Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-25
A BONANZA KING SHOT
John w. Mackay Wounded by
a Mad Man.


Not Serious.
SAN Francisco, Feb. 25.-John W.
Mackay, the famous Bonanza mining
man and finaucier, was shot through the
back shortly after noon yesterday by a
man by the name of Patrick ]. Lynch,
an old State Senator, and narrowly es-
capped death.
Lynch, after firing one shot at Mackay,
shot himself through the left breast and
will die.
Owing to the great excitement, it was
some time after the shooting occurred
before the shooters name was ascer-
certained. 1t was Lynch instead of Rat
clitre or Dunn, as was reported soon after
the affair.
So far Mackey's wound is not serious,
and there is no danger of a fatal termina-
ton.
The shooting occurred in the paved
court back of the Lick House, which
runs from Suffer to Post streets, between
Montgomery and Kearney.
A white haired man was noticed walk
ing around Suffer street acting very
nervously during the early portion of
the morning, throwing his hand back
toward his hip pocket.
1t is the custom of John w. Mackay
to come about noon time every day to
the jewelry store Mt the corner Of Suffer
street and Lick alley to compare the time
of day, and he is always very prompt.
As Mackay reached the end of the alley
nearest Suffer street and few feet away
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 shot the would-be
murderer then supplemented his crime
by turning the pistol on himself firing
shot into his own body The self
inflicted wound was serious, but as long
as he could walk he followed Mackay up
trying to fire at him again, but he was
so weak that he could not pull the trig-
ger. He then threw up his hands, eX-
claiming: My God, l am satisfied ~
Mackay put his hand behind his back,
and some one raised his coat. As he
drew his hand out it was covered with
| blood. He exclaimed to one of his
| friends that the shot had taken effect in
the middle of his back.
Mackay WAS placed in buggy and
| taken to the Palace Hotel, whore medical
| attendance was rendered him.
His nssailant was taken to the City re-
| ceiving hospital.
John Bonner, who was an eye witness
| to the shooting, stated that probably the
only the only thing that saved Mr..
Mackay's life was the fact that wagon
| was in the street, and in crossing over
Mr.. Mackay got the vehicle between him
| self and the shooter.
Mr.. Macl Il AIDE the following state
ment:
| Il was walking down Suffer street
| bound for my room to pack my valise, as
l intended to go to Virginia City.
Il had hardly taken two steps into
! Lick alley when l heard pistol shot.
| paused for moment, rather startled,
] for | had not seen any one in the alley
when l entered it, and did not at first
| know from which direction the report of
| the pistol came.
| suddenly voice exclaimed, MIR.
| Mackay, you have been shot 7 and look
| ing up saw the gentleman who brought
| me to my room.
"'No, am not shot,, replied.
Ives you are, he insisted, for 1 saw
the dust fly from your coat when the
| bullet struck you
| Il put my hand around under my coat,
| and, sure enough, when looked my hand
was covered with blood l then felt pain
| in my back. Mr.. Bonner brought me to
| the hotel"
When Mr.. Mackay was asked if he
knew the man who had shot him, he
replied:
Il had good look at the old man
who s!.ot me and / am certain that
| never knew him. cannot give any
| reason for the assault
| Soon after being taken to the hotel
physicians extracted the bullet. 1t had
entered below the right shoulder blade
and, ranging slightly to the right, struck
the vertebre and lodged in one of the
spinous processes. The wound is not
l " fofo1 b,1t ba will NV
no means be out of danger for some time
| Richard V. Dey telegraphed Mrs Mac.
kay in London and to young Mr.. Mackay
that Mr.. Mackay had been shot, but thai
the wound was not considered dangerous
The would-be murderer was wei
known to old timers in San Francisco
and was a familiar figure. Everybody
knew him and considered him to be harm
| Less
The old man has been very despondent
| of late, and nearly all of his means ha!
been swallowed up in stock speculations
He was born in Cincinnati, and has
| wife and family there. At one time he
was worth over 100000, and made
| about $50, 900 on Comstock. He came tt
San Francisco and began gambling il
| stocks. His money soon began to go
and he has resortcd to different means t.
support himself.
Latterly he was almost without
means and was in n very desponden
frame of mind
Notwithstanding Mr.. Mackay's loss o
+, from $40, 900, 900 to $15, 100000 by tn
great wheat deal of 1887, he still rank
as ono of tho wealthiest men on tn
| Pacific coast. His fortune is rated a
from $50, 900, 600 to $50, 600, 900. He wa:
} at one time poor newsboy on Park row
| New York. He came from Ireland whel
a mere lad and of his early history yer.
] little is known. He early developed tn
taste of the wanderer and speculator ant
emigrated westward. A few years be
fore the discovery of gold he was a salool
keeper in Louisville. In 1915 he discov
cred the great Comstock lode and spranl
from poor prospector into fifty times a
, millionaire.
He is we'll known in the East as
, large stakeholder in the Mackay-Bennett
: Cable or Commercial Cable company.
Mrs. Mackay, who is well known OIL
account of her unsuccessful law suit
against persons who, she alleged, Sian
dered her, during late years has lived al
together in Paris, where she has move(
III in the most hrilliant Sociafy Of thnt onN