Askov American., 1943-10-07

his hat in the ring" and opposed him
for the presidency in 1912 as Pro-
gressive or Bull Moose candidate.
The Democratic nominee, Woodrow
Wilson, won out in the three cornered
fight.
Excitement at Milwaukee.
This brings the story to the scene
on the night of October IA in the
city of Milwaukee during the 1912
campaign when there was an attempt
on the life of Col. Roosevelt.
Those of voting age at the time
will remember the excitement and
may like a review, and younger
people may be interested in an ac-
count of the affair.
The writer, then in Milwaukee,
had gone to the municiple auditorium
an hour ahead of the scheduled time
for the campaign rally and was for
tunate to find seat in the seventh
row, right before the center of the
stage. AS always when Teddy came
to town excitement ran high. Bands
were playing, people sang and shout
ed and red bandanas, emblems OF
the Bull Moose party, were being
sold. (The bandana had moose heads
in two corners and cowboy hats in
the other corners.)
The auditorium, seating 10000 or
more was filled to the doors by eight
o'clock and the dignitaries had been
seated on the stage, when ten min
9tes later a man from the stage en-
trance rushed to the front and asked
if there was a physician in the audi
ence. Not knowing then what had
happened those of us in the audience
naturally commenced to wonder if
anything had happened to the speak
er of the evening. In the meantime
half dozen physicians had rushed
back of the stage and few minutes
later came out with Col. Roosevelt
supporting him to seat on the stage
the physicians forming semi-circle
about him. Teddy looked pale and il
was evident that something was
wrong %ss.
Spoke After Shooting.
The chairman of the meeting arose
and said these few words: "In spite
of having a bullet wound in his chest
the great Colonel will speak"
There was spontaneous and
prolonged applause while Teddy
stood stern and pale. Finally
when the applause died down, the
Colonel shouted, "Yes, I have
bullet in my chest, but 1t takes
more than that to kill a Bull
Mooser!"
Then came a thunderous applause
it seemed enough to raise the roof
When it subsibed voice from the
gallery shouted: 'We are from Mis-
souri,, Teddy, we want to be shown!'
The Colonel ripped open his coat
and vest and his white shirt was
covered with crimson. The audience
gasped.
The speaker then buttoned vest
and coat and took out his Spectacles
from metal case which had defect
ed the bullet. He removed from his
inside coat pocket the manuscript
through which the bullet had passed
and stated that "this is the speech
had prepared to give this evening in
retaliation%to what Woodrow Wilson
said in Jersey City a few days ago
but will admit don't feel quite as
good as usual so will talk extempo-
raneously."
The Colonel then spoke for forty
five minutes. When he wavered three
or four times and it appeared he
might collapse from loss of blood
the physicians would rise from their
chairs ready to catch him. At one
point in his speech, when he paused
momentarily, an elderly woman in
one of the first row of seats, arose
and said, Don't you think, Colonel
that you had better stop?" The Rough
Rider heard her and directed his at
tention to her in these words: "My
dear lady, l am all right, and wher
1 get through these men (pointine
to the physicians) will take care Of
me-" q
Was Open Target.
The shooting had taken place ir
front of the old Gilpatrick hotel, only
a few blocks from the auditorium
The crowd was milling around hi;
automobile shouting: "Hurrah fol
Teddy! Our cowboy! We want Roose-
welt! Bully for Teddy" AS usual he
threw all precautions to the winds
stood up in the car and waved hit
hat to the crowd.
That was when Schrank, a
maniac, fired three times, one
bullet taking effect. And a few
minutes later Teddy spoke at the
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