New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-25


(From an engraving in "Munscy's Masallne.D
The details of the shooting are peculiar but
they show plainly the careful preparations made
BIZ the assassin and his accurate knowledge OF
Mr. Mackay's habits Rppcy. who has been
noticed for several days TO be in highly excited
condition, yesterday informed several friends
that he proposed this time to SEQ Mr.. Mackay
ond that the latter would do we'll not to put him
OF any longer His talk was regarded as idle
chatter, for lie il a seedy. playe1i-out old stock
gambler who never lad any personal relations
with any Of the bonanza millionalres.
Rippey, the assassin, who lies unconscious at the
Receiving Hospital lived at No l,220 Powell-st
in cheap lodgings He left his home about
oclocl, this morning and went downtown. lie
returned an hour later in dcspondcnt moo"
and the neighbors say that as he passed down
Powell-st he was tearing at his handk"rcllet
with hi- tecth and appeared to he much wicked
I'M over something. lie remained In his room
obont two hours and then started of downtown.
The chances are that the intervening time was
spent in putting his effects in order ard getting
ready for the deed he contemplated From the
pcopc in the house it was learned that ia" Ola
man had been very dcspondcnt Of late and that
ncarly all his means had been swallowed up IN
stock speculation.
IN Snftcr-st, and when Mr. MacIay came down
! ,,u.,,c,r az sarucd into Lick Place, narrow
allie, ! the rear NJ the hotel which rms through
from Suffer 10 Post SITS, Rippcy followed HIM
Those near by raid 40 attention tO the two men,
as ,lr allcv is short cut between th" two streets
and il much favored by pedestrians when IN" sun
is hot. IA il il always shady. y moment after
they heard thrc, shots fred in rapid 'ucccSHioh'
and when the smoke lifted the old man. with II
pistol in his hand. was lying On IA" pavement,
while Mackey stood Il few PAGES beyond iooN-
ing at him curiousy. One Of the "N'-wlthe,H's
noticed smoke from the back Of Mr. Mackay
coat and called his attention 10 il, and TINS was
the first ntimation the millionaire had that l'
had been hit One bullet. the first. had hit
him sauarcy in the back the second missed hin'
owing 20 his great presence Of mind IN stepping
70 one side tho moment he heard the first shot
The third shot was directed by the OLD crank
toward his own breast and will prove fatal.
Mr.. Mackay was promptly removed to tho Palace
Hotel where Dr. j. r. Morse one of the most
skilful surgeons in San Francisco, extracted the
bullet assisted by DR.. kc"ncy. The bullet en-
tered TO the right of the spinal column, missing
il by only onctwclfh Of an inch. linen II
turncd toward the right side. plongling through
the hard flesh, and inllcting an ugly ana pal''lul
wound, but, luckily, not coming IN coh'a.o WIZ"
any vital organs. IL struck no bon", ahd' wien
eytractcd il showed sign Of use, not even
hearing dent Had il struck the back the wldth
OF pencil point toward the left. death or paralysis
would have been inevitable As 1t Is OF couiSe'
inflammation may So. in and lead 10 dangerous
conscaucnccs but the do"tofs are hopeful mat all
will be well. as Mr. NacI,ay ic>h is "a hard "a
an athletes, and his wcl,-@nown temperance III
eating and drinking will stand him in good Stead.
a, thn
nI vas walking down Sutter-st bound tor my
room IN nack my valisc, as | intended to 90 -
V;roinia CITY this afternoon. When ! r'ach'a
ricl, Allcy | thought il would he short cnt
IN tho hotel. | had hardly taken two steps INT"
I;c, Alley when | heard pistol shot paused
far q moment. rather startled, for had not seen
any one in the alley when | entered 1t. ana dii
not at first know from which direction the report
of the pistol came. Suddenly voice exclaimed
Mr. Mackay, YOU have been shot, and iooNiHS
-, so,y the gentleman who brought me to my
room.
No. I am not shot replied
Yes yon are he insisted. for saw tho
dust fly from your coat when the bullet STRUCK
you
sure enough, when looked, my hand was COW
orod with blood | then felt pain in my back.
I, all happened in second. and turning half
,ov around I saw my assailant standing at the
bc,d Of the alley with his pistol pointed at
mo I then hurried across 10 the east side OF
tho alley and as | did 80 | saw the old man
nut a pistol "a | thought. To his mouth and
srs n again. He then reelcd and fell, and |
continued up the alley until we reached Mr.
Ronner's cart, and he drove me to the Palace
Hotel"
When Mr. Mackay asked II he knew the
man who had shot him, he said: never knew Of
a mag named Rippey / had good look at the
old man who shot me. and | am certain do
not know him. ! cannot give any reason for
the ASSAULT
Ronner who is connected with florists store
n, lick Alley was an eyewitness OF the shooting.
He assisted Mr. Mackay 10 his buggy and re-
moved him 10 the Palace Hotel
~ had Just got out of my buggy said Mr.
Bonner "nnd was about TO go into my Office
when heard a loud report. Looking down the
ollcy toward Sutter-st.. saw man with white
slouch hat and gray clothes, cropped but rather
struggling beard, holding smoking revolver IN
his right hand. He was roughly dressed. y
short distance from him was Mr.. Mackay, whom
Immediately recognized He had his right
hand to his back, little above the kidneys lie
was perfectly cool and he walked toward where
was standing oblivious to the fact that his