Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-03-05
ASSASSIN is BURNED.
Tragedy in Chair Factory at
Jefferson, Wis.
L. III. Smith the Intended Victim How
the Building was Fired.

Jefferson Wis, Feb. 29-This city
was in a mad whirl of excitement last
night caused by an attempt to assassin
ate L. M. Smith, secretary of the Wis
eonsin Manufa curing company, and the
burning of the building in which the
assassin took refuge and his probable
incarceration therein.
Mfr Smith entered the factory shortly
after z O'Clock last evening to make the
rounds to see that everything was all
right, was his invariable custom.
he was confronted by a man who, with
out saying word, pointed a revolver at
his head and fired. The shot took eff
feet over the eye and glanced under the
scalp, coming out across the forehead
fnstinctively the wounded man turned to
flee AS he ran out of the door the man
shot him again, the second shot taking
effect in his right shoulder. A third
shot was fired, but missed it's mark, and
the bullet was afterward found imbedded
in an adjoining building.
Mr.. Smith ran out into the street and
called for help. He soon became weak
from the loss of blood and was carried
by friends to the office near by OF DTS.
w. W. Reed and George NJ. Smith
These physicians found that the wound
on the forehead was not serious one
and began probing for the bullet in the
shoulder. Up to a late hour tonight
they were unable to locate it. DR.. Palm
or of GAINESVILLE was telephoned for and
Will assist the local physicians in caring
for the wounded man.
Searchers Fired Upon.
In the meantime the news of the at
tempted assassination had spread over
the city and large crowd gathered,
headed by Sheriff Shannon and his I'M
tiersherisf and Jail officials. SO sudden
had been the alarm that the man had 10
chance to get away. Lanterns were
secured and the sheriff and a party of
volunteers started through the building
armed with revolvers. They went
through the two lower floors without in
cident When they climbed the stairs
10 tho third floor, the upper one of the
building, they moved with extreme eau
ton, as they felt that the trail was get
ting hot.
As they reached the top Of the stairs
they were saluted with a fusilade of
shots from the attic. The bullets ripped
through the floor and battered about the
sseaJwilers in Il way that convinced them
thsa WAS $40 place for them just at the
tiaave slaa they beat hasty retreat. Aft
s-r going down floor they rallied and
were. about to make another attempt
Go reach the rutfian when the cry was
raised from the outside that the building
was set on fire. Jets of flame were
seen darting red tongues out through the
cracks in the building and faint clouds
of smoke We're beginning to curl up IN
the air.
The alarm of fire was sounded, but
before the engines could reach the scene
and get water OH the building it was a
mass of flames. Sharp eyes kept watch
20 see that the would-be assassin did
mot escape, but no one obtained the
least sign of him. and it is believed that
the man persisted in the flames. The
fire was communicated to the three adj
joining buildings of the plant. and they,
with the first building. were destroyed.
The loss will be about $4,000.
WouId-Be Assassin Unknown.
Who the man was that made this muir
t4erous attack cannot be conceived: 1t
Is Thought it was someone acquainted
with Mr.. Smiths habits. as from a pool
of tobacco juice found near the Chin
tleey when the searching party first went
M the building, it was evident that he
Mad been waiting for some time for
Mis- intended victim. Mr.. Smith can
give gln description of the man. as it was
ssso dark for him to see more than a
dim outline.
one could have escaped the hundreds
of eyes fixed Oh the building. There
are some. however, who think that in the
excitement OF the fire the woulti-be muir
sls.1rs escaped and took the 8 o'clock
arain north to Fort Atkinson. At $3.50
O'Clock last night horse was stolen
from the street in Fort Atkinson, and
;;sf the thief is discovered it is poSsi-
slfiit he will be found to be the one who
ssstteinpted to murder Mr.: Smith.
At last accounts MIR. smith was rest
EEg easy, and it is believed that his
wounds, though serious, are not fatal.