The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-25
JOHN W. NACKAY IS SHOT.
The Famous Bonanza King Mar
rowly Escapes Death.
HIS WOUND NAY BE SERIOUS.
sHis AssaiIant an Old Man Named w.
c. Rippey.
After Firing One Shot the would-Be
Murderer Places the Revolver TO
His Breast and Ends His Ex-
istence-The Details.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 24.-John W.
Mackay, the famous Bonanza mining
man and fnancier, was shot through the
back today by man named W. c. Rippey
.and narrowly escaped death. Rippey after
Hiring one shot at AIackay turned the re-
volver on himself and sent bullet
through his left breast, infictiEg wound
which will undoubtedly prove fatal at his
advanced age, he being over 20. So far
Mackay's wound is not serious and a
fatal termination is not looked for unless
lockjaw or blood poisoning should set
in.
The shooting occurred in the paved
court back of the Lick house, which runs
irom Suffer to Post streets, between
Montgomery and Kearney. 1t is the Gus
tom of Mackay to come about noon every
day to the iewelry store on the corner Of
Suffer street and Lick alley to compare
time, and Rippey laid in wait for him there
to-day.
! As Mackey reached the end of the alley
ffippey pulled a revolver and fired
one shot at the millionaire. He tn en-
turned the revolver on himself and fired
one shot as told above. He then started
after Mackay again trying to fire once
more. but was SO weak he couldn't pull
the trigger, and after few steps threw
UP his hands, eXciaimlng: my God, l
am satisfied, - and fell.
John Bonner, who is connected with a
florist store in the alley, was near at hand
when the shooting occurred and said to
Mackay who was looking about him:
why, Mr.. Mackay, you've been
shot
Mr.. Mackay responded: s'No, 1 don't
think So
But Bonner replied that he knew he
had as he had seen the dust fly when the
bullet struck his overcoat.
Mr.. Mackay then put his hand under his
coat and withdrew it covered with blood.
HE also began to experience pain and
Bonner took him IN a buggy to the Palace
hotel where he was assisted to his room
and surgeons summoned
Rippey was taken to the hospital where
an examination showed that the bullet
after entering the left breast had passed
through the body and cane out just below
the left shoulder blade. The patient was
20 years of age with white hair and close
cut white beard. A letter was found on
his person addressed to the EIGnlil1er
newspaper, reading as follows:
"Food for reflection. Paid one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for Sapphire to
q place on the iaded person Of his wife, a
sufficient amount to have saved 800 OF mis-
paupers from suicidal grave. just think
of it. Inseribe on his tomb"
Mr.. Mackey made the following state
ment: 81 was walking down Suffer
street bound for my room to pack my va
ise, as ] intended TO go TO Virginia City
this afternoon. When I reached Lick
alley I thought il would be q short cut to
the hotel. l had hardly taken two steps
Into Lick alley when l heard pistol shot.
/ paused for a moment rather startled,
L - fLe ell
when / entered it, and did not at first
know in what direction the report of the
pistol came.
Suddenly a voice exclaimed: Mr..
Mackey, you hare been shot, and look
ing up saw the gentleman who brought
) me to my room, Mr.. Bonner, on the other
side of the alley. No, am not re-
piled. Yes, You are, he insisted, sfor l
saw dust fly from your coat when the
bullet struck you. / put my hand around
under my coat and sure enough when |
looked at my hand it was covered with
blood. then felt pain in my back
st all happened in a second and turn
ing half way around, / saw my assailant
standing at the head of the alley with his
pistol pointed at me. I then hurried
across to the east side of the alley and as
did so / saw the old man put the pistol, as
/ thought, to his mouth and fire it again.
He then reeled and fell and | continued mp
the alley until l reached Mr. Bonner's
cart and he drove me to the Palace. -
When Mr.. Mackay was asked if he
knew the man who shot him he said: 81
never knew man named Rippi. had a
good look at the old man who shot me-
and / am certain l do not know him.
cannot give any reason for the assault. -
The doctors say the patient is not out of
danger until chances OF lockiaW and blood
poisoning are past. The bullet entered
The back below the right shoulder blade
end ranged slightly stewards
Rippey is well known to old timers in
sSan Francisco and was familiar figure
fround 122 Powell street, where he made
his home. People in the house and neign-
bors say he has been respondent of late,
bat said nothing about his affairs. One
friend of his said Rippey was born in Gin
cinnati and leaves wife and family
there.
At one time he was worth over 800, 000,
making about $50 600 on Comstock. He
came TO San Francisco and began gam
bling in stocks His money was soon
gone, and he then opened a cash grocery
store, but his venture failed. About four
years ago he conducted bar and dining
room on the steamer running between
this city and Stockton. Latterly the old
Z man was almost without means and very
despoEdent.
Mrs. Maekax kotifed