LATER PARTICULARS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 7

LATER PARTICULARS.

CHICAGO, October 15. In the intense excitement following tho sensational attempt on Colonel Roosevelt's life yesterday evening, the stories of the shooting that were circulated were all more or less conflicting. It now transpires that at the time of the occurrence the Colonel was on tho point of leaving the Gilpatrick Hotel for the Coliseum, where he was to address a meeting at 8 o'clock. He was standing up in his motor-car, acknowledging the cheers of the crowd, when Schrank rushed forward and fired point-blank at the ex-President. The fellow was about to discharge his revolver again when the ex-President's secretary, Mr. Martin, jumped out of the car, and, grabbing the assassin by the shoulders, bore him to the ground. "LYNCH HIM!"KILL HIM! The Colonel remained standing, calmly watching the struggle as if nothing had happened. Mr. Martin dragged Shrank up to the car, and, addressing his chief, said: "Look at him, Colonel!" It wag then that the crowd realised what had happened, and loud cries of "Lynch him!" "Kill him!" immediately went up. Maddened men laid violent hands on Shrank, and for a moment it seemed as if the wretched creature would be torn to pieces. Colonel Roosevelt realised the man's peril, and shouted to the crowd : " Stop! Stop! Stand back! Do not hurt him !" By this time the police had rescued the assassin, and lost no time in hurrying him away to the nearest station. Colonel Roosevelt, when asked whether ho was hurt, quietly unbuttoned his overcoat and thrust his hand under hiV; waistcoat. When ho withdrew his hand it was all smeared with blood. "It looks as if I am hit," coolly remarked tho victim, "but I don't think it is serious " "I'LL SPEAK OR I'LL DIE." Although strongly irrged not to proceed with his address that evening, Mr, Roosevelt declared decisively that he would "speak or die." The hall was packed, and the audienco (who knew nothing of the sensational experience through which the Colonel had just passed) cheered wildly when ho made his appearance. Tho chairman then informed those present of what had occurred, and the vast audience was stunned with horror. Advancing to the front of the platform, Colonel Roosevelt 6aid:—"Boys, this may bo my last message, but I am goins; to deliver it if I die." "It's true," he went on to say, "I havo been shot, and you will have to excuse mo for not making a long speech. Thero is <a bullet in my body, but I .am not hurt. I don't care a -rap about being shot. It takes more than that to kill r, bull moose. Fortunately I had my manuscript in my pocket." M.S. S4VESHTS LIFE. Ho showed whero the bullet had pierced tho paper, and, continuing, said:— "Hero's the hole whore the bullet went in. If it had not been for 'that pieco of paper it would havo penetrated my heart. "But my concern is for other things. I am ahead of tho rninp. I am in the progress!vo cause with my wholo heart and soul." Then followed p, dramatic mo.me"t. Unbuttoning hi?, coat and waistcoat, the ex-President exhibited, the bloodstains on br. <=hirt. and sad: "I stand in th« rU.vl,-no.«. Jf, i g o]l 7t- natural th".t I should feel weak, but I am not so wea\ m tho wppk and vicious minds that havf brought about the flow of violence and foul abuse and mendacity that has been heaped upon me."