CHAPTER VIII 



In the Presidential Chair 



ON the 6th of September, 1901, a lamentable act took place, one 

 of those tragic occurrences that are apt to arise from the mad 

 ferment of modern life. President McKinley, while shaking 

 hands in friendly spirit with his fellow-citizens in the great hall of 

 the Buffalo Exposition, was foully shot down by a half-insane An- 

 archist, whose hand the victim had just cordially grasped. 



For a week the suffering martyr lay between life and death, for 

 a time showing such signs of recovery that hope overspread the 

 country, then rapidly sinking until death came to him in the early 

 morning of the 14th. His sad passing away left Theodore Roosevelt 

 President, a consummation no one had dreamed of when, against his 

 will, he was induced to become a candidate for the Vice-Presidency. 



The death of McKinley was followed by an event of dramatic 

 interest. For a time the recovery of the stricken President seemed so 

 assured that Roosevelt felt secure in making a hunting excursion in 

 the Adirondacks, for which he had previously arranged. 



When, on Friday, September 13th, word reached the Tahawas 

 Club House, where the Vice-President had his headquarters, that the 

 exalted victim was fast sinking, Roosevelt was not to be found. He 

 had set out early that morning for a tramp in the mountains, and no 

 one knew just where he was. Before starting he had received a 

 despatch from Buffalo saying that the President was in splendid condi- 

 tion and not in the slightest danger. Under these circumstances he 

 had felt it safe to venture upon his mountain stroll. 



The fresh and startling news caused guides and runners to be 

 sent out in all directions, with orders to sound a general alarm and find 

 the Vice-President as quickly as possible. Yet hours passed away and 

 the afternoon was verging Into early evening before the signals of the 

 searchers were heard and answered and It became evident that the 

 Roosevelt party was near at hand. 



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