Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-10-12
parker LECTURES.
THE C0L0RED MAN WHO STRUCK
LEON CZOLG0Sz
Related The Incident In This City Last
Night A Rousing Welcome Given
Him At Asbury A. A. E
Church Interest
ing Talk.


James B. Parker, the colored man who
claims TO have prevented Czolgosz. the
| Presidents assassin, from firing the third
shot, related the incident in agraphic
manner last night at Asbury A. NJ. K.
Church before an audience that filed
every seat.
The church was crowded and chairs
we're brought into use around the pulpit
and side aisles. 1t was ten minutes OF
9 o'clock when the speaker OF the even
ing. accompanied by the pastor, Rev. A.
Dennis, and Harry ) Cummings. OF
Baltimore. made their appearance, and
the audience had grown restless some
time previous.
Pastor Dennis soon quieted them and
introduced Harry Cummings whom, he
said, was atlorney-at-law OF Baltimore.
Mr.. Cummins mace lengthy speech. in
which he said he was glad to be in the
capital OF his State, especially TO be here
with 'the man who saved the life OF
McKinley-at least for one week. and
saved him from instant death. He ex-
planned the motive and purpose of the
gathering. and eulogized the "hero of
this occasion-not only the hero OF the
American people. the hero OF the negro
race, but the hero OF all civilized races of
he world, because he did all he could to
save the life OF a man beloved by mill
lions OF people.
After some time Parker was formally
introduced. He is over six feet tall, a
light mulatto with pleasant tace, and
was neatly dressed in black clothes, a
-. 4 L.. =.
not an educated negro, and makes no
claim to being scholar or an orator,
but he talks fairly well. except his voice
is weak for so large man, and speaks
with some little impediment. Parker
said he broke an engagement to come
here. He said he was born in Georgia,
and that he had never seen or shaken
hands with a President OF the United
States, and prompted by desire to see
President Nc Kinley at Buffalo. he got
into the crowd, and found his way to the
Temple OF Music, where the public re-
ception was held.
He graphicly described getting into
the building and being pushed and jostled
by the crowd and tod to keep in line"
by the guards. He told of the man in
front Of him (Czolgosz). "who didn't
seem TO be in hurry" and how he
(Parker) said to Czogosz. "lf you're not
in hurry, let me take your place, as
I've got to get back TO work. Parker
is waiter and was employed at Buffalo
during the Exposition. He eulogized
the President, whom he called "the
negro's best friend" and said he didn I
want any credit for he had done his
duty. He said when the shots were fred
the guards and erybody was paralyzed
and did not seem to know where they
came from or what to do. Parker said
he did not lose his presence OF mind. but
knocked the assassin down with blow
of his fist. and pinned him 10 the floor.
Parker said he then seized him by the
throat as the assassin attempted to fire
the third shot and gave him the Georgia
twist. Secret service men then grab
bed the pistol and handkerchief. and the
assassin was taken bodily to a room and
tossed upon table for dead. Parker
thinks he was badly treated by not being
summoned as a witness in the u.al. and
infers there were covert reasons for ignor-
ing him and his heroic act. The lecture
was highly appreciated. and at its close
Lawyer Cummings made another speech,
saying that every coloTed family in An
napolis should possess a picture OF the
hero, and it was evident from the number
sold after the lectuie, that Parker's pho
tograph adorns the walls OF nearly every
colored family in town. Cummings vol
unteered TO lend 10 cents TO all who de-
sired TO purchase picture if they did
not have that amount with them. A re-
ception was held in the lower room OF
the church after the lecture.