The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-15
BONANZA MACKAY SHOT.
His Crank Assatlant Then Fatally
Wounds Himself.

His Crank Assailant Then Fatally
Wounds Himself.
John W. Mackay, the famous mining man
and fuancier, was shot in the back just afte:
noon at San Francisco, CAL, by William
C. Rippi, and narrowly escaped death.
kippi, after firing one shot at
Mackay, shot himself through the
left breast, inflicting q fatal wound.
The shooting occurred in the paved court
back OF the Lick House, which runs from
Sutter to Post strests, between Montgomery
and Kearney. A white-haired man was
noticed walking around Sutter street acting
very nergously during the early por.
ton Of the morning, throwing nus hand
back toward his hip pocket. 1t Is toe Gus.
tom of John w. Mackay to go about
noon time every day to the js @elry store at
sutton street and Lick Alley to compare
the time OF day, and he is always prompt.
As Mackay reached the end OF the alley
nearest Sutter street, and a few feet from
where the old man was standing. the latter
pulled out his revolver aud fired ont shot.
The bullet struck Mackay in the middle or
the back. After firing, the would-be mur.
derer turned the pistol on himself, and hred
bullet into his own ooiy. The self lndic ied
wound was serious, buG as long as hs could
walk he followed Mackay, trying to fire at
him again, but he was 80 weak he could not
pulI the trigger. He then threw up his aauds,
exclaiming: my God, I am satlstiedg'
Mackay put his hand behind his back and
some one raised his coat. As he draw his
hand out it was covered with blood, and he
told q friend where the ball had taken
effect. Msckay was placed in buggy and
taken to the Palace Hotel, where he received
medical attention. Mackay's assailant
was taken to the City Receiving Hospital.
The murderous crank, Rpp, was born In
family there. At one time he was worth
over $780, 900, and made about $50, ,Oc0 on
Comstock. He came TO San Francisco and
began gambling in stocks. His money soon
began to go. Having been crazed on the
subject OF stocks, he had an imaginary
grievance against the BonanzI King AMI
tried to kill him.
John w. Mackay was born in Dl bin, Irs-
land, and came to New York iu his early
youth. He was one time shiveriny news
noy on Park Row.. In 1845 be reachei the
State of California; wnere he anassed
his colossal fortune. He was one
Of the four men woo made the %.
nanzs frm-Mackay, Flooi, OBrien &
Fair-and become one of the financial pow
ers Of the Pacific Coast. he owned four
fifths OF that firms property, and is known
as the Bonanza King. Tbs foundation OF
his wealth came from the discovery o. the
great wealth OF the Comstock lode, whicI
Welded $111 1,0OU.0 100. At one tint
his income from his mines wa
put dowa at SS00.Oo0 a month
Hi, whole life has been a romance such as
was possible perhaps IN no otner country
on the globe. A few years before ths dis.
covery OF gold in California he was saloon
keeper in Louisville. KY. He migratsl to
the Golden West. Two other saioonkeepers
James &. Fool an Jonn U Brisn, went
with him. He becaule comMon miner In
Sierra County. he amasssd so ne money
and went to Virginia City. New. Later
be lost all he had in the OJhir mime.
He went back to the PICK AMI shovel again.
After varying fortunes no made his big
strike in the Bonanza territory. 1t was IN
1874 that the tide began to turn entirely bis
own WAY. The world was astonished by the
strike the hrm made. Mrs. MacSey has
lived of late years mostly in London. She
was ambitious to shine ID the social world.
Macksy is now worth about s5J, 000 600.
AsANp OF conscripts began rioting in the
streets OF Ghent Belgium, and put to flight
ten gendarmes who tried to restore order. A
force Of fifty gendarmes eventually attacked
them and hot fight followed. The gen.
darmes charged with drawn sabres re-
neatedly, but were driven back until fifteen
ronscriprs had been wounded and twelve
had been captured. The rest OF the con-
scripts fed. Four gendarmes were injured.