Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-24
HOW GAYNOR
FELT WHEN SHOT
Mayors Own Story Of His Sen
saflOnS and Thoughts.
WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE

He Was Not Surprised When He Real
lied He Was Shot, as He Had Ex-
Pected to Be Assaulted-Seores Vel
low Papers.
Mayor William J. Gaynor, In a letter
to his sister, Miss Mary f. Gaynor. OF
Utica, n. Y, which is printed in the
New York Evening Post, tells in an
interesting manner of his impressions
at the time he was shot on the steam
ship Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse.
The mayor says that he has not
read line of what has been publish
ed of the shooting, nor does he now
remember the name of the man who
shot him. Going over the incident o.
the shooting. Mayor Gaynor wrote:
Il was standing on the deck talk.
ing with Commissioners Thompson
Lederle. Edwards. the corporation
counsel. Mr. Watson; my secretary
Robert Adamson. and several friends
who had come aboard 10 see me on
Mr.. Mont, president of Chile. and
Mrs Mont had just passed by. and
Mr.. Adamson pointed out that the ship
was dressed with flags for me. but
said | did not think il could be for
me.
My next consciousness was Of q
terrible metallic roar in my head. II
filed my head, which seemed as
though Il would burst open. II swelled
TO the highest pitch. and then fell,
and then rose again. and so alternated
until IL subsidized into a continuous
buzz il was sickening. but my stom
ach did not give way. l was mean
while entirely sightless.
Il do not think fell. for when be
came conscious was on my feet: ]
suppose they saved me from falling
and they we're supporting me. Ny
sight returned. so that after a while
could see the deck and the outlines OF
the crowd around me. I became con
scious that I was choking Blood was
coming from my mouth. and tried al
l could 10 swallow IL so those around
me would not see IL.
But / found I could not swallow
and then I knew my throat was hurt
Il seemed as though / was dislocated
l struggled 10 breathe through my
mouth, but could not. and thought
was dying of stranEulation. 7 kept
thinking ali the time the best thing
10 do.
Near TO the Infinite.
Il was not a bit afraid TO die Il
that was Gods will OF me. I said &C
myself. Just as we'll now as few
years from now No one who contem.
plates the immensely Of Almighty God
and OF his universe and his works. and
realizes what an atom he is in Ii all
can fear TO die in this flesh. yes. even
though il were true that he is 70 be
dissolved forever into the inhnity OF
matter substance and mind from which
he came
In some way | happened 20 close
my mouth tight and found I breathed
perfectly through my nose. / then be
leved I could keep from smothering
But / kept choking and my mouth
kept opening 70 cast out the blood
Mayor Gaynor in the letter scored
certain newspapers for the manner In
which they had attacked him, say
ing:
such journalism Is. Of course, in
absolute defiance OF the criminal law
and It did enter my mind 20 publicly
call on the grand jury and the district
attorney TO protect me from it. but
was weak and feared people would say
/ was thin-skinned. But the time is at
hand when these journalistic scoun
drels have got TO stop or get out. and
I am ready now 20 do my share &c
that end. They are absolutely without
souls
If decent people would refuse &c
look at such newspapers the thing
would right itself at once. The jour
nalism OF New York city has been
dragged to the lowest depths of degre
dalton. The grossest railleries and
libels, instead OF honest statements
and fair discussion, have gone on IN
checked"