The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-03
JOHN w. MACKAY
The Millionaire Waylaid and
Shot at San Francisco.
The Assassin Supplements the Deed by
Shooting Himself.
W. c. Kippey, an Unsuccessful Spectator
Does the shooting-Rippey a Former
Cineinnatiao--Nr. Mackay's Wound
Not Serious But. Bippey VIII Die.

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 26.-John w.
Mackay, the famous bonanza mining
man and financier, was shot in the
back, shortly afternoon Friday, by a
man giving the name of w. c. Rippey,
and narrowly escaped 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 danger of fatal ter
mination. The shooting occurred in the
paved court back of the Lick house,
which runs from Suffer to Post streets.
between Montgomery and Kearney. A
white-haired man was noticed walking
around Suffer street, acting very nerv-
ously, during the early portion Of the
morning, throwing his hand back to-
ward his hip pocket.
1t is the custom of John w. Mackay
to come out about noontime every day
TO the jewelry store at the corner of
Suffer 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 Suffer street, and
few feet away from where the old
man was standing, the latter pulled out
his revolver, and fred one shot The
bullet struck Mackay in the middle of
the back After firing the shot the
would-be murderer supplemented his
crime by turning the pistol on himself
and firing q shot into his own body.
The self-inflicted wound was serious
but as long as he could walk he fol-
lowed Mackey up, trying to fire again,
but he was SO weak he could not pull
the trigger. He then threw up his
hands, exclaiming: MY God, l am sat
isfied"
Mackay put his hand behind his back,
and some one raised his coat. AS he
drew his hand out it was covered with
blood, and he exclaimed to one of his
friend that the shot had taken effect in
the middle of his back. Mackay was
placed in buggy and taken to the
Palace hotel, where medical attendance
was rendered him. Macl1ay's assailant
was taken to the city receiving hospital.
The old man who did the shooting
was taken to the receiving hospital in a
patrol-wagon. The man was conscious,
but could not articulate. 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 elimination re-
vealed that the bullet had entered
his left breast, passed through the
trunk and come out just below the
left shoulderblade. 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 4S-caliber revolver
of the bulldog pattern, and all the
cartridges intact Also in his pocket
was purse containing twenty cents,
also an envelope containing paper, on
which was written: sd E. l. Linton,
La Place Hotel-End not yet" A letter
addressed to the Examiner read as fol-
lows: Food for reelection. Paid $780,
900 for a sapphire to place on the jaded
person of his wife. A sufficient amount
to have saved five hundred of his pau
pers from a suicidal grave just think
of it. Inscribe it on his tomb"
VIM. c, Rippey was born in Cincin-
matt, and leaves wife and family
there. At one time he was worth over
500, 900, and made about $50, 600 on
ComstocS He came to San Francisco
and began gambling in stocks. His
money soon began to go, and then he
opened a cash grocery store on Fourth
street. That venture failed and about
four years ago he was running a bar
and dining-room on the steamer Mary
Garrett, which plies between San Fran
cisco and Stockton. At one time he
lived in Denver, and owned quite lot
of property but it also went in his
stock speculatons.