Newspaper Page Text
Atlanta SmMwtW Snnrnat.
VOL. 111.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM M’KINLEY IS DEAD; i
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IS SWORN IN
LAST SAD HOURS IN THE
NATION’S AWFUL TRAGEDY
MILBURN HOUSE. BUFFALO. Sept 14-—William McKinley, twenty-fifth
president of the United States, died at 2:15 o'clock this morning from the effect
of bq assassin*s bullet-
Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth president of the United States, succeeds to
that exalted office under the constitution and laws of the country and with the ad
ministration of the oath of office today he will begin the exercise of the functions
of president- . _ _ , . . _
In these statements are embraced the consummation of an awful tragedy and
by which the entire administration of government is changed
and a new administration comes into being.
But for the moment the transfer of the government Is forgotten in the great
sorrow which has fallen on the nation in the passing of President McKinley. Sol
dier. ststewmen. president, devoted husband and friend, he was loved by all who
knew him. *
The death of President McKinley came in the small hours of the morning unde<
circumstances of peculiar wierdness. For hours he had lain unconscious with all
hope of his survival abandoned-
As early as < o'clock last night the doctors had pronounced him a dying man,
and soon thereafter the rigors of approaching death began to creep upon him.
The administration of powerful stimulants was maintained until 7 o'clock, but
with no effect. It was seen that the end was near at hand and those nearest and
dearewt to the president were summoned for the cffices of the last farewell. He
came out of a stupor about 7 o'clock, and while his mind was partially clear there
occurred the last endearments, the last submission of the sufferer to the will of
the Almighty, the last murmured expressions from his dying Ups and the last
good-byes. i , ,
Mrs. McKinley There.
In this Interval of consciousness. Mrs. McKinley was broughtTnto the death
chamber. The president had asked to see her. She came and sat beside him. held
his hand and heard his last words of encouragement and comfort. Then she was
led away and not again during his living hours did she see him.
The president himself fully realised that his hour had come and his mind
tun ed to hte Maker. He whispered feebly. "Nearer, My God,’ to Thee," the
words of the hvmn alwavs dear to h* heart. Then in faint accents he mur
mured ••Good-bye. all good-bye. It is God s way; His will be done; not ours."
With this sublime display of Christian fortitude the president soon lapsed
tnto unconadonsness. _
The members of the cabinet, grief-stricken, were gathered in the large
drawing room of the Milburn house. The time had coma when they, too were
to look upon the president for the last time in Use. They ascended the stairway
one after the other, noiselessly approaching the threshold of the chamber where
the dying man lay and gased within. Those who came first turned back appalled
and overwhelmed and did not pass within the chamber. Secretary Wilson re
' mnined below, unwilling to have imprinted on his memory the picture of his
expiring chief. Secretary Long, who arrived on a late train, went at once to the
chamber and passed directly to the bedside of the president, grasping the hand
that was already clammy with approaching death.
A Question of Minutes.
Meantime the president had lapsed tnto a state of complete unconsciousness,
and it was only a question of hours, perhaps minutes, when the end would
come. By 10 o'clock there was no perceptible pulse. The extremities had grown
cold and the rigidity of death was fast falling upon the sufferer. The
who remained at his side detected only the faintest heartbeats. Some of them,
knowing that all was over, departed, while others remained, not because there
was any further need for their ministrations, but because of respect for the ex
piring president
Dr. Janeway, the eminent heart specialist, who had been summoned from
New York, arrived shortly before midnight and proceeded at once to the bedside
of the president. An instant's glance told him that the time had passed for
the slightest hope. He turned away, telling the assembled relatives and officials
that the end was very near.
Midnight came and etffl the tremendous vitality of the president was bat
tling under dissolution. Another hour passed so and still another. At 2 o'clock
Dr Rlxey was the onlv physician in the death chamber. The others were in an
adjoining room, while the relative®, cabinet officers and nearest friends were
gathered ff. Silenf gfdteps In the apartments below. As he watched and waited
Dr. Rlxey observed a slight, convulsive tremor. The president had entered the
* wßay of the shadow of death.
Word was at once taken to the immediate relatives who were not present
to hasten for the last look upon the president tn life. They came in groups the
women weeping and the men bowed and sobbing in their Intense grief.
Those Who Were Present.
Grouped about the bedside at this final moment were the only brother of the
president. Abner McKinley and his wife. Miss Helen McKinley and Mrs. Sarah
Duncan. Miss Mary Barber, niece; Miss Sarah Duncan, niece; Lieutenant James
F McKinley. William M. Duncan. John Barber, nephew; F. M. Osborn, a cousin;
Secretary George B. Cortelyou. Hon. Charles G. Dawes, comptroller of the cur- (
reney CoL Webb C. Hayes and Col. William C. Brown. With those directly and
indirectly connected with the family were those others who had kept ceaseless
vigil—the white garbed nurses and the uniformed marine hospital attendants. In
the adjoining room were Dr. Charles Mcßurney, Eugene Wasdln, Roswell Park,
Charles G. Stockton and Herman Mynter.
The minutes were now flying and it was 2:15 o'clock.
Silent and motionless, the circle of loving friends stood about the bedside.
Dr. Rixey leaned forward and placed his ear close to the breast of the ex
piring president. Then he straightened up and made an effort to speak.
'The preaident is dead." he said.
Passed Away Peacefully.
The president had passed away peacefully, without the convulsive struggle of
death. It was though be had fallen asleep. As they gaxed on the face of the
martyred president only the sobs of the mourners broke the silence of this cham
ber of death. Mr. Cortelyou had been one of the first to rouse himself after the
stunning effect of the announcement of death. He passed from the room and
down the stairway.
There in the large drawing room were still assembled members of the cabinet,
officials high ia the administration and tn the confidence of the president. As he
appeared at the threshold of the room they seemed to realise that the message of
death had come. Mr. Cortelyou halted at the door and summoning all of his
effort, said:
"Gentlemen, the president has passed away."
Realising, too. the momentous nature of the event to the people of the coun
try. Mr. Cortelyou stepped through the outer doorway of the Milburn house and
advancing down the walk to the newspaper men at the front gate calmly an
•ounced:
kmSfi "The president died at 2:15 o'clock.
Thus closed the final chapter in the life Os William McKinley.
AH that remained was to perform those gruesome offices which follow death.
There was the sending of the official notices, the summoning of rhe funeral di
rectors. the first hasty thoughts of the details of burial. Within half an hour
• carriage had brought those who were to take charge of the body. The au
topsy which bad been decided upon for the early forenoon, rendered impossible
the Immediate embalming process. The corpse was laid upon a stretcher and
covered by a sheet, remained in the chamber where death had occurred. A uni
formed guard of the United States army hospital corpse was detailed for duty
at the temporary bier.
At 1:50 o'clock the long crepe emblem of mourning was hung from the door
of the house. It was of heavy material of amplest width, caught together with
a wide black ribbon.
As to funeral arrangements but little could be determined during the early
hours of the morning. A meeting of the cabinet had ben summoned and this
would adjust the necessary preliminaries of the obsequies. In their hasty ex
changes of last night the members of the cabinet had been summoned and this
the body of the dead president would be' borne to Washington, there to lie in
state in the rotunda of the capitol and later to be removed to Canton for final
interment.
The arrival of the new president. Theodore Roosevelt, is awaited with anxiety.
Numerous telegrams had been dispatched to nlm along his route, but ft was
not known here whether or net they had been received. Mr. Roosevelt was ex
pected to reach Buffalo about Ip.m. When he should take the oath of office had
not been communicated to him so far as could be learned. It was the belief
that be would take the oath after his arrival here. Under the constitution he is
now president of the United States and the taking of the oath is merely a pre
liminary requisite to beginning the exercise of his presidential functions.
The assumption by him of the office of president means the disintegration
of the present cabinet. The resignationss of all the cabirAi officers will be sub
mitted to Mr. Roosevelt at once and he will be left formulate his own
policy of government, and to select his Own advisers. Who they are is already a
matter of active speculation, but it is needless to say that with Mr. Roosevelt
absent from the scene and sharing in the nation's grief there can be nothing be
yond ths realm of conjecture. ' ■
This establishes that the secretary of state of the new cabinet will tn effect
be vice president, succeeding to the presidency in case of tne death or disability
of the preaident It also provides that a proclamation shall be issued by 'the
new president convening an extraordinary session of congress.
The Final Scenes at the Deathbed.
MILBURN HOUSE Sept. 14.—From authoritative officials the following de
tails of the final scenes tn and about the death chamber were secured.
The president had continued in an unconscious state since 8:» p. m. Dr. Rlxey
remained with him at all times, and until death came. The other doctors were
In the room at times and then repaired to the front room, where their consulta
tions had been held. . . ......
About 2 o'clock Dr. Rlxey noted the unmistakable signs of dissolution, and
the immediate members of the family were summoned to the bedside. Mrs.
McKinley was asleep and it was deemed desirable not to awaken her for the
last moments of anguish.
Silently and sadly tne members of the family stole into the room. They stood
•bout the foot and sides of the bed. where the great man’s life was ebbing
away Those in tne circle were:
Abner McKinley, the president's brother: Mrs. Abner McKinley. Miss Helen,
the president's sister: Mrs. Sarah Duncan and Sister. Miss Mary Barber, a niece;
Miss Sarah Duncan. Lieutenant J. F. McKinley, a nephew: William M. Duncan, a
nephew Hon. Charles G. Dawes, former comptroller of the currency; F. M. Os
borne. a cousin; Colonel Webb C. Hayes. John Barber, a nephew: Secretary George
B Cortelyou. Colonel W. C. Brcwn. the business partner of Abner McKinley; Dr.
P M RixeY. the family physictan. and six nurses and attendants.
. - In an adjoining room sat the physicians including Doctors Mcßurney, Was
din. Park. Stockton and Mynter.
It was now 2:05 o'clock had the minutes were slipping away. Only the sobs of
•bore in th* circle about broke the awe-like silence. .
Five minutes passed, then six. seven, eight—now Dr. Rlxey bent forward and
then one of his hands was raised as if in warning. The fluttering heart was just
going to rest. A moment more and Dr. Rlxey gUvMfflUened up and with choking
voice said:
"The president is dead."
ATLANTA, GEORGIA. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 16, 1901.
M’KINLEY, THE PEACEMAKER.
H :
<> "The time has now come in the evolution of sentiment and feeling under the providence of God <
J J when, In the eplrlt of fraternity, we should share with you In the care of the graves of the Confederate I
< > soldiers. w ' J
;; “The cordial feeling now happily existing between the north and the south prompts this gracious
act, and, If It needs further justification, it is found in the callant loyalty to the union and the flag, so J
« I conspicuously shown In the year just passed by the sons and grandsons of these heroic dead.” —From <
J [ President McKinley’s speech at the Atlanta Peace Jubilee, December 15, 1898. ;
I If♦♦♦■!■<■
m»»«♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<■♦♦♦ »♦♦♦♦♦■» 'i
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LET THE SOUTH BUILD
THIS MONUMENT TO M’KINLEY ;
•» r ■
; ; ,ien McKinley, an ex-Union soldier, proposed In the capitol of a southern state that the American J
• • nation triumphant "should honor the graves of victor and vanquished alike,” he gave to the world a j
o definition of American valor which the world does not yet fully comprehend. «
<• When McKinley, with the assassin’s pistol smoking In his face, said, “Let no one hurt that boy,” J
<» he gave a definition of respect for the supremacy of law which only the Anglo Saxon can comprehend. ,
When McKinley, with the assassin’s bullet yet warm In his breast, said to his devoted wife, “This J
< > is not our first battle; we have won more desperate conflicts than this. While the conditions seem crit- <
‘ ’ leal, yet If there was only one chance In a thousand, I would accept that chance and for your sake e J
< • hope to win,” he gave to the world an example of connubial love that will lift humanity to a higher plane.
J ’ The Journal suggests that the couth erect a monument to William McKinley as the beloved presl- J
' > dent of a reunited country. *
J J As a committee to carry out this suggestion let such men as Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Gen. Joseph <
’ * Wheeler, Gen. J. B. Gordon and others act. ' *
FULL ARRANGEMENTS
HAVE BEEN MADE -
FOR THE FUNERAL.
BULLETIN. WASHINGTON, Sept. 14
—General Gillespie, acting \ secretary of
war has received the following telegram
from Colonel Bingham, at Buffalo, rela
tive to funeraliarrangements of the pres
ident: |
"Funeral train leaves here Monday
morning 8:30 o’clock for Washington, via
the Pennsylvania railroad and Harris
burg; arrive before 10 o'clock at night. If
possible, the body will lie in east room of
the white house Monday night.
“Mrs. McKinley will sleep in the execu
tive mansion.
“Tuesday morning removal to the capitol
to lie in state till Wednesday probably 2
o'clock In the afternoon, when train will
leave for Canton via Harrisburg and
Pittsburg. General Brooke will reach
here at 5 p. m. After cabinet conference
the secretary will have further word for
Washington.”
OHIO MOURNS FOR
HER MARTYRED SON.
COLUMBUS, 0., Sept. 14.—Flags on all
public buildings, government, state and
city, have been placed at half-mast out
of respect to the memory of President
McKinley an<j there is universal grief
here, where he was so well known.
Governor Nash sent Adjutant General
Gyger to Buffalo today to represent him
in the arrangements for the funeral.
It is the desire that after the funeral
services at Washington the body b®
brought to this city and He in state in the
capitol.
He sent a telegram to Secretary Cor
telyou today, making a formal request to
tnat effect.
ROOSEVELT IN BUFFALO
BECOMES NATION’S CHIEF
WILL BE NO EXTRA
SESSION OF CONGRESS
MILBURN HOUSE, Sept. 14.
President Roosevelt announces that
there will be no extraordinary session
of congress. The constitution does not
demand it and after discussion with
those members of the cabinet he de
cided it was not necessary.
ASKS PRESENT CABINET
TO REMAIN IN OFFICE
MILBURN HOUSE. Sept. 14.—Pres
ident Roosevelt, at a meeting of the
cabinet, requested that the members
retain their positions at least for the
present, and they promised that they
will do so.
He also has received assurance that
Secretary Hay and Gage, who are ab
sent, will also agree .
PLEDGES HIMSELF
TO CONTINUE POLICY
OF DEAD PRESIDENT.
' BULLETIN. MILBURN HOUSE. Buffa
lo, Sept. 14.—1 n taking the oath the presi
dent said:
"In this hour of deep and national be
reavement, I wish to state that it shall be
my aim to continue absolutely and with
out variance the policy of President Mc-
Kinley for the peace and prosperity and
honor of our beloved country."
NEW EXECUTIVE
ARRIVES AT BUFFALO
BUFFALO, N. Y„ Sept 14.—Pres
ident Roosevelt reached this city at 1:40
this afternoon, accompanied by his pri
vate secretary, William Loeb, Jr.
1:40 this afternoon, accompanied by his
private secretary, William Loeb, Jr.
The train did not enter the station prop
er, but the president landed at the Ter
race. When he left the train an escort of
th i Fourth Signal Corps formed about
him and conducted him to an automobile
which his friend, Ansley Wilcox, had in
waiting.
The solemnity which met his appear
ance was in keeping with the solemnity
of, the occasion. Those who saw him did
not raise a cheer, but attested their re
spect by lifting their hats.
As soon as he entered the vehicle the
chaffeur turned the lever and the auto
went skimming away to the residence of
Mr. Wilcox on Delaware avenue. Twenty
mounted police clattering along on either
side could with difficulty keep pace with
the automobile. President Roosevelt de
clined to make :ny statement whatever
for publication.
"I was so shocked," said he, "by the
terrible news brought out to me last night
and the calamity which it entailed upon
the country, as well as by the personal
sorrow which I feel, that I have had no
time to think of plans for the future con
duct of the office which has been so sud
denly and sadly thrust upon me.”
The president arrived at the Wilcox
home at 1:45 o’clock, his only attendants
being Mr. William Loeb, Jr., his secretary,
and Mr. Ansley Wilcox. With hardly any
conversation he retired at once to his
room, where he bathed and dressed.
At 2:80 o’clock he was ready to leave
for the Milbum house, where he desired
to make his official call of condolence. He
was escorted by a detail from the Fourth
signal corps and mounted police.
The president was attired in a tlack
frock coat and dark striped trousers and
wore a silk hat.
He was sombre of countenance and ap
peared to feel both the solemnity of the
occasion and its responsibilities for him.
He alighted at the Milburn house at ex
actly 2:88 o’clock.
He was accompanied to the house by Mr.
Ainsley Wileox and one of the secret ser
vice force.
N. Y. CLEARING HOUSE
PREPARED FOR CONTINGENCY.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14.—There was no
meeting of the clearing house commit
tee today and Chairman Tappan, df the
committee, was not in the city. Manager
Shearer, of the clearing house, said no
action was contemplated by the clearing
house association. The measures adopted
last Saturday morning, he said, after the
shooting of the president, were designed
to cover the contingency of the president’s
death and were still in force.
GERMAN FLEET
AT HALF MAST.
DANT2IG, Sept. 14.—When Emperor
William heard of the death of President
McKinley he immediately ordered the
German fleet to half-mast, and that they
hoist the stars and stripes at their main
top.
SPANISH NEWSPAPERS
SPtAK WITH RESPECT,.
MADRID, Sept. 14.—Several of the Ma
drid newspapers publish editorials upon
the death of President McKinley, of whom
they all speak in terms of respect.
♦44 »1 1 »♦ I ♦♦♦♦♦■»♦♦ ♦44-»»»»'l'*
J PROPHECY WRITTEN 4«
+ IN FIRE, IT IS SAID. «
•ft BUFFALO, Sept. 14.—There are. ♦
4» as usual, stories of premonitions of ♦
+ the accession of President Roose- +
4* velt. State Senator John Laughlin ♦
tells that not over four weeks ago, +
«j> while a display of fireworks was +
+ being made at the Pan-American +
4* exposition grounds, a huge picture 4*
+ of the then vice president was +
4> shown in the fire. Underneath it +
was the words: ♦
"OUR VICE PRESIDENT." ♦
4> Hardly had the picture been light- 4*
+ ed when the word “vice” burned +
<• .out and left standing in large let-
4> ters under Mr. Roosevelt’s picture +
<• the words: ♦
+ "OUR PRESIDENT." +
In a minute or two the word 4»
"our” accidental y burned out as +
4> had the word “vice” and for sev- 4*
eral minutes the word “PRESI- 4*
■t DENT" stood out in bold relief. ♦
<(• Senator McLaughlin says that +
4> everybody in the place was im- +
4> pressed with the strange occur-
4> rence.. Now it would seem pro- 4*
4» phetic. +
NO. 104.
BUFFALO, Sept. 14.—Theodore Roose
velt was sworn in as president of the
United States, to succeed the late Wil
liam McKinley at 3:52 o'clock this after
noon.
The ceremony took place in the library
of Mr. Wilcox's house, a rather small
room, but picturesque, the heavy oak
trimmings and the massive booKcasea
giving it somewhat the appearance of a
legal den.
A pretty bay window with stained glass
and heavy hangings formed a background
and against this the president took hia
position. Surrounding him were the five
members of the cabinet. Secretaries Root.
Hitchcock, Long, Wilson and Postmaster
General Smith.
Near by were Senator Depew, Judge of
the Court of Appeals Height. John Scat
hard, Mr. and Mrs. Ansley Wilcox, Mfrs
Wilcox, George P. Sawyer, Lrs. Mann,
Park and Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Carl
toq Sprague. Mr. and Mrs. John G. Mil
burn, Secretary to the President Loeb, Jr,
Secretary to the Deceased President Oeg
B. Cortelyou, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Carey,
R. C. Scatchard, C. D. Dwyer, William
Jeffries, official telegrapher of the United
States senate and Judge of the United
States district Court John R. Harrel.
Judge Hazel stood near the president in
the bay window, and the latter showed his
almost extreme nervousness by plucking
at the lapel of his frock coat and nervous
ly tapping the hard wood floor *itb his
heel. He stepped over at once to Secre
tary Root and for about five minutes they
conversed earnestly.
The question at issue was whether th®
president should first sign an ogth of of
fice and then swear in or whether he
should swear in first and sign the docu
ment in the case after.
At precisely 3:32 o'clock Secretary Root
ceased his conversation with the presi
dent and stepping back while an abso
lute hush fell upon every one in the room,
said in an almost inaudible voice:
"Mr. Vice President: I”—then his voice
broke and for fully two minutes the tears
came down his face and his lips quivered
so that he could qot continue his utter
ances. There were sympathetic tears
from those abous him and two great drops
ran down either cheek of the successor of
Willlamn McKinley.
Mr. Root’s chin was on his breast. Sud
denly throwing back his bead as if with
an effort, he continued in broken voice:
“I have been requested on behalf of the
cabinet of the late president, at least of
those who are present in Buffalo, all ex
cept two, to request that for reasons of
weight affecting the affairs of govern
ment you should proceed to take tne cou
stltutlonal office of president of the Unit
ed States."
Judge Hasel had stepped to the rear of
the president and Mr. Roosevelt coming
nearer said nl a voice that at first wav
ered, but finally came deep and strong,
while as if to control his nervousness, he
held firmly to the lapel of his coat with
his right hand:
"I shall take the oath at once in ac
cordance with your request and in this
hour of deep and terrible national be
reavement. I wish to state that it shall
be my aim to continue absolutely without
variance the policy of President McKinley
for the peace and prosperity and honor of
our beloved country.” >
The president stepped over into the bay
window and Judge Hazel, taking up the
constitutional oath of office which had
been prepared on parchment, asked the
president to raise his right hand and re
peat it after him. There was a hush like
death as the judge read a few words at a
time and the president, in a strong voice
and with a tremor, and with his raised
hand as steady as if carved from marble,
repeated it after him.
"And thus I swear,” he ended it. The
hand dropped by the side, the chin for an
Instant rested on the breast, and the si
lence remained unbroken for a couple of
minutes, as though the new president of
the United States was offering silent
prayer. Judge Hazel broke it, saying:
“Mr. President, please place your sig
nature,” and the president, turning to a
small table near by, wrote, Theodore
Roosevelt” at the bottom in a firm hand.
"I should like to see the members of the
cabinet a few moments after the others
retire.” said the president, and this was
i u e signal for the score of people who had
been favored by witnessing the ceremony,
to retire. As they turned to go the presi
dent said:
"I will shake hands wun you people
g.adly,” and with something of his old
smile returning, he first shook hands
with the members of the cabinet present,
uien Senator Depew, and finally with a
few guests and newspaper men.
ALBANY. N. Y„ Sept. 14.—President
Roosevtlt arrived in Albany from North
Creek at 7:66 this morning in the private
car of Vice President Young of the Dela
ware and Hudson company. The car was
immediately atached to a New York Cen
tral special train which was in waiting
and at 8:02 o'clock left for Buffalo.
Mr. Rosevelt’s secretary was handed
a big batch of telegrams. The engineer in
charge of the train Is limited to Empire
State Express time. The president will
probably arrive at Buffalo at 11 o clock.
Great crowds came to the station to
meet the Delaware and Hudson train on
its arrival but they were not afforded an
opportunity to see the president. The
doors of the private car in which the pres
ident is traveling were kept locked. The
porter was sent out to the station res
taurant to get breakfast for the presi
dent and his secreary. Mr. Loeb. The po
lice kept the crowd from the steps of the
car. , ,
While the New York Central special
was being made up, Secretary Loeb came
to the platform of the president’s csr and
said to The Associated Press representa
tive:
"I am sorry, but the president will see
no one at this time.”
“Have any arrangements been made for
Mr. Rosevelt to take the oath between
here and Buffalo or at Buffalo?”
“No sir,” Mr. Loeb replied, and then he
continued:
"You may say that no arrangements
have been made at all of any description.
I do not know what will be done at Buf
falo. No plans have been made. All I
can say is this:
“That upon his arrival in Buffalo. Mr.
Rosevelt will become the guest of Mr.
Wilcox, wi’h whom He stopped when he
was at Buffalo before.”
In reply to a question as to whether
there were any incidents on the trip from
the camp to North Creek, Mr. Loeb said:
“No, but it was a long, hard ride.
Horses were changed three times. He ar
rived at North Creek at 5:20 this morning
and left immediately."
Besides President Roosevelt the train
carried Superintendent Herrington of the
New York Central, and Mr. Roosevelt'*
secretary, Mr. Loeb.