When Vice-President of the United States [excerpt]

MR. ROOSEVELT was deeply impressed when informed how the news of the attempted assassination of President McKinley first reached Oyster Bay.
     The New York World had a direct wire to Buffalo, and received the news almost immediately after Mr. McKinley was shot. The World editor’s first thought was:
     “Where’s Roosevelt?”
     Then: “Get Cheney at Oyster Bay.”
     The connection was made immediately, and the editor’s announcement was, of course a shock to me. Dropping the telephone receiver, I hastened to dispatch a message for Pickney, the White House steward, and another to Secretary Loeb.
     It was found that everybody connected with Sagamore Hill had left Oyster Bay that very afternoon, and no information could be obtained as to the whereabouts of Vice-President Roosevelt, who was absent on a hunting trip at the time. A bulletin of the tragedy was posted in front of the Pilot office in Oyster Bay before bulletins or extra pa- [36][37] pers were issued in New York City. This fact was the subject of an article printed later by the Associated Press.