LAST RITES*

The Exposition Hospital was ill-equiped for a wound of this kind. A local gynecologist, Doctor Matthew Mann, had to perform the quick surgery in a vain attempt to save the President's life. The bullet had entered the stomach and exited out the back wall of the stomach. Mann sewed both holes but was unable to retrieve the bullet. The operation seemed to be a sucess. McKinley looked like he was going to recover, but gangreen set in his intestines and his health declined.

McKinley, with his beloved wife by his side, fought for life in the Milburn House. Many wellwishers came to see him. Theodore Roosevlet and Mark Hanna rushed to his side. So sure of his boss's recovery, Roosevelt left Buffalo at mid-week. There was nothing the doctors could do when his health began to decline. Besides the gangreen in this abdomen, his pancreas was creating insulin at a high rate which was threatening to kill the president more quickly than the gangreen.

On the 13th of September, his doctors said, "It is useless, gentlemen. I think we ought to have a prayer." McKinley held on until the next day. A third President of the United States had been killed by an assassins bullet in 36 years. Funeral arrangements were prepared as the country began to mourn. The new President, youngest ever to be sworn in, Theodore Roosevelt returned to Buffalo. Republican Boss Mark Hanna's worst nightmare had come true. McKinley's body was placed aboard a train as he began his final trek through the streets of Buffalo, to Washington, DC, then onto his final resting place in his home city of Canton, Ohio. The devastated Ida McKinley would only survive her husband by six years.

Leon Czolgosz survived the mob's noose, but he would not survive the Federal Government's retribution. He went to trial only nine days after McKinley's death. Czolgosz had no regrets in his actions and remained relatively quiet during the trial. He declared that he worked alone and described his actions right before his deadly action. When asked his motive, he replied, "I am an Anarchist-a disciple of Emma Goldman. Her words set me on fire."

Czolgosz was pronnounced guilty and sentenced to death by the new form of execution; electrocution. On the early morn of October 29, 1901, the sentence was carried out. Czolgosz declared before his death, "I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people-the good working people. I am not sorry for my crime." The switch was thrown, electricity surged through his body and it was all over.
* McKinley's Funeral train moving through Buffalo, September 1901.

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