The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-24

PITTsBURG, Pa, July 23-A desperate
and almost successful attempt was made
late this afternoon to assassinate Henry
Clay Frick chairman of the Carnegie
Steel company, by Alexander Berckman,
q Russian Jew, who came from New York
intending to remove the man who has
been the principal on the employers side
in the Homestead struggle. lt was few
minutes before 2 o'clock this afternoon
when Berckman entered the elevator in
the Chronicle-Telegraph building, also oc-
cupied by the Carnegie Steel company,
and asked to be let off at Mr.. Tricks
office He had been frequent visitor dur
ing the past ew days, and the elevator boy
stopped at the second floor. Two minutes
later three pistol shots were heard Mr.
Frick had been shot, but the great steel
master, Notwithstanding two bullet
wounds and four ugly gashes from dag
ger, still lives and will probably recover.
At the time of the attack Mr. Leishman
IA partner of Mr. Frick's) and Mr. Frick
were holding private conference. Berck-
man pushed open the railing gate, and
entered Mr.. Frick's private apartment.
He sprang to within five feet OF Mr.. frlck,
and. drawing a revolver, pulled the trig
ger The first cartridge did not explode;
The second one did, and the bullet entered
the back of Mr.. Eric6's neck and passed
out below the armpit. Mr. trlck jumped
TO window and tried in vain 10 open it,
His assailant, approaching closer, fired
again. The ball entered the muscles on
the left side of the neck and lodged under
the right ear. Mr.. Leishman then threw
himself on the assassin and wrestled for
possession of the revolver. He clutched the
barrel and pointed it upward the next
cartridge exploded. The desperate man
then drew dagger to stab Mr.. Leishman,
but Mr.. Frick, though bleeding profusely,
Jumped between them and seized the
mans arm. The latter freed himself and
plunged the dagger into Mr.. Frick's right
side Just above the hip, making an ugly
wound three inches long. a second thrust
struck higher up but glanced from rib
without much injury. Twice more was
the knife thrust al Mr. Frick, but he Was
merely scratched.
The struggle was in full view Of those
ON the street. The Office boys and Dep1ty
Sheriff May. who had just entered, threw
themselves on the assassin. Deputy Sher-
iff May had drawn his revolver and was
about to shoot the fellow in the back when
Mr.. Frick cried out:
Don't kill himl We've got him all
right; leave him to the law"
Berckman was secured and taken to the
police station.
In five minutes n half dozen surgeons
were Mt hand, and Mr.. Frick's wounds
Were washed and the bleeding stopped.
During all this time the wounded man
was less excited than any other person in
The room. Half an hour after the shoot
ing lie sent message to Andrew Carnegie
nbout the assault, saying that he thought
that he would be all right. He sent his
brother-in-law to inform his wife of his
illness ard to reassure her. She had son
ten days ago, and is still confined to her
room. She was greatly distressed but
bore herself bravely.
Mr.. Frick was removed to a back office,
where the physicians made a careful ex-
animation. AT O'Clock p. m. the bullet
behind the ear was removed and the
wounded man was resting easy.
The news of the tragedy created intense
Excitement, and kilograms poured in on
.Mr. Frick from various parts of the
United States. At no time did he believe
shat he was fatally injured, and after the
removal of the bullets he dictated letters
and asked the chiefs about the condition
Of affairs at Homestead and Duquesne
-Mr. trick refused ali medicine until D
O'Clock p. m, when he was given a Seda-
tive and was soon sleeping soundly. No
one was permitted to see him for an hour
before his removal TO his home which
took place shortly after Z o'clock p. IN.
pr. Litchfield felt confident that Mr.
trlck would recover, although he said
That he was a seriously injured man, who
tStu luduS d VENUS escape lTOtD lnSbdub
Heath. At II O'Clock p. IN. he was reported
RS resting easy, and the doctors regarded
hlS condition as favorable.
The news of the attempted assassina-
tion spread like wildfire, and in "A few
minutes after the shooting the streets in
the vicinity of the Chronicle-Telegraph
office were black with people. The greatest
Indignation was expressed at the cowardly
diced. When Berckman was brought out
OF the building by the officers to be taken
20 the station, cries were heard of "Shoot
linn nowH Some growlei, Let him have
what he gave Frick." But the hetter
element stepped forward and helped to
keep the assassin from mob violence AT
The station the police We're compelled TO
shut The gates TO the yard TO keep out the
people. The prisoner gave his name as
Alexander Berckman; age, ~; residence,
Forty-second street, New York City; occu-
pa;ion, compostor on New York paper -
he name OF the paper he positively re-
fused TO give. He had been in Pittsburg
since Thursday, staying at the Merchants
hotel on Water street.
Before Inspector MCkelvey issued an
order TO exclude all persons from the po-
lice station except the officers who were
neeted, Berckman was asked by an Assn
Cl2'ed Press reporter:
ID d you know Mr.. Frick:"
The prisoner replica: I'VE all know
Frck"
When asked TO tell why he attempted
the murder, Berckman responded: That
lisa queer question to ask. You know
why"
The prisoner further said that he was A
Russian jew. but had been in this country
for some years.
Alter the crowd disappeared the prisoner
was searched, but beyond a few 3S-calibre
Cartridges, some pieces OF candy and a
nickei-piated watch, nothing was foupG
upon his person. That he was prepared to
end his own life. however, was developed
later. AT o'clock the prisoner, in charge
ol Superintendent O'Mara, Inspector Nc
kelyey and Detectives Shore aud CoulSon.
was taken to the gymnasium in the station
yard TO be photographed.
When seated in the chair the only action
OF the young man that indicated any uer-
vousness was n peculiar movement Of the
jaws. This aroused the suspicion of Po-
lice Surgeon Mo6leT, who afterwards made
a search aud found small shell IN the
prisoners mouth. The desperate man re-
fused 10 open his mouth, and il was neces-
sary 10 choke him till he was black in the
face before he would give the shell up, Il
was taken to chemist, who pronounced
il to be dynamite cartridge of the same
kind used 10y Lingg. the Chicago anarchist.
10 kill himself It WAS considered "A miracle
that Berckman was not blown up. Berck-
man is still IN the Central station tonight.
All attempts 70 Interview him have been
uDaYailng.
Or his way to the Centrs, station several