Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/337

Rh newcomer's left. But instead of extending his left hand, the man raised the bound-up hand quickly and fired two shots from a pistol concealed beneath the cloth.

Instantly there was a great commotion, and this was increased as the President was seen to stagger back. He was supported to a chair, and it was discovered that he was wounded, although how badly no one at that moment could tell. A rush was made for the assassin, and between the guards and the people present he was quickly placed under arrest. Then he was carried from the building by a side entrance and hurried off before the crowd could injure him; for at that moment of extreme excitement if some present could have gotten at him, his life would not have been worth a moment's purchase.

On the Exposition grounds there was an excellent hospital, and as soon as it could be accomplished the stricken President was placed in an ambulance and taken to this. Here it was found that he had been struck twice,—once on the breastbone, a wound of small importance, and once in the abdomen. At once the most skilful doctors in the