The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-17
F. R. THOUGHT
SHOTS WERE
F|RECRACXERS
President Elect Gives His
Impressions of Ordeal
at Miami.
FEARED FOR CERMAK
Believed Mayor Was Dead
as He Felt for Pulse
and Found None.
BY FREDERICK A. STORM
United Press Stan Correspondent

ABOARD ROOSEVELT SPECIAL
TRAIN, EN- ROUTE TO NEW
YORK. Feb II. - President Elect
Franklin D. Roosevelt Thursday aft
ernoon told newspaper men his ex-
periences as a target for the bullets
Of a frenzied "hater of presidents
and kings
Sitting comfortably in the draw
ing room Of his private car. Mr..
Roosevelt spoke calmly, and showed
no trace of the ordeal in which he
saw his friend, Mayor Anton Ger
max Of Chicago, shot down and
four others nearby wounded.
In his own words, between pufTs
on a cigaret. he sketched the details
Of the frantic two minutes covering
the event
Il have heard so many accounts
myself, he said, that l have been
trying to think what really hap
pened, as I saw it"
Refuses TO Repeat Speech
After I had finished speaking"
he continued, some one from the
talking picture people climbed on
the back of the car and said. You
must repeat the speech for US 1
said I would not He said, We
have come 1000 miles for this I
said, l am very sorry, but l can't
do it.
Having said that, I Slid off the
back of my car into my seat.
Just then, Mayor Cermak came
forward and l talked with him
minute about Chicago in general.
Then he moved off behind the car.
Bob Clark zone of the secret service
mem was standing right by him. AS
he moved away man came for
ward with long telegram and
started telling me what it contained.
While he was talking, l leaned for
ward
Thought 1t Firecrackers
Just then heard what I thought
was firecraCker, then several more.
The man talking with me pulled
back and the chauffeur started The
car
Il looked around and saw Mayor
Cermak doubled up and Mrs. Gin
collapSing. I told The chauffeur to
stop. He did, about fifteen feet
from where we started. The secret
service men shouted, Get out of the
crowd The chauffeur started again
and 1 stopped him again, this time
at the corner Of the band stand.
Looking back, 1 saw Cermak be-
ing carried along and we put him in
our car He was alive, but I was
afraid he wouldn't last. l got my
hand on his pulse and found none.
He slumped forward. Detective
from Miami, standing on the run
ming board on that side of the car
was leaning over him. He said aft
er we had gone a couple of blocks
he was afraid Cermak would not
last.
Il too. was fearful. Just then
Cermak Strengthened up and I got
his pulse. That was surprising.
For three blocks I actually believe
his heart had stopped.
Tony, Don't Move"
II held him all the way to the
hospital and his pulse constantly
improved. 1t seemed like twenty
five miles to the hospital. I talked
to him all the way. I remember 1
said Tony, don't move-keep quiet
it won't hurt if you keep quiet and
remain perfectly still
Il found that a bullet-the one
probably that hit Cermak-graced
the top of Clark's hand His hand
was all bloody and scratched.
You know I knew Bill Sinnott.
kidded him at the hospital Thursday
morning and told him they couldn't
hurt him with bullet in the head,
it would just bounce off. I left
orders for them to starve him and
take off at least ten pounds