Passaic City record., 1893-03-04
BONANZA MACKAY SHOT.
His Crank Assailant Then Fatally
Wounds Himself.

His Crank Assailant Then Fatally
Wounds Himself.
John w. Mackay, the famous mining man
and financier, was shot in the back just after
noon at San Francisco CAL, by William
G. Rippi, and narrowly escaped death.
MacHa;v p; shot shot % himself vt through the
left breast, in6icting q fatal wound.
Tho shooting occurred in the paved court
back of the Lick House, which runs from
Sutter to Post streets, between Montgomery
and Kearney. A white-haired man was
noticed walking around Sutter street acting
very nervously during the early por..
ton of the morning, throwing his hand
back toward his hip pocket. It is the GUS
tom Of John w. Mackay to go about
noon time every day 70 the jeSelry store at
sutton street and Lick Alley to compare
the time OF day, and he is always prompt.
As Mackay reached the end of the alley
nearest Sutter street, and few feet from
where the old man was standing, the latter
pulled out his revolver and fred one shot.
The bullet struck Mackay in the middle OF
the back. After firing, the would-be muir
derer turned the pistol on himself. and fired
a bullet into his own body. The self inflicted
wound was serious but as long as he could
walk he followed Mackay. trying to fire at
him again, but he was SO weak he could not
exclaiming: my God, ! am satisfiedp' r.
Mackay put his hand behind his back and
some one raised his coat. As he drew his
hand out it was covered with blood, and he
told friend where the ball had taken
effect. Mackay was placed in a buggy and
taken to the Palace Hotel, where hereceived
medical attention. Mackay's assailant
was taken to the City Receiving Hospital.
The murderous crank, Rppi, was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and leaves wife and
family there. At one time he was worth
over $l00, 900, and made about $4,000 on
Comstock. He came to San Francisco and
began gambling in stocks. His money sooH
began % 60. Having been crazed on the
subject Of stocks, he had an imaginary
grievance against the Bonanza King and
tried to kill him.
John w. Mackay was born in Dublin, Ire
land, and came to New York in his early
youth. He was one time shivering news.
boy on Park Row. In 1645 he reached the
State of California, where he amassed
his colossal fortune. He was one
of the four men who made the bo-
nanza firm-Mackay, Flood, OBrien &
Fair-and become one Of the financial pow
ers of the Pacific Coast. He owned four.
fifths of that firms property, and is known
as the Bonanza King. The foundation of
great wealth of the Comstock lode, which
yielded Sill ZOO. 900. At one time
his income from his mines was
put down at 100000 a month.
His whole life has been a romance such as
was possible perhaps in no other country
on the globe. A few years before the dis
covery of gold in California he was saloon
keeper in Louisville, KY. He migrated to
the Golden West. Two other saloonkeepers,
James C. Flood and John OBrien, went
with him. He became common miner in
Sierra County. He amassed some money
and went to Virginia City, New. Later
he lost all he had in the Ophir mine.
He went back to the pick and shovel again.
After varying fortunes he made his big
strike in the Bonanza territory. It was in
1874 that the tide began to turn entirely his
own way. The world was astonished by the
strike the firm made Mrs. Mackey has
lived Of late years mostly in London. She
was ambitious to shine in the social world.
Mackey is now worth about $50. 000. 900.