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CZOLGOSZ'S HUNT
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Leon Czolgosz had spent weeks in Buffalo before McKinley's visit. He had stayed with a family at a boarding house, but it was not the location he needed for his quest.
On August 31, 1901, Czolgosz checked into Nowak's saloon/hotel. Nowak's was close to the Expostition grounds and offered a quiet place for him to blend in.
He always paid his bills and seemed to have a ready supply of funds. He purchased cigars from Nowak and always seemed to have a newspaper with him.
And as usual, Czolgosz was quiet and kept to himself.
Czolgosz never clearly planned when he would try to assassinate McKinley. He just followed him around and waited for an open window of opportunity.
He had noticed that the security around the Exposition had nearly doubled. McKinley had been lately getting hate mail and phone threats on his life. George Foster, the President's chief of security, and George Cortelyou, McKinley's secretary, took no chances.
However, Czolgosz paid no mind. He knew they could not stop him if he went through with it. They only created a nuisance because it robbed him of
excellent chances to kill the President.
He came the closest to failure right at the beginning of the President's visit.
On the 4th, when the President's train pulled up and the target appeared, Czolgosz was there, inching his way closer.
All around him were men and women intermingled with guards and Pinkerton detectives. Czolgosz got too close too fast. A large guard thought him an overzealous fan and yelled at him. Czolgosz, fearful at this unexpected
event turned to run. The guard grabbed him and threw him to the dusty ground. Czolgosz later recalled that he believed he was caught and would be dragged away where they would surely find his Johnson revolver. Unfortunately for the President, Czolgosz was not seen as a threat and the guard turned to
other matters.
On the morning of the 5th, Leon Czolgosz awoke at the crack of dawn and walked downstairs to the lobby of Nowak's. He purchased his usual cigar and walked out the door, his destination: The Pan-American Exposition and his rendevous with destiny.
Czolgosz kept his .32 Johnson six-shot revolver in his coat pocket. He often gripped it to make sure he had not lost his precious weapon. At 9:00 am, McKinley began his speech. Czolgosz had hoped to beat the crowds and get close to the front of the podium in order to have a clear shot where
he could not miss. The popular McKinley had so many fans that he could not even get close to the stage. Czolgosz must have hated the speech by McKinley. It was full of the jargon and ideas that Czolgosz had hated with a passion. Nevertheless, Czolgosz saw his chance when the speech was over and the crowd started to disperse, their throats sore from cheering. The President was being led to his carriage by detectives and Secret Service. Czolgosz quickly moved forward, sensing the perfect time. McKinley had his back to him and another gentleman stood next to him in the same tall, silk hat and dark black coat. At the distance and from being
behind, Czolgosz could not tell which man was the enemy of the people. By the time he realized which was which, the hack was too far out of range. Czolgosz would have to wait.
Czolgosz never got another chance the rest of the day. He went back to his room after the fireworks display. He had missed his chance and he needed to regroup for the next day, September 6, 1901.
* The Johnson revolver used by Czolgosz
and the burned handkerchief used to conceal it.
SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1901
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