“I’LL SPEAK OR DIE!”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 3

“I’LL SPEAK OR DIE!”

SHOOTING OF MR ROOSEVELT. DRAMATIC SCENE AT THE MEETING. The following graphic description of the attempted assassination of Colonel Roosevelt at Milwaukee, on Monday evening, 14th instant, was sent out by the Independent Cable Association | and appeared in the Sydney Sun: — Chicago, October 15. In the intense excitement following ! the 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 the point of leaving the Gilpatrick Hotel for the Coliseum, where he was to address a meeting at 8 o’clock. Ho was standing up in his motor car, acknowledging the cheers of the crowd, when Schrank rushed forward and fired point-blank at the ex-Prcsident. The fellow was about to discharge his revolver again when the ex-Prcsid.ent’9 secretary, Mr Martin, jumped out of the car, and, grabbing the assassin by the shoulders, bore him to the ground. The Colonel remained standing, calmly watching the struggle as if nothing had happened. Air Martin dragged Schrank up to the car, and, addressing his chief ,said: “Look at him, Colonel.” “LYNCH HIM!” It was 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 Schrank, 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 he was hurt, quietly unbuttoned his overcoat and thrust his hand under his waistcoat. When he withdrew his hand it was all,smeared with blood. “It looks as if I am hit,” cobly remarked the victim; “but I don’t think it is serious.”

The Colonel was then driven to the Coliseum, where he was examined by a doctor. Although strongly urged not to proceed with his address that evening, Mr Roosevelt declared decisively that he would “speak or die.” The hall was packed, and the audience (who knew nothing of the sensa-, tional experience through which the Colonel had just passed) cheered wildly when ho made his appearance. The 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 said:—“Boys, this may he my last message, but I am going to deliver it if I die. It’s true I have been shot, and you will have to excuse me for not making a long speech. There 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 a bull moose. Fortunately, I had my Manuscript in my pocket.” M.S. SAVES HIS LIFE, j He showed where the bullet had I pierced the paper, and continuing, ; said: — “Here’s the hole where the bullet | went in. If it had not been for that piece of paper it would have penetrai ted ray heart. But my concern is for other things. I am ahead of the game. I am in the progressive cause with my whole heart and soul.” | Then followed a dramatic moment. | Unbuttoning his coat and waistcoat, I the ox-President exhibited the blood stains on his shirt, and said: “I stand in the darkness. It is only natural that I should feel weak, but I am not so weak as the weak and vicious minds that have brought about the flow of violence and foul abuse and mendacity that has been heaped upon me.” At the close of the meeting Colonel Roosevelt was driven to his hotel, where the doctors made a careful examination of his injuries.

While the wound was being probed the Colonel laughed and joked with the surgeons. With the aid of the X-rays the doctors finally located the bullet, which had entered the chest on the right side, just below the nipple, and immediately above the tenth rib. The wound was four inches deep, but there was no indication of its having pierced the lung. AVhen visited by some friends this afternoon, the ex-President was found propped up with pillows in bed at the hotel to which ho was removed on his arrival in Chicago. He had several books at his bedside, and had spent the morning reading standard works on sociology and economics. THE ASSAILANT’S VIEWS. Notes were found in Schrank’s pocket which indicated that his mind was not normal. He had written that lie had been visited in a dream by the spirit of William McKinley, who said to him: ‘This is my murderer; avenge my death.” Another note referred to the strength of tradition in Japan, quoted the suicide of ’General Nogi, and urged that the third term tradition in the United States should be kept sacred. Every “third-termer” should be looked upon as a traitor to the American cause, and it was the right and duty of every citizen to remove him.