The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-17
ROOSEVELT SHOT
Continued from page one

ing, although weak from loss of blood,
Col Roosevelts physician refused to
express an opinion whether the col
onels injury was serious until he had
examined the wound
The colonel felt no pain at the time
the shot was fired and was not aware
that he was shot until he was on the
way to the Auditorium. His attention
was then called to a pool in his over
coat and he found that his shirt was
soaked with blood. He insisted that
he was not hurt badly. A superficial
examination OF the wound was made
when he reached the Auditorium and
] three physicians agreed that he was
in no immediate danger.
MANUSCRIPT SAVES LIFE
Col. Roosevelt's life probably was
saved by manuscript of the speech
which he delivered The bullet struck
the manuscript, which retarded its
force as it passed through into the
flesh.
His assailant was prevented from
firing a second shot by Albert A. Mar
tin, one of Col. Roosevelts two secre-
taries. Col Roosevelt had just step
ped into an automobile, when the
wouldbe assassin pushed his way
through the crowd in the street and
fired Martin. who was standing in
the ear with Col. Roosevelt. leaped
onto the mans shoulders and bore him
to the ground.
Capt. A. o. Girard of Milwaukee,
who was on the front seat, jumped al
most at the same moment and in an
instant the man was overpowered and
disarmed wild cry of lynch him
went up. Col. Roosevelt spoke to the
people and told them to spare the
man who then was taken into the
hotel and held there until he was le-
moved to the police station.
In spite of the entreaties of physi-
clans, Col. Roosevelt insisted on de
livering his address.
II will make this speech or die, one
or the other" he said.
Henry F. Cochems, one of the Wis
consin Progressive leaders, told the
great crowd which had assembled in
the Auditorium that Col Roosevelt
had been shot and asked the people
to be calm.
CROWD IN PANIC
The crowd was thrown almost into
a panic by the announcement, but
Col. Roosevelt GAINED the people by
rising and assuring them that he was
not badly hurt. Then he began his
address. Several times he seemed to
be growing weak and members Of his
party rose to help him. He mo-
toned them to sit down. Let me
alone, I'm all right he said.
The shooting took place in the
street in front of the Hotel Fitzpatrick.
Roosevelt reached Milwaukee shortly
after o'clock and making his way
through the crowd which had gather
ed at the station, entered an automo-
bile and was driven to the hotel. He
took dinner in a private dining room
on the main floor with the members OF
the party on his private car.
After dinner Col. Roosevelt went to
his room on the second floor of the
hotel and shortly before s o'clock he
started for the Auditorium. His auto
mobile stood in front of the door and
about it was a big crowd, waiting to
catch a glimpse of the colonel as he
started of.
THE SHOOTING
With the colonel were Philip Roose-
welt, a young cousin, Mr.. Cochems,
Mr.. Martin and Capt. Girard. The
crowd pressed close about the colonel
and gave a cheer as he appeared, AS
the party approached the automobile
Col. Roosevelt's companions stood
aside and he stepped into the car.
Martin entered directly behind him
and sat on the further side of the car,
Col Roosevelt stood up waving his
hat in answer to the cheers of the
crowd. The assassin was standing in
the crowd few feet from the automo-
bile. He pushed his way TO the side
of the car and raising his gun fred
Martin caught the flash and leaped
over the car a second after the bullet
sped on its way Col Roosevelt bare
ly moved as the shot was fired Be
fore the crowd knew what had hap
pened, Martin, who is six feet tall and
a former football player, had landed
squarely on the assassin's shoulders
and had borne him to the ground
With his right arm about the mans
neck with a deathlike grip and with
his left arm seized the hand that held
the revolver. In another second he
had disarmed
Col Roosevelt stood calmly looking
on as though nothing had happened.
Martin picked the man up as though
he were a child and carried him the
few feet which separated them from
the car almost TO the side of the