The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-10

y photographic examination of May .
y or Gaynors wound indicates that y
= the bullet is divided into two frag- =
= ments, occupying positions that do =
y not demand operative interference =
= at present"
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New York. August 9.-William j. Gay
nor, mayor of New York city, was shot in
the head and seriously wounded today as
he stood on the promenade deck of the
steamship Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse by
James ]. Gallagher, discharged and dis
gruntled city employe.
Gallagher was almost instantly over
powered and arrested.
The shot fired at 9:45 O'Clock this
morning, Is minutes before the Kaiser
Wilhelm der Groose was due to leave
her slip at the pier in Hoboken N. j.,
and the mayor was receiving Godspeed
farewells from a group of friends prepar-
atory to a vacation trip to Europe.
The bullet struck him back of the right
ear and ranged downward, infiicting a
dangerous though not necessarily fatal
wound.
Unless blood poisoning develops, sur
mayor, although at his age, which is 50
years, the, nature of the wound inflicted
is essentially grave.
Tonight the mayor is at ST. Marys
hospital in Hoboxen. He is surrounded
by specialists with members of his fam
fly near at hand, awaiting the outcome
with anxiety.
All early reports from the hospital were
hopeful in tone and this evening six x
ray negatives of the wound were taken to
facilitate an operation for the removal of
the bullet
Gallagher, the woud-be assassin, is
locked in a cell at Jersey City, held with
out bail. He expresses no remorse.
The big ocean liner was gay with flags
and ringing with shouted good-byes
whe nthe tragedy occurred.
Group Around the Mayor
Many of the persons who had been
aboard the ship to say farewell to friends
or relatives had gone ashore after the
greetings. A little group remained to
talk with the mayor. They were standing
on the port side of the vessel near the
promenade deck forward and were in the
act of posing for group photograph
when Gallagher. hitherto unnoticed,
pushed his way almost to the side of the
mayor and fired directly at his head.
Gallagher used .3S-calbre revolver,
and an examination later disclosed that
the first cartridge had missed fire. This
probably saved the mayors life, for Gal
lagher when he first pulled the trigger
was less than two feet away Backing
away slightly in his excitement he pulled
the trigger a second time and sent bull
let crashing into the mayors neck below
the ear.
William H. Edwards commissioner of
street cleaning and the former Princeton
football star, lllnged forward with his 800
pounds just as Robert Adamson, the may
or's secretary, struck Gallagher's arm. AS
he did so second shot pierced Edwards
sleeve. inficting slight flesh wound on
the commissioners right arm, which re-
mained undiscovered for hours because
Of the excitement
Assailnnt Knocked Down
Unmindful of his wound Edwards hit
the man crashing blow in the face and
they fell to the deck together, Gallagher
struggling with the strength of despera-
tion and pulling viciously at the trigger
in an attempt to fire another shot But
Edwards was too much for him. He
rained blows In Gallagher's now bleed
ing face, while Adamson and Archibald
\. Watson, corporation counsel for the
city, flung themselves on the struggling
two in an attempt to grasp the weapon.
When Mr. Watson had obtained pos,
continued bitter struggle about the deck,
Edwards now crying and shouting in his.
anger and excitement and Gallagher pant
ing as exhaustion began to grip his
limbs
When completely subdued in the former
football stars vice-like grip. pair of
steel nipper were slipped on his wrists
by q special officer aboard the ship and
he was rushed through a hOoting and
threatening crowd off the vessel into an
automobile and arraigned before Record
or McGovern of Hoboken.
Mayor Does Not Fall
During the struggle with the man who.
had attempted his life, Mayor Gaynor,
though badly wounded and bleeding from
the mouth and nose, did not lose con-
sciousness. The impact of the bullet did
not even throw him from his feet, but
he raised his hands to his ears and,
with his face contorted with pain. he
staggered in daze and leaned Imply
across the ships rail until Adamson came
to his assistance. Then some one drew
3 steamer chair to his side and into
this the mayor sank with relief. A
few minutes later he was taken to a
temporarily bandaged the wound, pre-
paratory to his removal to st. Marys
hospital. He was taken there in a spe-
61al automobile.
Rufus Gaynor. q son, was the only
member of the mayors family present
when he was shot, His wife and other
| children were at the Gaynor country
| place at st. James. Long Island. When
Mrs. Gaynor was notified by the tele-
| phone of the tragedy she made spec
| tacular run by automobile. accompanied
by her son Norman. crossed the Queens
horo bridge to Manhattan. sped across
nhe island to the Hudson river and was
kxav, IN 1Tfoholran in n polica nafroI hoat