On September 14, 1901, then-Vice President Theodore Rooseveltwas at Lake Tear of the Clouds after returning from a hike to the Marcy summit when he received a message informing him thatPresident William McKinley, who had been shot two weeks earlierbut expected to survive, had taken a turn for the worse.
Roosevelt hiked down 10 miles (16 km) on the southwest side of the mountain to the closest stage station at Newcomb, New York. He then took a midnight stagecoach ride on twisting roads to theAdirondack Railway station at North Creek, New York where he learned that McKinley had died. Roosevelt took the train toBuffalo where he was officially sworn in as President.