The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-27
re SAVED HIS AssAILANT.
Thrilling Scene at the Capital of North
DAKOTA.
From tie EelC York World.

From tie EelC York World.
Rrs.sARrK. Y. D., March 15.@iuests Of
the sheridan House where the spectators 10
a tragic scene early this morning. Condo
Hsmliu. a newspaper man from st. Paul,
was ona of the correspondents who wrote
the expose Of the Legislature IN which
charges of bribery in cOnnecu IN with the
I,t+arv deal were made against nearly all
the prominent officials Of the state As the
rep6rter entered tle hotel door Alex Nc
Kepzie oue of the meu VINO had been at
tucked, approached Iianlnh anu sI@sP'hs
the lapel of mis- coat, SAID.
Il want to see you What did you lie
about me and my friends for In the Fioneer
With this remark Mckenzie laid his hand
uuou Hamlin's shoulder the latter started
back drew his revolver and at-empted TO
shoot. Mckenzie grespea tAe wsap N,
thrussing a finger under tie haulAhrf JUST
in time to prevent IT'S dischaA &C. halnlin
then made a desperate struggA9 to release
himself from the embrace OF tn s'aI"arU
North DahotaD, and during the struSgie
the crowd pressed forward, evidently 70 40
violence TO the man who had male the
charges and who had attempted to SHOOT
Mckenzie. The North Iiakotan wrelChed
the revolver from Hamln's grasp, ana
crowded the correspondent into the corner.
seen the performance were trying to get at
Hamlin, but Mckenzie turned upon the
crowd and warned all to keep back he
said he would allow no one to assault hanl-
lin. and when the crowd gave evidence OF
determination TO wreck vengeance ON the
correspondent. Mckenzie, holding Hamliu's
revolver in his hand, said he would shoot
the first man that struck blow.
1t was a thrilling scene-Mckenze pro-
tecting the life of the man who moment
before had attempted to Kali him, and doing
it. too, with the very weapon which had
been aimed at his heart. Seeing that Nc
Kenzie was de ermined, the crowd fell back
Mckenzie then handed Hamlin his revolver,
saying:
if YOU want to. | am not afraid OF your
gun. I'm manm
Eamlin put the pistol in his pocket and
said to Mckenzie:
Lets shake hands and be friends"
NO" replied Mckenzie. 81 will not
shake hands with you. You are not my
friend and you have attempted to take my
life."
Representative Stadleman then ap-
preached Hamlin, and reminding him that
he was one of the men whose characters had
been assailed in the FiOneer-F1eSs, de-
manded the source of his information.
~ secured my information from At
torney General Goodwin" Hamlin ex-
claimed. This statement caused great sur
prise, and Hamlin, having made the state
ment was assured that he would suffer no
violence, although many in the room
shouted, Throw him outn
Mckenzie then demanded that he go with
him to an adjoining room and warned all
Others to keep away. After being in the
room several minutes the train arrived and
Mckenzie escorted Hamlin to the platform,
placing himself in the door of the Sheridan
house to keep back the crowds while the
correspondent boarded the train. After the
excitement abated the conversation turned
on the courageous and magnanimous act Of
Mckenzie. All agreed that Mckenzie saved
Hamlin'S life, for the crowd, nearly all of
whom had been assailed il his article, be-
came freuzied at his attempt to shoot.
"Alex.h Mckenzie is one of the most re-
markable men to be found anywhere He
went to Dakota early in 1873. when the
Northern Pacific was completed. He was a
section hand, aud in that manner had
worked his way west from Fargo. The
Northern Pacific did not extend its main
line west of Bismarck for several years.
Mckenzie did odd Jobs as they could be
picked up in a frontier town. He made
himself quite useful to the railroad in vari-
Gus ways. As he would get a little money
ahead he invested it in Northern Pacific
Cooke, Sept. 16, 1878, deprecated to almost
nothing When the Northern Pacific man
agement agreed to receive the stock at par
for their lands, of which they had immense
quantities, Mckenzie stood in" with
favored few and secured some of the best
land the company had in Burleigh and ad-
joining counties. He also invested in town
lots in Bismarck, which were then to be
had for a mere song. With his energy and
push it was not long until he began to de-
velop, and was known along the line as a
''rustler," and eventually as a boss" He
was the main promoter Of the capital re-
moval scheme in 1888, when it was changed
from Yankton to Bismarck. Few conven-
lions OF either party in The territory since
then have not been dominated by him.
Lately he has permitted others of the gang
TO manage political affairs while he has
been recuperating financially, in Walt
street. During the present legislature he
was mainly Instrumental in the choice of
North Dakota's first United States senators
in fact, his master mind originated all i'm
portant legislation in the territory and new
| state during the last ten years.