Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-11-07
COL. JAMES MCKAY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
DIES ON SATURDAY.
The Bullet Which Took His Life Intended
for Senator James Wright.

Last Thursday afternoon, November
I'd, 1905, at Minocqua, occurred an
accident which caused the death of one
of the most popular as well as efficient
officials of the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul Ry Co.-Col. James A. Mckay,
chief official scaler for that company
Not only was he popular official, but
from Milwaukee to Ashland and from
New Lisbon to Star Lake, along the
lines of the st. Paul road, which was
the territory in which he worked, he was
known, respected and beloved by thou
sands, and especially was this the case
in WauSau where he had lived and
which had been his home for the past
eight years.
Mr. Mckay left his home in Wausau
that same morning in exceedingly good
spirits, going to Minocqua, which place
he reached between twelve and one
O'Clock and proceeded to attend to the
details of the business which called
him there. About two o'clock, or
shortly after, at the Minocqua House,
Senator James A. Wright, president of
the III. w. Wright Lumber company,
of Merrill, and Marshall w. Lloyd,
timber estimator of the Land, Log and
Lumber company, of Milwaukee, be-
came involved in an alteration. 1t
seems that Lloyd is strong drinker,
grutf in his ways, quick to take offense.
and of an unforgiving nature. He had
not liked Mr.. Wright for some time
and having indulged more freely in
liquor than usual, took occasion at the
time mentioned, to say some very
harsh things of certain of the Senator's s
friends to which the latter mildly
demonstrated; Lloyd then made state
ments concerning Mr.. Wright's father,
deceased, which Mr.. Wright denounced
as unmitigated falsehoods, and there
would have been trouble at that time if
the bystanders had not interfered. Two
hours afterwards, Messrs. James
Wright, Frank Rogers, j. j. Kiely and
James Mckay, sat down to a friendly
game OF cards to pass away the time
until the arrival of the train which was
due at 5:l5 O'Clock. Lloyd came into
the hotel and asked for Wright, at the
same time stating that he would soon
be in hotter place than this. He
walked into the card room and stand
ing back of Kiely, who sat opposite
Wright, demanded of the latter that he
take back what he had said. This was
refused and Lloyd pulled a revolver
ltOiI hlo ROOhCD Ihb POlhICo II
Wright, who quickly reached across the
table and caught the barrel of the
weapon and turned it aside. AS he
did so the revolver was discharged the
bullet entering Mr.. McKay's abdomen
on the right side, passing through his
stomach, piercing the intestines five
times and lodging in the skin on the
left side. Mr.. Mckay jumped up and
putting his hand TO his side said, boys,
he has caught me, Pm shot" Mr..
Kiely who was close to Lloyd took his
gun away from him though he made a
desperate effort to get shot at Mr..
Wright. Notwithstanding the serious
ness of Mr.. McKays wound, ne walked
up stairs to room and was put to bed
and a physician called, who did what
he could to relieve his sufferings.
A special train was started out from
Merrill as soon as possible with Drs.
Walsh, Monroe and Hinckly on b3ard
and DR.. Rosenberg was SUNNI 4Aed
from Arbor Vitae.
Another special was sent out from
Wausau, leaving at $50 o'clock. which
took Mrs Mckay to the bedside of her
dying husband, and she was accompan-
led by Train Dispatcher, Z. B. Corn
wall. They arrived in Minocqua at
7:59, having made the run of 70
miles in one hour and thirty
minutes, deducting time for stops.
Mrs. Mckay was alone with her
husband for an hour or more before the
doctors were ready for the operation
which they performed, the work not
being concluded until after midnight.
The patient stood the ordeal excellently,
considering his condition, and regained
consciousness. There was no hope held
out by the physicians for his recovery,
he realized, also, that his life was fast
ebbing away, so most of the time he
spent in speaking words of cheer and
comfort to his wife.
Knowing that Colonel McKay's death
was only a question of hours, the fol-
lowing named friends went up on the
Friday morning train Mr.. and Mrs.
James McCrossen, Mrs. Hart, wife of p
G. Hart, division superintendent of the
st. Paul R'y Co.; Rev. b. B. Gibbs,
pastor of the Universalist church; Reid
Goodrich, agent of the c., M. 81 St. p.
road for this city, and K. B. Thayer,
representing the Masonic fraternity.
The train was an hour late when
learned that Col. Mckay had died at
prominence at every station along the
road and expressions of deep sorrow
were heard on every hand At Minoc-
qua, nothing else was talked of and it
seemed as if deceased was the personal
friend of nearly everybody in that
town. Owing to the positions which
each held, Messrs. Mckay and Lloyd
were often thrown together on matters
of business and they were very warm
friends. The latter's home is in
Minocqua, and is presided over by two
unmarried daughters and in this home,
also, was great sorrow. Lloyd is man
about rs years of age. After the shoot
ing he was taken in custody by an
officer of the town and locked up f; later