Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, September 16, 1901, Image 1

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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 :: IK > :: ’ LI I A < w ’wS/isSk. •' wwfe- Wll® fES ■ KSanm 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.