Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-09-23
Mayors Own Story Of His Sen
sdtions and Thoughts.
WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE
He Was Not Surprised When He Real
ICED He Was Shot, as He Had Ex-
pected to Be eAssauIted-Scores Vel
low Papers.

low Papers.
Mayor William J. Gaynor, in letter
to his sister, Miss Mary E. 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 OF
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 to see me off
Mr.. Montt, president of Chile, and
Mrs Montt had just passed by, and
had spoken few words with item.
Mr.. Adamson pointed out that the ship
was dressed with flags for me, but !
said | did not think it could be for
me.
MY next consciousness was of
terrible metallic roar in my head. 1t
filled my head, which seemed as
though it would burst open. 1t swelled
to the highest pitch, and then fell.
and then rose again. and SO alternated
until it subsidized into a continuous
buzz. 1t was sickening, but my stom-
ach did not give way. was mean
while entirely sightless,
Il do not think fell, for when l be
came conscious | was on my feet;
suppose they saved me from falling
and they were supporting me. My
sight returned, so that after while
could see the deck and the outlines OF
the crowd around me- | became con
scious that | was choking. Blood was
coming from my mouth, and tried all
| could to swallow it so those around
me would not see it.
But | found | could not swallow,
and then knew my throat was hurt.
1t seemed as though | was dislocated.
| struggled to breathe through my
mouth, but could not, and thought |
was dying of strangulation. l kept
thinking all the time the best thing
to do.
Near to the Infinite.
II was not n bit afraid to die if
that was Gods will of me. | said to
myself, Just as well now as a few
years from now No one who contem-
plates the immensity of Almighty God
and of his universe and his works. and
,,rha hn
can fear to die in this flesh, yes, even
though it We're true that he is to be
dissolved forever into the intnity of
matter substance and mind from which
he came.
"In some way | happened to close
my mouth tight and found | breathed
perfectly through my nose. | then be-
lieved | could keep from smothering.
But l kept choking and my mouth
kept opening to 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 to publicly
call on the grand jury and the district
attorney to protect me from it, but l
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
| am ready now to do my share to
that end. They are absolutely without
souls.
"If decent people would refuse to
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-
dation. The grossest railleries and
libels, instead of honest statements
and fair discussion. have gone on un.
checked &"