Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-28
He is Assaulted With Pistol and
Knife in His Own
Office.
The Fiendish Assailant Turns Out to
be a Russian Jew From
New York.

cuaiTmdu OIL lue CdTHSSlo OtCCA COMPANY,
| limited
His assailant was Alexander B9rkman,
a Russian Jew who came here from New
York with the evident intention of killing
Frick.
1t was few minutes before 2 o'clock
this afternoon, when young man entered
| the elevator in The Chronicle Telegraph
building and asked to be let off at Mr..
Tricks office. The young man had beer
a frequent visitor for the past few days
and the elevator 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, fred
in rapid succession.
The man had tried to assassinate the
great steel master, but the latter, not
| withstanding two bullet wounds and four
ugly gashes from a dagger, is still alive
and will probably recover.
Before the man came in Mr.. Lsishman,
business partner of Mr.. Frick, had enter
ed the office and was holding private
conference.
The Office boy noticed the man come in
| hur1iedly from the outside and pass through
the railing. Before he could stop him
the stranger had entered his private office.
| He sprang to within about i've feet of
Mr.. Prick and quickly drawing a revolver
pulled the trigger. The first cartridge
did not explode but the second shot enter
ed the back of Mr.. Tricks neck, glanced
downward and passed out below the arm
pit.
Mr.. Frick jumped to the window on
Fifth avenue and tried to open it but
could not
Berkman rushed up to HIM again and
fred, the ball entering the left side Of the
neck and passing around to a Judgment
under the right ear.
At this moment Mr.. Leishman threw
himself on the assassin and struggled to
get the revolver. He clutched the barrel
and turned the muzzIe up as the man
again turned the trigger, the ball entering
the ceiling.
The desperate man then drew a dagger
and attempted to stab Leishman.
Mr.. Frick saw the CLEAN of the steel,
and, although staggered by the shock of
his wounds and bleeding profuseiy,
jumped between the men and selzed Mr..
Beekman's arm. The latter freed himself
from Laishman's grasp and plunged the
| dagger inio Mr. 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 a rib and glanced without infict
ing much injury.
Twioe again was the knife thrust at
! Mr.. Frick, but he was merely scratched.
By this time the office clerks ano Deputy
Sheriff May entered.
Mr.. May had drawn a revolver and was
about to shoot Berkman in the back when
Frick cried OUT
Don't kill him; we've got him all
right: leave him to the law"
The man broke away and tried to es-
cape, but was secured and taken to the
station.
In FIVE minutes half dozen surgeons
were on hand and Mr. Tricks wounds
were quickly attended to.
He was calm, had perfect command OF
his faculties and apparently was less ex-
cited than any other person in the room.
From time to time he made suggestions
and half hour after the shooting dictat-
ed message to Andrew Carnegie about
the assault.
At his request all communication with
his residence was shut off and his brother
in-law was sent to inform his wife and to
reassure her.
She had child ten days ago and is still
confined TO her room, but though greatly
distressed bore herself bravely.
After considerable difficulty the bullet
edged in his neck was removed and he
vas soon resting easier.
The news created intense excitement
and kilograms poured in on Frick from
people high and low from various parts Of
the country.
At no time did he express fear as TO mis-
condition and after the removal of the
bullet dictated a letter to his stenog-
rapher and received reports about the
condition of affairs at Homestead.
Mr.. Prick refused all medicine until !;
o'clock when he was given a sedative and
was soon sleeping soundly.
He was removed home soon after Z
o'clock.
Or. Litchfeld is confident Mr.. Frick
will recover, although he IS serious ly in
iured.
At midnight he is resting easily.
The news Of the attempted assination
, spread like wild fire and in FIVE minutes
} after the shooting Fifth avenue from
Market to Wood streets was black with
people and the greatest indignation was
expressed at the cowardly deed.
| When Berkman was brought out of the
building by the police to be taken to the
central station, cries we're heard of ''shoot
him now and some growled "Let him