shake
hands with him. A sinister fellow, resembling an Italian, tarried
suspiciously, and was pushed forward by the Secret Service attendants.
Next behind him followed a boyish-looking workman, his right hand
swathed in a handkerchief. As the first made way Mr. McKinley extended
his hand to the young man's unencumbered left. The next instant the
bandaged right arm raised itself and two shots rang on the air. The
President staggered back into the arms of a bystander, while his
treacherous assailant was borne to the floor.

[Illustration]
President McKinley at Niagara
Ascending the stairs from Luna Island, to Goat Island.
Copyright, 1901, by C. E. Dunlap.

[Illustration: McKinley and several other men ascending steps.]
The last photograph of the late President McKinley.
Taken as he was ascending the steps of the Temple of Music,
September 6. 1901.

Grievously wounded as he was in breast and in stomach, the President's
first thoughts were for others. He requested that the news be broken
gently to Mrs. McKinley, and, it was said, expressed regret that the
occurrence would be an injury to the exposition. As cries of "Lynch him"
arose from the maddened crowd, the stricken chief urged those about him
to see that no hurt befel the assassin. The latter was speedily secured
in prison to await the result of his black deed, while President
McKinley was without delay conveyed to the Emergency Hospital, where his
wounds were dressed.

Except for continued weakness and rapid heart action, the symptoms
during the early days of the succeeding week gave strong hopes of the
patient's recovery. At the home of Mr. Milburn, President of the
exposition, whose guest he was, President McKinley received the
tenderest care and most skilful treatment. So far allayed was anxiety
that the Cabinet officers left Buffalo, while Vice President Roosevelt
betook himself to a sequestered part of the Adirondacks. The President
himself, vigorous and naturally sanguine, did not give up till Friday, a
week from the date of his injury.

[Illustration]
The Milburn Residence, where President McKinley died--Buffalo, N. Y.
Copyright, 1902, by Underwood & Underwood.

Upon that day his condition became alarming. The digestive organs
abdicated their functions, nourishment even by injection became
impossible, traces of septic poison were manifest. By night the world
knew that McKinley was a dying man. In the evening he regained
consciousness and