Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-03-09
BONANZA MACKAY SHOT
The Would-Be Assassin Puts a Bull
let Into thd Million.
= aires Back.
Fortunately the Wound Is Not Likely to
Prove Fatal.

IAN Il RANCISCO, EeU- Zt.-JOnH w.
Mackay, the famous bonanza mining
man, WAS shot through the back to-
day by a man named w. C. Rippy and
narrowly escaped death. RIppy, after
firing one shot at Mackay, turned his
revolver on himself and sent a bullet
through his left breast, inficting a
wound which will undoubtedly prove
fatal at his advanced age, he being
over 20. So far Mackay's wound is
not serious, and u fatal termination
not looked for unless lockjaw or blood
poisoning should set in. The shoot
ing occurred i'm the paved court back
of the Lick house, which runs from
Suffer to Post streets, between Mont
gomery and Kearney. 1t is the Gus
tom OF Mackay to come about noon
every day to the jewelry store at the
corner of Suffer street and Lick alley
to compare time, and Rippey laid in
wait for him there today. AS Mackay
reached the end of the alley Rippey
pulled a revolver and fired one shot at
the millionaire. He then turned the
revolver on himself and shot as told
above. He then started after Mackay
again, trying to fire once more, but
was so weak he could not pull the
trigger, and after a few steps threw up
his hands, exclaiming, "'My God, l
am satisfied" and fell. John Bon
ner, who Is connected with a florists
store in the alley, was near at hand
when the shooting occurred and said
to Mackay:
"Why, Mr.. Mackay, you are shot /"
Mackay replied, mo, l don't think
So" But Bonner replied he knew he
was, as he had seen the dust fly when
the bullet struck his overcoat. He
then put his hand under his overcoat
and withdrew it covered with blood
He also began to experience pain, and
Bonner took him in a buggy tn the
Palace hotel, where he was assisted to
his room and surgeons summoned.
Rippey was taken to a hospital,
where an examination showed that
bullet, after entering his left breast
passed through his body and came
out just below the left shoulder blade.
The patient is about 20 years of age,
with white hair and close cut white
beard. A letter a found on his per-
son addressed to the Examiner news
paper, reading as follows:
Food for reflection: Hepaid $780,
900 for a sapphire to place on the
jaded person OF his wife-a sufficient
amount to have saved five hundred OF
the paupers from a suicidal grave. In
scrib it on his tomb"
Mr.. Mackay made the following
statement: 81 vas walking down SUIT
ter street, bound for my room, 10
pack my valise, as l intended to go to
Virginia City this afternoon. When
reached Lick alley | thought it would
be a short cut to the hotel. | had
hardly stepped into Lick alley when
| heard a pistol shot. paused for a
moment, rather startled, forIhadno
seen anyone in the alley when Ientered
it, and did not know at fiist in which
direction the report of the pistolcame
from. Suddenly a voice exclaimed,
Mr.. Mackay, you have been shot!
and looking up / saw the gentleman
who brought me to my room, MIR.
Bonner, on the other side of the alley.
No, I am not shot, l replied. yes,
YOU are he insisted, for L saw the
dust fly from your coat when the bull
let struck YOU / put my hand
around under my coat, and, sur
enough, when l looked at my hand it
was covered with blood. / then felt
pain in my back. 1t all happened in
a second, and turning halfway round
| saw my assailant standing at the
head of the alley with his pistol
pointed at me. / then hurried across
to the east side OF the alley; as i did
so / saw the old man put the pistol,
AS l thought, into his mouth and fire
it again. He then reeled and fell, and
I continued.up the alley until reached
Mr.. Bonner's cart, and he drove ME
to the Palace"
When Mr.. Mackay was asked if he
knew the man who had shot HIM, he
said: 81 never knew of a man named
Rippey. had a good look at the old
man who shot me, and l am certain
that | do not know him. l can give
no reason for the assault"
The doctors say the patient is not
out of danger until the chances of
lockiaw and blood poisoning are past.
The bullet entered his back below the
right shoulder blade and ranged
slightly to the right, lodging in one of
the sinous processes. 1t was ex-
tracted. Rippey is we'll known to old
timers in San Francisco and was a
familiar figure around 1920 Powell
street, where he made his home. His
intimate friends say he has been de-
pendent of late, but said nothing
about his affairs. One friend of his
said Rippey was born in Cincinnati.
and leaves a wife and family there. At
one time he vas worth over 500, 900,
making about $4,000 on Comstock.
He came to San Francisco and began
gambling in stocks. The money soon
began to go, and then he opened acash
grocery store, but the venture failed.
About Jour years ago he conducted a
bar and dining-room on q steamer
running between this city and Stock
ton. Latterly the old man has been
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