St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-25
Deputy Marshal Nagle four years ago
has there been such
Intense Excitement

Deputy Marshal Nagle four years ago
has there been such
Intense Excitement
in San Francisco. 1t was ar noon. and
thousands of people were on the streets
in the business quarter where the shoot
ing occurred. They crowded to the
scene of the tragedy, and the narrow
alley way was soon black with curious,
sightseers. Mr.. Mackay is so well
known in San Francisco that those who
saw the shooting Immediately recog-
niZed him, and the news that the b.
nanZa king had been shot spread with
Incredible rapidity. Crowds gathered
abOat the bulletin boards and newspa-
per offices. and when extra editions of
the papers cameou they were eagerly
purchased. Mr.. Mackay made the fol-
lowing statement:
II was walking down Suffer street
bound for my room to pack my valise,
as intended to go to Virginia City this
afternoon. When 1 reached Lick al
ley thought it would be short cut to
the hotel. l had hardly taken two
steps into Lick alley when heard
pistol shot. | paused for moment
rather startled, for | had not seen any
one i'll the alley when l entered it and
did not at first know from what dlrec-
ton the report of the pistol came.
Suddenly voice exclaimed:
Mi. Mackay, you have been shot,
and looking up saw gentleman who
brought me to my room.
mo, l am not shot," Ireplied. "'Yes,
you are he. insisted, for l saw dust fly
from your coat when the bullet struck
YOU
Discovered Blood.
81 put my hand around under my coat
and sure enough when | looked at my
hand it was covered with blood. l then
felt the pain in my back. 1t all hap
pened in second. and, turning half
way around, | saw my aSSailant stand
ing at the head of the alley with his pis-
tol pointed at me. then hurried across
to the east side of the alley, and as l did
so | saw the old man put Il pistol. as l
thought, to his mouth, and fire it again.
He then reeled and fell. and | continued
up the alley until we reached Mr.. Bon
ner's cart. and he drove me to the Pal
ace hotel"
When Mr. Mackay was asked if he
knew the man who had shot him, he
said: Il never knew of man named
Rippi. l had good look at the old man
WHO SllOG lllC, 0uu L otii wi SHAh w hSo
know him. | cannot give any reason
for the assault"
Soon after 2 o'clock physicians eXtri-
Gated the bullet. DR.. John F. Morse.
who performed the operation in con-
junction with DR.. Keeny, said that the
bullet entered below the right shoulder
blade, and ranging slightly to the right,
strdck the vertebr8 and lodged in one
of the SpinouS processes. DR.. Morse
said that the wound was not necessarily
fatal, but that tine patient was by no
means out of danger. He added that in
cases of gunshot wounds there was
always danger of blood poisoning OF
lockjaw.
His Wife Notified.
When closely questioned DR.. Morse
said that it was too soon after the eX-
traction to foretell the termination of
the wound, but that MIR. Mackay was
resting quietly. Richard V. Day tele-
graphed to Mrs Mackay in London,
and to young Mrs. Mackay ia New
York, that Mr.. Mackay had been. shot
but that the wound was aot considered
dangerous. After the extraction of the
bullet, he wired again, giving the above
statement of the condition of the
patient.
William c. Rippi was we'll known to
old timers in San Francisco. and was
familiar figure around 1929 Powell
street, where he made his home. Ev-
erybody knew him and considered him
harmless. For the last two years he
roomed at the above address, and the
landlady asserts that he was the easiest
to please of all her boarders. About s
o'clock this morning he left his room
and went down town. He returned an
hour later in 4 very deSpondent mood.
and the neighbors say that as he
passed down Powell street he was tear
ing at his handkerchief with his teeth,
and appeared to be- very much worked
lid over something. He remained in
his room about two hours, then started
down town. The chances are that the
intervening time was spent in putting
his effects in order and getting ready
for the deed The landlady of the
house was away and had her pass key
with her, and. as the room was locked,
it was impossible at this time to dis
cover whether Rippi had left any let
tiers.
Ruined by Mining Stocks.
From the people in the house it was
learned that the old man had been very
Respondent of late, and that nearly all
his means had been swallowed up in
stock spsculations.
II knew Mr.. RIppi very WE'LL" was
the remark OF gentleman who lives
near 1920 Powell street. He used to
come to my place every day to read the
papers before he went down town. He
did not come in this morning as usual.
and he seemed very much distressed
over something as he passed about 9
o'clock"
He was born in Cincinnati, o., and
leaves family there. AT one time he
was worth over 100000, and made about
$780, 600 OH Comstock. He came to San
Francisco and began gambling in stocks.
His money soon began to go, and then
he opened a cash grocery store on
Fourth street. That venture failed ana
about four years ago he was running
bar and dining room Oh the steamer
Mary Garrett, which plies between San
Francisco and Stockton. At one time
he lived III Denver, and owned quite
lot of property, but it also went in his
stock specuiatonS. Latterly the old
man was almost without means, and
was in a very desperate frame of mind.
He knew almost all the 0ld-timers in
California When no one else could
identify them, old man Rippi was called
upon, and he generally succeeded.
Mrs Macl<ay Hears the News