The Return of Diplomats

Several Members of the Party, However, Remain in Buffalo.
——
Dr. Silva, the Colombian Minister, Tells of the Events Before and After the
Tragedy—The Rainbow City Plunged in Gloom by Crime.

     Several members of the Diplomatic Corps, who, at the time of the shooting of President McKinley, were in Buffalo attending the exercises of President’s Day at the exposition, arrived in Washington at 7 o’clock yesterday morning, in a special car over the Pennsylvania Railroad. Many of them did not return, but will remain in Buffalo for a few days, until the condition of the President changes either for the better or worse.
     The diplomats left Washington a few days ago to attend the ceremonies incident to President’s Day at Buffalo, as guests of the exposition during the observances of the occasion. They left the city light-hearted and cheerful, and returned saddened by the tragic ending of what was intended as a pleasure trip. They were present at the exposition, many of them on the grounds, when President McKinley was shot down by the assassin; and the entire detail of the tragedy occurred almost in their presence.
     After reaching the city most of the members of the Diplomatic Corps did not return to their legations, which have been closed for some time. The Costa Rican Minister, Senor Calvo, and the Minister to the United States from the United States of Colombia, Dr. Silva, were among those who returned from the Pan-American yesterday morning.
     Dr. Silva told the story of the attempted assassination of President McKinley as he gathered the details. Senor Silva said that at the time of the attempt upon the life of President McKinley none of the members of the Diplomatic Corps was present, and the shooting was not actually witnessed by them, although the scene of the tragedy was gained almost immediately by the horror-stricken representatives to the United States.
     “I realized that the reception to which President McKinley was going would produce a great crowd,” said the Colombian Minister, speaking of the tragic event in the Temple of Music, “and I, together with many others, decided not to attend the reception on account of the great crush.
     “Just a short time before the tragedy occurred I remarked upon the great number of ladies and children present. They were waving and cheering for the President, and it did my heart good to see them. The sight was a beautifully patriotic one. The scene immediately before the shooting was an animated one, gay with color and glowing with happiness and the laughter of light-hearted women and children.
     “I was particularly impressed with the scene from the acclaim with which the immense throngs cheered the President, and more especially with the large number of laughing children in the mass of humanity choking the approaches of the plaza, awaiting the coming of the President. Several times I remarked upon the fact, and could not repress a smile at the happy, cheerful sight.
     “The entire experience at Buffalo, up to the time of the attempted assassination of rPesident [sic] McKinley was a most happy one.
     “Then came the tragedy, plunging the whole city, everyone, in the deepest and blackest gloom. The voices of the children, such a short time before raised in laughter and cheers at the approach of the Presidential party, were hushed, and, indeed, even turned to sobs, as the news of the tragedy became known. I was affected strongly by the sad climax to a delightful and happy occasion, and saddened beyond expression. The affair came so suddenly—like a bolt out of a clear sky, without warning, without word—that it paralyzed the assembled throngs of sightseers and guests. It is horrible.”