Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-09-27
Parker'S Interview.

VINO nurled nlmSelI ON the WO0lsTE&--
assassion at Buffalo and kept hsann
from firing a third shot that nighs
have proved fatal.
All America is eager to kncpv
about him. At the Executive Esge
partment, Washington, it is suggest
ed that the department reward him..
Savannah, Ca, where he wag
once constable, with fine record.
is proud of him.
For the first time, Porker to- dag
gives to the world, through the Even--
ing Journal, a detail account of ths=
thrilling scene.
His story was modestly toldp
but it gives most vivid desert p tom
of the historic scene. Here is his
version of the. shooting:
BY James Parker.
| / believe that l saved President,
| McKinley's life in preventing thg
third shot from Czolgosz's smoking
revolver.
| do not make this statement foE
glory, but because l believe it IS
best for the public to know and foE
any small honor that may come TO-
the race to which belong.
Iwould have tried to save any
mans live, but would have Gvsn,
my life for that of the Presiden and
truly believe that if the third shot
had been fired it would have 10 dyed
in my heart instead of the Presi-
dents.
The deed was done so quickly
that it blinds me when think of it,
and l am surprised at myself that i
did not lose my nerve. l acted o7
the moment and l believe to thR.
best effect.
Twas curious and anxious to-,
shake hands with the first man I'M.
the land. I admired him and was
glad of the chance to show my deep
feeling for him. The Temple OF
Music was crowded and it was with
great difficulty that l pressed nay
way through the throng. I noticed
no one until pass single file.
Here for the first time l noticed.
Leon Czolgosz. @.
! There was a woman with little
girl close beside me, and in the
struggle she showed me aside to les
this man between us. ! do NOT men
tion this as of any moment, but as I
remember the incident.
Twas as anxious as Czolgosz to-
see The President, and. I crowded.
forward, but he slipped in 'front.' OF
me and so we passed up the line
| We were close together. l can't:
say now whether l noticed the
bandage over his hand, but saw !
that he was nervous, as he kept ::
tramping on my toes and brushing
his right arm against me. ~.
The President was now but a few
feet away from me. The oznaEs>
shook his hand, and the little gisf
paused a moment, smiled, then hing
ried on to catch up with her mother
The President looked at Czolgosz.
with sympathetic eye, and at the
same moment my eye caught sight
of the bandaged hand. Almost i1-
stantly there were two reports lake
the explosion of fire cracker undaf
tin can. Bang! Bang!
Like flash the realization weEe
over me, and the last report had,
barely time to die away whan II
snatched Czolgosz on his right
shoulder with my right hana and
flung him half facing me, at ths,:
same time endeavoring with my lsaa,
hand to knock the smoking pisssA
from his hand.
"You scoundrel!' I cried, ''you'yss
shot the President.
saw nothing then but the wilst
look in the face of the assassian-.-
| closed upon him, nay right, hanf,
clawing at his throat. His heafa
went back and his eyes protEnded-
l tore at him like Wild. beast.
Tighter and tighter my fingers wosa~-