Interest in President McKinley at the Eden Musee
The enterprise of the management
of the Eden Musee was admirably shown immediately after the attempted
assassination of President McKinley. A large force of artists are
constantly engaged at the Musee in preparing new wax groups. Nearly
a dozen are completed, all but the finishing touches, and orders
were given to complete them Saturday. The manager of the Musee was
just leaving when the news came of the attempted assassination.
Immediately all of the artists were telegraphed and at eight o’clock
they were at work on a new figure of President McKinley, and in
making ready for a figure of the assassin. A telegraphic description
was secured from Buffalo but it was found inadequate. One of the
Musee’s artists happened to be in Buffalo at the time of the attempted
murder. With great difficulty he saw the anarchist and made a few
quick sketches and secured the measurements from the police. Early
Saturday morning he was on his way to New York, and by evening all
the artists were working upon the figure of Leon Czolgosz. By Sunday
morning it was completed and was placed on exhibition. This is the
quickest time on record for the making of a complete wax figure,
and in all twenty persons were employed. A new figure of President
McKinley was also added to the group of the Rulers of the World.
The figure of the assassin was placed in the prison cell in the
Chamber of Horrors. This is the same cell that was once occupied
by Guiteau, the murderer of Garfield. In addition to these wax figures
there are other features at the Musee which will be of special interest
at the present time. Moving pictures are shown hourly of President
McKinley, and also pictures of the Pan-American Exhibition, showing
several views of the Temple of Music, where the attempted assassination
took place. Wherever President McKinley’s picture is shown the enthusiasm
aroused among the visitors show his wonderful popularity and the
grief at his dangerous condition. During the first evening these
pictures were shown many women wept.
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