The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-24


H. c. FRrCK. boy thought nothing OF
the request
Two minutes later the occupants of the
building and passers-by on Fifth avenue were
startled by three pistol shots, fired in rapid sue
cession The man had tried to assassinate the
great steel master. but the latter. notwith-
standing two bullet wounds and four ugly
gashcs from a dagger, is still alive and will
probably recover.
Before the man came in Mr. Leshman, busi-
mess partner OF Mr.. Frick, had entered the Of
flee and was holding private conference. The
office boy noticed the man come in hurriedly
from the outside and pass through the railing,
but before he could stop him this stranger had
entered the private Office. He sprang to within
about five feet of Frick and. quickly drawing
revolver, pulled the trigger The first cartridge
did not explode, but the second shot en-
tered the back of Frick's neck, glanced
down and passed out below the armpit Frick
jumped to window on Fifth avenue and tried
to open it, but could not. Berkman rushed up
to him again aud fired, the ball entering the
left side of the neck and. passing around lodged
under the right ear. At this moment Mr.. Leish-
man threw himself on the assassin and strug-
Rled to get the revolver. He clutehed the bar
rel and turned the muzzle up as the man pulled
the trigger again, the ball entering the ceiling
The desperate man then drew dagger and
attempted to stab Leishman. Frck saw the
the shock of the wounds and bleeding profusely,
jumped between the men and seized Berkman's
arm. The latter freed himself from Leishman's
grasp and plunged the dagger into Frick's right
side just above the hip, making an ugly wound
three inches long. He made another lunge
and this time the knife struck higher up, but
the point struck rib and glanced off without
infiicting much injury. Twice again was the
knife thrust at Frick, but he was merely
scratched.
By this time the Office clerks and Deputy
Sheriff May had entered. May had
drawn revolver, and was about to
shoot Berkman in the back. when
Frick cried out: "Don't kill him. We've got
him sll right. Leave him to the law" The
man broke away and tried to escape, but was
secured and taken to the police station. In five
minutes half dozen surgeons were on
hand and Frick's wounds were at
tended to. He was calm, had per-
feet command OF his faculties, and
apparently was less excited than any other per-
son in the room From time to time he made
suggestions. and half an hour after the shoot
ing dictated a message to Andrew Carnegie
about the assault At his request all communal
cation with his residence was shut of
and his brother-in-law was sent to
inform his wife and to reassure
her. She had a child ten days ago and is still
confined to her room, but, though greatly dis
tressed, bore herself bravely. After some diff
Guilty the bullet lodged in his neck was re-
moved, and FrIck was soon resting easier.
The news created intense excitement. and tel
egrams poured in on Frick from persons high
and low from various parts of the country At
no time did he express fear as to his condition,
aud after removal of the bullet
dictated letter to stenographer
and received reports about the condition
of affairs at Homestead. Frick refused all medi-
cine until O'Clock, when he was given a seda-
tive and was soon sleeping soundly. He was
removed to his home soon after oclock Dr.
Ltchfed is confident Frick will recover al
though he is seriously injured. At midnight he
10 resting easy.
News of the attempted assassination spread
rapidly. In five minutes after the shooting
Fifth avenue. from Market to Woods streets,
was packed with people, and the greatest indig-
nation was expressed at the cowardly
deed. When Berkman was brought out of the
building by the police to be taken to the station,
cries were heard of "shoot himi" Some
growled: .'Let him have what he gave Frick,"
but the better element stepped forward and
helped keep the assassin from mob violence.
Berkman was sub jected to a searching exam
ination late this afternoon, and two dynamite
cartridges were found in his mouth. He had to
be choKed till he was black in the face before he
would open his mouth TO allow the dynamite
cartridges to be taken out. IL was evidently
his intention to follow the example of Louis
Lingg, the Chicago Hay market anarchist, to
commit suicide by exploding the cartridges fin
his mouth. It appears the caps would not
work and the scheme failed.
After the dynamite cartridges were taken
from his mouth, Berkman became more COM
municative He told the inspector that he was
20 years OF age, and had been working az a COM
positor on New York paper He declined to
give the name of the paper. He said he came to
Pittsburg the day before yesterday. Berkman is
still in the central station tonight and
all attempts 20 interview him has been unavail-
ing. charge of felonious assault has been
preferred against him, and the police authori-
ties say that bail will be refused. Several peo-
pie who have seen him say he hes been present
at the anarchist meetings recently addressed by
Herr Most in this city. He has
undoubtedly been in the city for some
time, having called at Carnegie's Office
Thursday and Friday. This morning lie called
and sent in a card reading: "a. Berkman, agent
New York Employment Company" Frick was
busy at the time, and in a lew minutes Berknau
left. He was seen loungiug about the street
door some time after, and evidently intended
making an attack as Frick was leaving the
building
Wnen the news of the shooting reached the
court room where the case OF O'Donnell and
Ross was being held. O'Donnell was evidently
greatly shocked, and said: "Oh, that's terri
bic; that's terrible"
L he report spread IKE wiidhre In Homestead,
and people crowded around the bulletin boards
for the latest intelligence The leaders deplore
the shooting, but many strikers saying: alt
served bin right" wish he was dead" etc.
Until ten days ago Frick had been receiving
several crank letters every day, but then they
| ceased. Yesterday another one came. which
notified him he had but twenty four hours 70
live. This was probably from Bersman.
President Weihe. of the Amalgamated AsNo-
| citation, was much affected at the news OF the
shooting OF Frick He ernphstscally denounced
the action of the assailant and declared him an
! assassin at heart and AZ enemy not only TO his