Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1912 — CRANK TAKES SHOT AT TEDDY [ARTICLE]

CRANK TAKES SHOT AT TEDDY

Roosevelt Wounded As He Leaves Hotel at Milwaukee. SHOT PROBABLY NOT SERIOUS Unless Complications Should Set In —Despite Injury, Colonel Delivers Dong Speech. Milwaukee, Wis., October 14;—A desperate attempt to assassinate Colonel Theodore Roosevelt was made to-night as he started on his way from the Hotel Gilpatrick, in this city, to the Auditorium.

As he stepped into an automobile a shot was fired by a shabbily dressed man, who had edged his way through the crowd to the motor car.

The stranger took deliberate aim and sent the bullet crashing into the former President’s right breast, just below the nipple. The assailant was nabbed by Elbert H. Martin, the Colonel’s stenographer, and Captain Gerard, of Milwaukee, a Rough Rider under Roosevelt.

The man'who shot Roosevelt is John Schrenk, 370 East Tenth St., between Avenues B and C, New York City. He is a German. As he was about to fire another shot, the revolver, a 32-caliber affair, was knocked from his hands by Colonel Cecil Lyon, of Tevas, who is accompanying Mr. Roosevelt on his Middle Western campaign trip. Lyon jumped out of the automobile and started to choke the would-be assassin.

Colonel Roosevelt, who had staggered back into the automobile when the shot was fired, raised, .himself and stood looking up at Lyon, who was sitting on the shooter. The former President cried, with a gesture:

“Don’t hurt him; I’m all right.” A Captain of Police' rushed in as Lyon released his grip on the fellow, and with Lyon’s help dragged the man into the hotel kitchen. Colonel Roosevelt sat back in the motor car as an immense crowd that witnessed the shooting yelled to him. With rare presence of mind the Colonel, waving his hat, cried out:

“My good friends, I’m not hurt. I’m going on to the hall to speak. Good luck!” An infuriated crowd started after the Colonel’s assailant shouting, “Lynch the beast! Lynch him!” A great force of policemen fought back the crowd and finally succeeded in getting away with the captive. Schrenk was in terror, fearing that his life would be taken. After endeavoring to his friends that he was in no peril, the Colonel turned to the chauffeur and in a calm voice remarked: “Now, just run up to the hall. I’m not hurt and everything is all right.” The car started up, and in a .moment Colonel Roosevelt was on his way to the Auditorium with a bullet in his side. The former President did not actually realize that he had been shot until got to the hall, five blocks distant. He knew the bullet had grazed him, because he felt it against his side, but he believed it bad simply gone through his overcoat. He proceeded on his way to the Auditorium where he delivered a long speech. He half swooned afterward and was hurried to a hospital, where it was found the bullet had penetrated three inches of the abdominal wall and was more serious than first; thought..

A heavy roll of manuscript is said to have deflected the missle, preventing instant death. The crank who fired the shot claims that President McKinley appeared to him in a dream and told him that Roosevelt was his murderer, and for him to avenge his death.