shouting hurrah and was chased into the bush by
a crowd of fellow employees and has not been heard of since. It is thought by
some that he is swaying in the breeze from the limb of some tree in that
vicinity. +

October 4, l90l

It will be peculiar if a man of Mr. Roosevelt's intense energy and extensive
capabilities does not have something very much to the point to say on the
subject of Anarchy in his first message to Congress. It is, of course,
impossible to predict the nature of his recommendations but they are likely to
be at least pertinent and possibly drastic.

An Impressive Scene.

    Of all the sad scenes recently enacted in the Capitol City the simplest stands
but as most impressive [sic]. The arrival of the body of him who a few weeks
before had gone forth in all strength and vigor of manhood, at his official
home [sic]. No pomp, no bands, no great ceremony attended the return. A
simple escort of two troops of cavalry and a guard of honor consisting of the
ranking officers of army and navy met the funeral train of their late chief at the
depot. It was already dark when the train arrived but Pennsylvania Avenue
was bright with the soft glow of hundreds of incandescent lights. The cavalry,
sixteen abreast; [sic] proceeded up the broad, crape-draped avenue, followed
by the simple hearse drawn by six black horses, attended by the guard of
honor and followed in turn by the carriages of the mourners, President
Roosevelt, the Cabinet and others.

[article on Pres. Roosevelt, his age, experience, career, policies in agreement
w/McKinley.]

October. 4, 1901

The reported attempt to blow up the McKinley vault has proven to be a fake
sensation existing only in the imaginative [print] brain of some reporter. +

When President McKinley’s clothing which he wore when he was shot was
examined there were the following articles: One dollar and eighty cents in
coin, a silver nugget pocket piece, three small pocket knives, one battered
coin, a pocketbook containing $45 in bills, a lead pencil, three short cigars,
two of them chewed, an open faced watch and h[print] chain, but not a clew
[sic] as to his identity.   +

[more articles, lengthy, on new president, his activities and schedule, other. ]

October Oct 18, 1901.

“The anarchist must slay seventy-five million Americans before he can slay
the republic.” --Senator Hoar.   +

October 25, 1901.

We cannot see why President Roosevelt hasn’t the right to dine with a Negro
if he wants to. Some politicians are hurting themselves because President
Roosevelt gave a dinner to Booker T. Washington, the colored educator of the
south. The rough rider will more than likely be the judge of whom he shall
entertain, be it [ sic] white or colored.   +

If Roosevelt’s administration does not prove a success it will not be from lack
of advice.   +

Even a pouring rain did not serve to prevent the President from attending
church Sunday and taking a walk afterwards. +

November 1, 1901.

Leon Czolgosz, the arch fiend, who assassinated our nation’s chief, paid the
penalty of his awful crime last Tuesday morning, at Auburn prison, N.Y., by
death in the electric chair. The condemned man showed no signs of fear, even
talked while being strapped into the chair. Our readers are acquainted with the
details of the awful crime which shocked the entire world and for which the
perpetrator has just suffered the penalty. Every precaution was taken to
prevent any demonstration, and the execution was witnesses only by a few.
While he paid the penalty prescribed by law for his crime, still it does not
bring back to us the one so treacherously murdered.   +


November 22, 1901.

With a murdered President, two bursted banks and a $4,000,000 deficit on the
record Buffalo will not soon forget her Pan-American show. +

We believe that if Mr. McKinley could make his wishes known he would say
to those who would raise up million dollar monuments in his memory,
“Combine your forces and endow a home for widows and orphans.” +

Buffalo may have lost money on her exposition but, judging by Chicago’s
experience, she may still consider herself the gainer because of the aesthetic
education of her citizens. +

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