Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-16
Clay Model of Governor Cum
minis, Endangered by Capt.
toll Fire, Completed
MISS WALKER AN IOWA GIRL
One of dorado Taft's Teachers in Chi
caso Art lnstitute-Her Model of
Iowa's Governor Entered in the In
stitute for Exhibition and competi-
tion-The Story of Her Work.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican,.
Des Moines. Jan. 16.-One of the I'M
told stories of the great fire in the
Iowa state capitol relates intimately to
Governor Cummins and the personal
experiences of an artist engaged in
making a clay model of the head and
bust of the Iowa chief executive.
Far up in the brightly lighted attic
over the senate chamber a studio was
Miss Nellie v. Walker of Chicago. has
been. engaged in her work. Her deft
fingers fashioned in clay the image of
the Iowa governor. A few days ago
she took the result of her, work to
Chicago and yesterday 1t was 10 be
entered in the Chicago Art Institute for
exhibition and competition.
But on the day when fire broke out
in the capitol the clay model was
incomplete. Miss Walker was busy at
her work when Whit of smoke was
carried to her high studio thru an air
duct leading past the big dome. In
alarm she hurried down the long wind
Ing stairway to the library floor. there.
- And that men We're already laying
long lines of hose into the house
chamber which was filed with smoke.
She saw quickly that the fire was in
the other end of the capitol and for
q time she rested undisturbed. But
presently the fire crept toward the CEN
ter of the building and Miss Walker
became alarmed lest the whole cap
itol should burn and with II her inn
provised studio with Its precious piece
OF clay.
will not some man so with me to
the attic" she cried land take down
the model of clay
But men could not be got to take
the risk. Miss Walker went back to
the attic alone and feeling her way
among the steel girders and over heaps
OF rubbish. and thru the smoke she
covered her work with heavy cloth.
She barely had breath TO get back to
the stairway and down again where
the fire was raging. And during the
time when the state officials and fire
men were in doubt as to whether or
not any part of the capitol could h
saved, Miss Walker. ali unobserved,
was pacing the floor in nervous anx-
lefty for the safety of that which meant
to her the ambition of year and the
2sork OF weeks.
spily. when she returned after the
smoke had cleared away, she found
that the only harm done was discolor-
Ing the Surface of the model by reason
OF smoke. No part OF the fire had
touched her studio.
=, 1T, T., fNts a
studio. said Miss Walker, as she
worked at her clay. The attic is light
ed by skylight nearly fifty feet above
the floor. II is an ideal place for an
artist to work.
After the fire when Miss Walker re-
allied what it all meant to Governor
Cummins, with the responsibility of
legislative session and fire in the
state house all at once, she generous
" proposed to sacrific her work and
leave 1t incomplete in order that he
might not give more time to the Sit
tings necessary for her to finish.
NO." said the governor. Il will give
you the time as l promised. l know
I am overwhelmed with work, but the
hour that l give you. in the quiet OF
your studio is merely relaxation Per-
haps it is just what l need at this
time"
And so the work was finished. Few
there were who knew that between
seeing the scores of visitors and writ
ing q message and an inaugural adj
dress preparatory to the session, and
attending to thousand matters con-
nected with the repair after the fire.
Governor Cummins each day found
time for an hour In the attic of the
capitol posing for the skillful little
artist.
Miss Walker Is an Iowa girl and she
lived in Moulton. Davis county. where
she first discovered that her hands
were made for nobler purposes than
fashioning mud pies. About four years
ago she went to Chicago and began to
study under dorado Taft. Today she
Is one OF his teachers in the Art 1nst-
tute. She Is petite little body thor
oughly devoted to her art. wholly un-
conscious OF self. her whole person AMI
mated with ambition. She sent to Phil
adelphia bust of DIR. Walker. OF OF
tumwa, an uncle, and 1t is on exhibition
at the Academy of Fine Arts. She Is
already famous for the beauty of the
hands she fashions for her art work.
1t was with great JOY she left few
days ago for Chicago taking her clay
model with her. She was high in her
praise OF the courtesy and Kindness OF
the governor, and those who caught
glimpses OF her work as she proceeded
felt that she had done something for
which she should be given great
credit.