The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-25
BONANZA KING SHOT.
John w. Mackay Wounded by q
Dependent Old Man.
SUICIDE OF THE ASSASSIN.
A MONDAY Tragedy In San Francisco
The AGillioaaire Nay Rscover-Ars.
Aaeksy Hears the News.


The Mfllioaaire Nay Rscover-Ars.
Aasksy Hears the News.
San FRANcrsco. Feb. Aust . few
minutes after the bells and whistles in the
business portion of the city had announced
the noon hour today, and when the down
town streets were crowded with hurry.
ing men and women on their way
to luncheon, tragedy occurred
near the principal center of local COM
merce. John w. Mackay. the bonanzs
king whose millions have made his name
known all over the world, was shot and Sc
vsrsly wounded by Wesley Childs Rippey,
an old man who was craxed BY having
lost the fortune he once possessed. There
seemed to be no motive for the assault ex-
cept that his vould-be assassin had deter
mined to commit suicide, and had
made up his mind to die in
company with one who had been
luckier than he in dealing with mining
securities. Mr.. Mackay was wounded by
. bullet in the back, between the
sixth and seventh ribs. This, two
hours after the shooting, Was extracted.
and he is resting easily. His
physicians express every hope that no In
tiammation will occur, in which case
there will hardly be any danger of serious
results.
Rippey, who after firing the shot which
he hoped would kill Mackay, turned the
pistols muzzle against himself. pulled
the trigger. and now lies MORALLY
wounded in the receiving hospital with
hardly any possibility of recovery.
Were it not for the fact that every circum-
stance connected with the case shows that
the shooting Was the act of a madman, the
attack would 60 on record as the most
cowardly deed. because with pistol
in hand Rippey lay in wait for his
intended victim until he saw him
walking from Suffer street into
Lick alley, a small thoroughfare in the
rear of the Lick house, and then he fol-
lowed him stealthily as far a. about the
middle OF the alley, where he suddenly
and without word of warning deliberately
shot him from behind.
It being the noon hour, the streets were
crowded and the news of the shooting
spread with great rapidity. At first it was
reported that both Mackay and his assail-
ant were dead, and crowds rushed to the
scene of the shooting. The coroner was
telephoned to and the morgue wagon came
after the bodies. But in the meantime
Mackay had disappeared and Rippey. al
though lying motionless on the pavement.
was not dead, and was taken to the re-
ceiving hospital in the patrol wagon.
Groups of excited stock brokers and
merchants gathered about and discussed
Mackay's career and the supposed cause OF
the shooting. 1t was generally thought
Rippey was some old mining man who
fancied himself injured by Mackay. No
similar sensation and excitement has been
caused in this city since Judge Terry was
shot at Lathrop by Deputy Marshal Maggie
four years ago.
Mr.. Mackay after being shot went to his
room in tho Palace hotel. To reporter
he said that he had never seen the man
why he did il. Mackay wss very cool and
Continuing, he said;
was about to leave for Virginia City, New,
this evening, and was on my way to the hotel.
walked up Suffer street TO Lick alley to avoid
the crowd. Al entered the alley . man jumped
out behind me from . doorway, and shot me in
the back. He then put the pistol to his own
breast and fred one shot I knew l was in
jured. but did not know how badly. After the
man fell to the ground walked to the hotel
and told the people was shot and waited fol
doctor.
The surgeons who examined Mackay
have not yet located the bullet. Mackav
is wounded midway between the shoulder
blades and. when seen, did not seem to be
suffering much pain. The name OF the
man who did the shooting was given a,
the receiving hospital as w. G. Rippey. II
is not yet known whether that is his real
name. 1t was first reported that his
name was Radcliffe and subsequently that
it was Dunn.
The attempt on the life Of Mackay was
deliberate and premeditated. 1t was
known that Mackay usually appeared on
the street in that vicinity soon after the
noon hour when in San Francisco, and
the old man was there awaiting him.
After shooting himself he exclaimed
MY God, am satisfied !" and fell on the
paved court. When driven to the recelv.
ing hospital he was nearly unconscious
He was shot through the left breast. The
bullet went clear through the body and
there was no hope Of his recovery. In his
pocket was found letter addressed to the
Examiner. 1t was headed, Food for re.
tiection," and read:
Mackay paid $4,000 for one sapphire to place
on the jaded person of his wife, sum suiiicien,
to save at least 500 of his paupers from q sui
cidal grave. Just think of It Inscribe it on
mis- tomb. ". c. RIPPRY.
Another letter was directed to Dr. J. l.
Linton, Palace hotel. On Rippey's body
was found a loaded revolver which had not
been fired. showing that he had two pis
tolls. and was prepared to make sure
work Of it. John Bonner, who is con.
nected with Hale & Co., florists, on Lich
place, came nearer than any one to being
an eye witness to the shooting. He as
sisted Mackay to his buggy and drove the
millionaire to his room at the Palace hotel
Mr.. Bonner says:
had just stepped ont OF my buggy and wa,
about to go into my Office when heard louc
report Looking down the alley toward Suite,
street. saw man with white SLOUGH hat anc
a gray, close-cropped but rather Struggling
beard. holding smoking revolver in hi.
right hand. He was roughly dressed. A shor
distance from him was Mr.. Mackay, whom
Immediately recognized. He had his rig hit hanc
on his bacx q little above the kidneys He wa,
perfectly cool. and walked toward where wal
standing If ob.iyious Of the fac. that hii
woula-te murderer was standing close behind
him with the pistol ieveled at him. /. all har,
peued ike fash. The rough looking mar
did not trc "a. his intended victim again
but, turning the weapon about, pointed il
at ais ow a heart and fired. Hs whirlec abou
in the street like a iee-to-tum and fell to tn.
ground. Probably the only thing that saved
Mr. Mackays lie was the fact that Duffy Bros
wagon was in the street, anu IN crossing oye
Mackay got the vehicle between himself ana