The scenes about the streets of Williamsport Friday night and way into this morning were marked in distressing contrast to those witnessed in this city on the night of the November 1900 election. Where all was joy over the re-election of President William McKinley, the news of which was received with the wildest joy and great enthusiasm 10 short months ago, in its place were seen sorrowful groups of men and women, and even children, all anxious to hear the latest new from the bedside of the stricken President.

The bulletin boards were besieged and in the vicinity of the Gazette and Bulletin offices, where the news was posted as fast as received, the crowd was greater than in any other portion of the city.

The people stood about with mournful faces, watching and waiting for any hopeful signs, but alas none came.

After midnight the crowd in front of the Gazette and Bulletin thinned, but there were many people waiting for the final news that the President had died, which was received at 7:19 this morning, just four minutes after the end in Buffalo.

By pre-arrangement, this office signaled Deputy Sheriff, Frank Miller, who was waiting in the Court House, and in less than five minutes, that official began tolling the Court House bell. The fire companies were then notified by telephone of the death of the President, and it wasn’t long before the bells in the fire stations were tolling the mournful news that came as a shock to the half-sleeping residents.

Flags were at once hung at half-mast on the City Hall by Janitor, George Eckenstein, even though the hour was early, and it was likely that before the day was long advanced, the whole city will be in mourning.