The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-19


  Chicago October 1S.--The vivid i'm pressions of Colonel Roosevelt when he was shot in Milwaukee were re- Hated tonight from the colonePs own Hips. Apparently well on the way to- ward recovery he was permitted to enjoy greater degree of freedom and for the first time he gave an account of the happenings in the first few hours after the bullet found it's mark. The colonel said that on Monday he expected to leave for Oyster Bay and hoped to be back in the campaign, making speeches again. week after next.
 q feel as lively as bull dog" said the colonel, by way of preface. He was sitting in huge leather chair by a window in Mrs. Roosevelts room l in bath robe to protect him from the autumn breeze which was borne in through the open window Hour on Stage Impressive What seemed to impress Colonel Roosevelt most strongly was not the shooting itself--he seemed to accept that as thing of the past to be dis missed once it was over-but rather | his hour on the stage of the Mill waukee auditorium, when he was speaking of the bullet in his side. But he insisted that to make the speech was only what any other man would l have done under the circumstances.
 Tt was nothing--nothing he said. l T felt little pain but 1t was not or reached for my manuscript, 1t made me gasp bit but that was all. Tt was quite amusing" he went on, when I reached for my manuscript to see that it had a hole in it from the bullet; and there was a hole in my spectacle case, too"
 The colonel chuckled as he recalled the surprise he had felt at his dis lcovery.
 Amusing did you say. coloneiT' asked one of his hearers. Well" he qualified, 'it was inter- esting."
 D1d N0t rear Death Colonel Roosevelt showed no indica- ton that he had felt the fear of death. He said he had no means of knowing as he delievered the speech he had promised to make, whether he was wounded fatally but accepted as mat ter of course that he should go on until he had finished. if his strength
 
 and he had turned away. to go to the hospital, he said, he found it difficult to keep his temper when half a dozen men scrambled over the edge of the platform and asked him to shake hands.
 They wanted to shake hands," he laid, as though it still surprised him. Didn't they know that it is impossible for a man who has just been shot to shake hands with genuine cordiality?' Of the shooting itself Colonel Roose- welt had little to say. Not once uid he mention the name of John Schrank. his | assailant. He talked in unemotional way of being shot. as though he was dis cussing the case of a man with whom he was not acquainted. He said he bore no bitterness or rancor.
 Speculates on Chances Tn dispassionate way. Colonel Roose- welt spoke of his present condition and speculated upon the chance that he would have blood poisoning or some other serious complication
 Isn't it curious thing" he said that little spot'-he placed his thumb near the top of his forefinger. to indicate how small spot he meant-"can become in- fected and set the whole thing back?" Then, he said, there was the possibility. the.v4 f<t. II. or pneumonia might develop. Dr. Alex l ander Lambert, he said. had spoken of returning to New York today but his as- sociates asked him to remain because they felt all danger was not past. The colonel said he felt no pain at present. He placed his right forefnger carefully on his breast to indicate the position of the wound, and said that while he still had an occasional twinge to re- mind him of it. he was at ease As he talked he moved his arms aI- though lse was careful not to move his body. He punctuated his remarks with gestures, but they were not the same vigorous gestures which he is wont to make He waved his hand or thrust forward a finger with a quick dart. in- stead of bringing down a cenched fist upon an open palm with a thump.
 Rib Still Troubles Him
 The colonel still had trouble with his broken rib, he said. His only apparent worry was lest the rib should knit quick iy enough to permit him to make a few speeches in the closing days of the cam paign. If he took a deep breath he ex- plained the edges would part and the be- ginning which nature had made at her task of knitting would be all for naught If I can get that rib knit so that the edges hold" he said. 'and it doesn't pain me to take deep breath. I hope to make some speeches week after next"
 As his thoughts turned to the cam- paign Colonel Roosevelt's manner changed. Although he had been eau toned not to forget that he was far from a well man and to guard against excitement. his face flushed and hts gestures became more vigorous
 They'll have to be short speeches