| Publication information |
|
Source: Summit County Beacon Source type: newspaper Document type: article Document title: “Akron People” Author(s): anonymous City of publication: Akron, Ohio Date of publication: 12 September 1901 Volume number: none Issue number: 22 Pagination: 5 |
| Citation |
| “Akron People.” Summit County Beacon 12 Sept. 1901 n22: p. 5. |
| Transcription |
| excerpt |
| Keywords |
| Charles F. Billow; McKinley assassination (persons present on exposition grounds); Ida M. Billow; McKinley assassination; Charles F. Billow (public statements); McKinley assassination (public response: Buffalo, NY); Buffalo, NY (police department); Buffalo, NY (impact of assassination). |
| Named persons |
| Charles F. Billow; William McKinley. |
| Document |
Akron People [excerpt]
C. F. Billow of this city was near the building
in which the president was shot last Friday.
Mr. Billow, accompanied by his wife, was in the
crowd whhich [sic] witnessed the entrance of President McKinley, when he returned
from Niagara Falls and prepared to shake hands with the thousands of expectant
people in the Temple of Music. They walked down to the Temple of Music, but
owing to the large crowd did not attempt to enter, and remained in a building
near, looking at an exhibit. When the word came that the president had been
shot they went out into the crowd and saw the president carried out and placed
in the ambulance.
To a Beacon Journal reporter Mr. Billow said Monday
that he never saw people so infuriated, as they anxiously waited for news concerning
the president.
Scenes Indescribable.
“The scenes on the streets that night were indescribable,”
said Mr. Billow. “There must have been 10,000 people around the prison where
the assassin was placed, and I believe that the entire police force could not
have prevented the crowd from getting into the prison and tearing the assassin
limb from limb, if President McKinley had died. They seemed to be only waiting
for news to come of his death, and it required the united efforts of almost
the entire police force to keep them back of the ropes which were stretched
around the prison.
“The newspapers issued extras every 15 minutes,
and the newsboys could not get papers fast enough to supply the anxious people.
For a time the people at the exposition could not realize that the crime had
been committed, but when they finally saw that the report was true, the business
of the exposition was over for the day. The midway attractions all closed, and
the large crowds wandered aimlessly about or broke up into small groups, discussing
the awful affair.
“When we left Buffalo the people of the city were
in a hopeful mood, the bulletins issued every little while having a reassuring
effect, and everybody seems to feel that the danger is over.”