Great Indignation Expressed in Toronto

Tragic Occurrence Throws a Pall of Sadness Over Canadian Exposition.
——
(By G. N. W. Telegraph.)

     TORONTO, Ont., Sept. 7.—When the news of the attempted assassination of President McKinley reached Toronto it was immediately posted on bulletin boards throughout the city and at the exhibition grounds, where great crowds surged around to obtain the latest information. There were many American visitors at the exhibition grounds who had seen President McKinley at Niagara Falls earlier in the afternoon, and it was almost impossible to persuade them at first that the report was correct. The utmost indignation was expressed on all sides. Mayor Howland, who learned of the terrible occurrence after returning from a luncheon given to the Pan-American State and foreign commissioners, said:
     “On the theory that it is the deed of a crank the question will occur: How can prominent men be protected from such incidents? Are they equally exposed in all parts of the world? It seems probable that while many half demented men may be at large in every country, the tendency of their disorder to result in violent action may be influenced by the surrounding temper of their country at times.
     “May not the wave of murderousness which is going over the Southern States and furnishing daily incidents of a horrible and exciting nature throughout the United States, have an influence upon this class of semi-demented beings? They are usually by no means uneducated men or unlikely to be readers of the daily papers or participators in the incidents of their times.”
     Col. Sewell, United States Consul here, who had seen the President at Niagara Falls and talked with him for a short time two hours before the shooting, and who is one of the President’s close personal friends, was completely overcome on learning of the terrible event, and spoke very pathetically of the tenderness and love in the President’s home circles.