The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-25
John W. Mackay, the Bonanza King,
Seriously Wounded at San Francisco.
Shot by ". G. Rippey. an Old Gray-Headed
Man, Who Fired Ball Into His Own
Head After the Attempted Murder.
Mr. Mackay's Wound in the Back
Pr0bed and the Bullet Extracted.
The Would-Be Assassin Described as Harm
disappearing Old Man, Who Lost q
Fortune Specializing in Stocks.
"BONAN IA" MACKAY sHOT.
Bullet Fired Into the Back Of the San Fra
cisco millionaire by Crank.

"BONANZA" MACKAY SHOT.
Bullet Fired Into the Back of the San Fran
cisco Millionaire by Crank.
SAN Francisco. Feb. "a. - John w.
Macksy, the famous Bonanza mining man
and financier. was shot through the back
shortly after noon to-day by a man giving
the name of w. c. Rippey. and narrowly es-
capped death. Rippey. after firing one shot
at Mackay. shot himself through the left
breast, and will die. So far Mackay's
wound Is not serious, and there is no dan
ger of a fatal termination.
The shooting occurred in the paved court
back of the Lick House, which runs from
Sutter TO Post street, between Montgomery
and Kearney. A white haired man was
noticed walking around Sutter street, act
ing very nervously. Curing the early portion
of the morning and throwing his hand back
toward his hip pocket. 1t is the custum of
John w. Mackay to come about noontime
every day to the jewelry store at the corner
of Sutter 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 Sutter street, and few feet
away from where the old man was stand
ing. the latter pulled out his revolver and
fired one shot. The bullet struck Mackay
in the middle of the back. After firing the
shot the would-be murderer then supple
mented his crime by turning the pistol on
himself and firing shot into his own
body. The self-inlcted wound was
serious, but as long as be could walk he
followed Maokay MP, trying to fire Mt him
again. but he was SO weak that he could
not pull the trigger. He then threw up his
hands. exolaiming: My God, am sat
isfedp'
Mackay put his hand behind his back
and some one raised his coat. As he drew
his hand out 1T was covered with blood and
he exclaimed to one of his friends that the
shot had taken effect in the middle of his
back. Mackay was placed In q buggy and
taken to the Palace Hotel. where medical
attendance was rendered him. Mackay's
assaiiant was taken to the City Receiving
Hospital.
STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.
John Bonner, who is connected with
forIst's store on Lick alley, was an eye
witness of the shooting. He assisted Mr..
Mackay TO his buggy and drove him Co che
Palace Hotel. 81 had Just got out of
my buggy" said Mr. Bonner. land was
about to 60 into my Office when heard q
loud report. Looking down the elley
toward Sutter street. l saw man with q
white sIouch hat and gray clothes, cropped.
but rather struggling beard, holding O
smoking revolver in his hand. He was
roughly dressed. short distance from
h,,, ,r,sp faIx
recognized. He had his right hand to his
back, a little above the kidneys. He WAS
perfectly COOL and walked toward where
was standing as II ObllviOus to the fact
that his would- be murderer was standing
close behind him with pistol leveled at
him.
ut all happened like flash. The rough
looking man did not fire at his Intended
victim again. but turning the weapon
about pointed 1t at his own breast and
fired. He whirled about in the street and
fell to the pavement. Probably the only
the fact that wagon was in the
street and in crossing over Mr. Mackay got
the vehicle between himself and the
shooter. AS Mr.. Mackey approached me l
went forward and asked him to get into
my buggy. He complied. and. jumping IN
after HIM. l asked him If he was hurt. He
drew his hand from behind his back and it
was covered with blood. He looked cheer
but said that perhaps ] had better drive TO
DR.. Kenney's Office. We went there. but
there was no one in. so l drove TO the Pal
ace Hotel and assisted the millionaire up
TO mis- room on the irst floor At his re-
quest / then went for his secretary, Rich
ard Dey. The latter and | then again
went to the doctors Office, but Dr. Kenney
was still absent. Returning to the Palace
Hotel we found Mr.. Mackey standing in
his room. having been examined by q sur
In m
Dey, Mr. Macksy said that he was all
right. and that he had not been SO very
badly hurt"
THE ASSASSIN AND sELF-MURDERER.
The old man who did the shooting was
taken to the receiving hospital In a patrol
wagon. The man was conscious but could
not artculate. The patient was placed on
the operating table, when blood was seen
to ooze through his clothing about the
upper portion of his body. Further ex-
animation revealed that the bullet had en-
tered his left breast, passed through the
trunk and come out below the left shoulder
blade. The bullet was found just under the
skin. The patient was apparently about
seventy years OF age. with white hair and
close-cut white beard. In his pantaloons
left-hand pocket was found a 4S-caliber re-
volver of the bulldog pattern and all the
cartridges intact. Also in his pocket was a
purse containing 20 cents, an envelope con-
tanning paper oD which was written ID.
T.. /. X. Linton La Palace Hotel. End not
yet"
letter addressed to the Examiner resd
follows: Food for reflection. Paid
$4,000 tor sapphire TO place on the jaded
person of his wife. A sufficient am cunt TO
have saved five hundred of his paupers
from suicidal grave. just think of ii.
lnscribe it on his tomb"
Mackay was about the coolest man In
San Francisco. After being examined by
the surgeon he walked about his apart
ments, talking with his friends He said
he did not know the man who shot him, or
why he did ii. He supposed he was some
crank. Mr.. Macksy said he was going in to
Jewelry storee TO compare his watch with
the chronometer. when be heard the re-
port and felt the sting of a bullet in his
back. He turned and saw the white-haIred
man. whom he failed TO recognize. with n
revolver pointed at HIM. As he walk ed
ont into the stand the man turned the
weapon on his own breast. fired and fell TO
the ground.
Not since the shooting of Judge Terry, at
Lathrop by United States Deputy Marsh al
Nagle. four years ago. has there been such
intense excitement In San Francisco. 1t
was at noon, and thousands of people were
on the streets in the business quarter
where the shooting occurred. They crowd
ed to the scone of the tragedy. and the mar
row alley-way was soon black with curious
sight-seers. Mr.. Mackay Is so we'll known
In San Francisco that those who saw the