New-York tribune., 1900-12-14
ONEKILLED, ONE WOUNDED
WORKMAN IN A FRENZY SHOOTS TWO
OF HIS FELLOWS.

HE ATTEMPTS TO DROWN HIMSELF. AFTER
SWAPPING HIS REVOLVER AT A POLICE
MAN-ILL FEELING AMONG THE MEN.
Without the slightest warning David Schrenk,
workman in the Sohmer piano factory in AS
toria, yesterday shot and killed a fellow work.
man and seriously wounded another Schrenk
had worked quietly and silently as usual until
noon, and then started to eat his luncheon
did six others at work in the same department
as he. He suddenly sprang from his bench and
shot and killed a man who worked little
further down the room. and then crossed the
room and fired at another man. Missing twice,
he hit him with the third shot Those who saw
him think he suddenly became insane.
The man who was killed was George Schaeffer,
the wounded one is George Becker. The latter
is now in st. Johns Hospital, in Long Island
City. His ante mortem statement has been
taken, as the bullet. which entered his arm, car
ried some of the clothing. and the doctors fear
blood poisoning.
Schrenk is locked up. His murderous frenzy
having passed. he now appears calm and ra-
tionaL He made an effort to drown himself
after emptying his revolver at his fellow work.
men. He pulled out of the water little the
worse for his plunge.
Schrenk Schaeffer. Becker and ten other men
worked on the fourth floor OF the Sohmer fac
tory. They were all Germans employed in max
Ing sounding boards. On one side OF the long
room in which they worked boards for grand
pianos are made, and the other side the
boards for the other grades. Becker is foreman
of the men making the grand boards. while a
man named Cook is foreman of the men the
other side Schrenk was at work Cooks
side of the room.
BECKER's STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
The clearest story Of what occurred is told by
Becker in his statement. He says that when the
whistle blew he and six others who live at
distance from the factory sat down TO their
benches to eat. The others went to their homes.
Becker could not see across to where Schrenk
and Schaeffer were, owing to a piece of
chinery. Becker had just got his luncheon
spread out when there was the sound of steps
on the side where Schrenk was. A moment later
there a shot, followed Immediately by the
sound of a heavy body falling. Becker at first
thought the shot was a sounding board splitting
in vice.
Becker was. still seated when Schrenk came
into view around the machine. He had a
volver in his hand and his lips moving, but
no sound was coming from them. AS he caught
sight of Becker Schrenk raised the revolver and
aimed it at him. Becker called out:
For Gods sake. be careful: don't point that
at met"
Schrenk did not reply except to fire two shots.
both of which missed. Becker jumped up and
held his bench in front of him as a shield.
Schrenk walked over to him and tried to wrench
the bench from Becker. Failing in this, he fired
at short range around it and the bullet odg9d
in Becker's left arm near the shoulder. Becker
fell 10 the floor. and he did so Schrenk looked
into the revolver and exclaimed. I've one shot
more" This he discharged at Becker. but the
shot did not take effect
SNAPS REVOLVER AT POLICEMAN.
schrenk then ran out OF the building and down
the stairs to the street. With the pistol still in
his hand he to the Boulevard and then into
Jamaica-ave. A short distance down the street
he met Patrolman C. ]. Gerrity, of the Seventy
fourth Precinct who was on his way to dinner.
The policeman tried to stop the man when he
saw the weapon but schrenk snapped the re-
volver in his face and the policeman. not know
ing that all the chambers had been discharged.
hesitated.
Schrenk threw the revolver away and con-
tinued his flight Gerrity followed. The man
to the waters edge and waded in He
went out until the water reached his neck. and
then began to swim. He tried to strike out
toward the centre of the East River, but the
tide was too much for him, and an eddy carried
him down stream and toward shore under pier
Gerrity and a boatman rowed out from the
shore and caught Schrenk as he went under the
pier.
He was taken back TO the factory and there
Becker identified him the who had shot
him.
A STORY ABOUT SCHRENK'S WIFE.
Becker and Schrenk had known each other for
thirteen years. They had worked together most
of that time. Both Of them also had known
schaeffer for several years All the men who
knew Schrenk say he was a steady workman
but not a fast one. Becker says that he had
not know his family and only conversed with
him about work.
There a story current in the factory yes
terday that Schrenk had accused the two men
he shot of making remarks derOgatOry TO his
wife Becker says this charge is untrue, as he
knew nothing of Schrenks wife. and never had
spoken about her In any way. Schaeffer is also
said not TO have known Mrs. Schrenk IL is
said that Schrenk and Schaeffer had not spoken
for some months. but the cause is not known.
Schrenk is ifty-one years old. He lived at
No. All East Sixty -fifth-st.. Manhattan. Becker
is ifty-eight years old and lives at No 21S Elm
st, Astoria Schaeffer lived with his family in
Wilbur-st-, Dutch Kills. When Long Island
City was absorbed by New York he made
a foreman in the Department of Sewers but
soon resigned and returned to his trade.
Schrenk was taken 70 the Seventy fourth Pre-
cinct station. There while awaiting the for
malities he drew pipe out of his pocket and
began TO smoke He did not appear greatly in
terested In the proceedings. The police would
He was taken before Magistrate COnnOrtOn as
as possible. and by him formally commit |
ted to await the action Of the Coroner.
PROFESSOR 1NDREE'S WILL HELD BACK.
Copenhagen. Dec 13-The brother of Professor
Andree. the missing Arctic explorer. who attempt
ed TO reach the North Pole in balloon resides at