The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-05
DAY OF ENJOYMENT
Celebration Was Big Event
Among CoIored People.
MUSIC AND SPEECHES
Big Jim Parker Tells How He
Tried to Save Presidents Life.

-ored population of Wichita have had for
their Emancipation day celebration yes
terday than the talk made in Carried
hall last night by big Jim Parker, the
colored man who attempted TO save the
life of the martyred president McKin-
Ie,, when he was shot down Czolgosz.
The name big Jim" IS very appropriate
as he stands much over six feet tail, is
broad shouldered and a fine specimen Of
manhood
In his talk TO the colored people of this
city last night, among other things, he
spoke briefly of his experience on that
memorable day at Buffalo. The story
has been told many times since tnat
but few Wichita people have heard il
from one who was present and took
such an active part, as did James Parker.
"At the time President Mckinley was
assassinateG." he said, L was a waiter
in an eating house on the :air @-0ucds,
but on the day that he was shot l was
off duty and. like thousands Of CuIers.
got into the line to shake hands W.rh
him As we formed in line | noticed a
man Immediately 10 FROM Of me who hal
his hand banddeed up. apparently rs if
10 cover a burn or cIt. 1 paid no more
attention to him u2t'! II was nis csc ~
take the ha1i o. Mckinley, when l
noticed that h eXten1cd The handagtd
hand. / wondered at this. when sud
denly there was > lash and sharp re-
port and / saw the PRESIDENT staESer
backward. l knew iTst3nuy what hal
happened AMI grabbed the fellow ~ the
shoulder, tuning him around. Wien 1
did so l found Tho revolver pointed 1t
my face and with my right hand l struck
the assassin a quick Diow over the nose
Just below the eyes. This staggered him
for moment and before n2 recovered
from the effects of it j delivered another
blow with all my might, striking him
fairly in the mouth, and 1 believe l world
have killed him on ths spot had it not
been for the words Of the wounded pres
fdent, who said: Do not hurt him -
Gut of regard for the services rendered
the government has given Mr.. Parker a
good position in the capitol at Wash
ington, which undoubtedly viii be fer life.
He is enjoying a vacation at present and
is giving lectures to mis- people over the
west
The celebration of the fortieth anniver
sary of Emancipation day vas under the
management of the Wichita Colorod Cen
trail club and was the biggcs- event in
the history of the colorel people Of this
city A grand parade barbecue, mu-
sic, speaking, a ball game and races
combined to make the event one long to
bel remembered.
The day opened with tbs big parade IN
theh morning. The Twenty-th.rd Nan-
sak Volunteer infantry, comma 1ded by
Corporal Fred Martin, on horseback
headed the procession. Following the
norsemen was the Mallory Juvenile band
of Newton, the colored police, Fire De-
partment No 3, and a number Of floats.
Two of the features of the parade were
the floats of the Second Baptist Sunday
school and the New Hope Baptist church
The procession formed at the corner OF
Ilrst street and St. Francis avenue and
marched through the main streets to
South Riverside park.
The celebration in park in the afternoon
was largely attended. not only by the
colored people Of this city. but by many
visitors.
The young folk danced and romped in
the park, most Of the young men and q
few of the older ones finding amusement
in cheering the chosen bail nine on 10
victory. while the older people gathered
around the speakers stand to listen TO
patriotic discussions of the live topics OF
the day. To the coIored people Eman-
cipation day means more than the Fourth
of July does to the whites. for 1t COM
memorates not so much freedom from
political oppression as from actual bond
age. and every person in the large crowd
assembled in the park yesterday after
noon entered into the celebration IL the
proper spirit and had a time which they
will long remember.
One of the big attractions Of the day
was the big barbecue. for which large
preparations had been made. A beef a
hog and a sheep were roasted by an eX-
perienced cook and were served free 70
all During the afternoon 1000 loaVes OF
bread and large quantity of buns were
made up into sandwiches and given away.
The band gave a concert until the time
for the speaking. The platform program
was opened by Mayor Mclean. who In
q short speech rendered the freedom OF
the city 10 the colored people. He was
followed by Captain J. F. Fishbac6, who
delivered an address. contrasting the con-
dition of the colored man today with his
condition under slavery. and congratulate
.ng them upon the progress they have
made in the last forty years. Captain
Fishback is Kentuokian and his father
owned slaves. so his address, coming
from a man Of southern birth. were lis
tened 10 with additional interest
The thought that Senator Tapp tried to
impress chiefly in his address was the
necessity FOR the parents 70 give their
children an education. he urged the
parents 10 inculcate into the minds Of
their children the worth OF an eGCca-
ton and 10 give them these advantages at
any cost. He also gave an interesting
discussion on his favorite theme. mobs
ana the lynch Laws
II ". Marshall. Of Oklahoma. one OF
the founders Of the Central Celored club
OF this city. made 4 speech in which he
reviewed the history Of the black man in
this country and discussed the Questions
Of greatest interest to the colored man
today.
The following quotations from Claude
etaniey's address illustrate his thought.
Born and raised IS wss in the very
heart of the free states. l was early ac-
quafnted with the worth and capabilities
OF the colored race. bat deeper than the
personal feeling 1 feel the grandeur of
this occasion that IS only eQualod IN our