PRESIDENT MCKINLEY SHOT AT PAN AMERICAN EXPO IN BUFFALO
Buffalo, New York (JFK+50) President William McKinley was shot today as he was shaking hands with the public in the Temple of Music at the Pan American Exposition here in Buffalo.
The President had been shaking hands for about 10 minutes when the would-be assassin fired twice at point blank range.
The man, who was taken into custody immediately after the shooting, has been identified as an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz.
President McKinley Is Shot
Sketch by T. Dart Walker (1905)
Czolgosz had concealed a pistol under a handkerchief wrapped around his hand as if bandaged.
The shooting occurred at 4:07 p.m.
After the shooting, blood appeared on the President's shirt & he said: "Am I shot?"
Mr. McKinley then told people around him: "My wife, be careful about her. Don't let her know."
The President was taken to the hospital where doctors determined that one of the bullets caused a superficial wound while the 2nd bullet passed through the abdomen & lodged in the back. Doctors were unsuccessful, however, in locating & removing the 2nd bullet.
Meanwhile Czolgosz, who was asked why he had shot the President, said:
"I killed the President because I done my duty. I didn't believe one man should have so much service & another man should have none."*
Leon Czolgosz
*Over the next several days, the President's condition improved but on September 12 it began to quickly deteriorate. McKinley died on September 14 at 2:15 a.m. The convicted assassin was electrocuted on October 29.
Temple of Music
Pan American Exposition
Buffalo, New York
Photo by C.D. Arnold
Site of the Temple of Music
Buffalo, New York
September 6, 1966
VERWOERD ASSASSINATED IN PARLIAMENT
Capetown, South Africa (JFK+50) Prime Minister Henrik Verwoerd, the architect of Apartheid, was stabbed to death today during a meeting of Parliament here in Capetown.
Verwoerd, who once described Apatheid as a "policy of good neighborliness", was stabbed in the neck & chest by a uniformed messenger named Dimitri Tsafendas.
The Prime Minister will be buried in Pretoria.
Henrik Vvewoerd
Prime Minister of South Africa
September 6, 1961
JFK ASKS STEEL COMPANIES TO HOLD PRICES STEADY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today sent a letter to the leaders of the United States steel industry requesting that they do not increase their prices in the coming months.
JFK is concerned that a hike in steel prices will have an inflationary impact on the economy.*
*In 1962, US Steel will increase prices $6 a ton initiating a "Steel Crisis".
September 6, 1915
BRITISH INTRODUCES A NEW WEAPON OF WAR
London, England (JFK+50) Great Britain introduced a new weapon today for use in the world war.
A prototype of the weapon, dubbed "Little Willie" weighs 14 tons & travels at a speed of 2 miles per hour.*
*The new vehicles were shipped in crates labeled "TANK". The name will stick.
Mark I Tank
Battle of the Somme
September 25, 1916
September 6, 1552
"VITTORIA" CIRCUMNAVIGATES THE GLOBE
SanlUcar de Barrameda, Spain (JFK+50) One of Ferdinand Magellan's five ships, "Vittoria", arrived here in Spain today successfully completing the 1st circumnavigation of the globe.
Commanding "Vittoria" is Juan Sebastian Elcano who took charge of the expedition when Magellan died in the Philippine Islands.
Making the 42,000 mile voyage with Elcano were 17 Europeans & 4 Indians.*
*Elcano died of scurvy on a later voyage on behalf of Emperor Charles V.
Replica of "Vittoria"
Nagoya, Japan
Photo by Gnsin (2005)
