Secular News [excerpt]

DOMESTIC.

     An Attempt to Assassinate President McKinley was made by a young Pole, Leon Czolgosz, at the Buffalo Exposition on last Friday afternoon. Between half past three and four o’clock the President was holding a reception in the Temple of Music. Among others who approached to shake his hand was a young man whose right hand, apparently bandaged, concealed a revolver. He extended his left hand to the President, and as Mr. McKinley took it, he fired. One bullet struck the breastbone of the President and glanced off, making only a flesh wound. The other passed through both walls of the stomach, and is probably lodged in the muscles of the back. The President was taken immediately to the hospital on the Exposition grounds, anæsthetics were administered, and the two wounds in the stomach were sewed up. Later he was removed to the home of Mr. John G. Milburn, President of the Exposition, where he and Mrs. McKinley had been staying during their visit to Buffalo. Though he is very seriously wounded, the bulletins up to the time of our writing (Monday, at noon) have been encouraging. The dreaded symptoms of peritonitis and blood-poisoning have not appeared, and his strength seems to be holding out well. The statement of the physicians, however, show that the crisis is not yet past, and the utmost anxiety and suspense will continue to be felt for several days yet. In all the churches of this country, on Sabbath, the most earnest and heartfelt prayers were offered for the President’s recovery. The whole nations admires him as a Christian gentleman, and longs for his restoration to health and the discharge of the duties of his high office.
     His Assailant.—The moment the shots were fired, Czolgosz was seized and borne down by a colored man and two of the Secret Service men detailed to guard the President. He was hastily removed from the Exposition grounds to police headquarters lest in the first burst of indignation summary vengeance should be wreaked on him by the crowd. He describes himself as an anarchist, inflamed to such deeds by the speeches of Emma Goldman, an anarchist leader. According to his accounts, he is without confederates. Nevertheless, some ten or twelve known anarchists have been arrested in Chicago. Czolgosz seems to be a typical anarchist, blindly determined to kill a ruler because he is a ruler, and reckless of the consequences to himself. Unfortunately, the severest penalty that can be meted out to him, should the President recover, is ten years’ imprisonment.
     Mrs. McKinley.—Next to the President himself, everyone is concerned about how Mrs. McKinley, in her frail health, can bear the shock and the prolonged anxiety that must be hers under even the most favorable circumstances. So far, the reports of her condition are that she is bearing up well.
     Messages of Sympathy have poured in from all over the world. Vice-President Roosevelt, the Cabinet and Senator Hanna are all at Buffalo.