The San Francisco call. [volume], October 16, 1912, Page 2, Image 2

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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2
SURGEONS ATTENDING COLONEL FIND WOUND SERIOUS
Absolute Quietude Is Essential to the Patient's Recovery
Leaden Missile Lies j
Near the Breast Bone
Ball Is Embedded in Harmless Position
Against Fourth Rib on Right
Side of Body
»\ cry phase of his wounding and i on
dition. He asked for Macaulays Mis
cellaneous Essays, and read this vol
ume for more than an hour. He was
propped up in a mass of pillows.
Early in the evening his daughter,
Mrs. Longworth. calltd and was ad
mitted to the sick chamber. The greet
ing between father and daughter was
affecting, but Mrs. Longworth bravely
stood the ordeal and showed that she
was of the true Roosevelt stock by re
fusing to cry. At 7 o'clock Mrs. Medill
McCormick, wife of the Chicasro pub
lisher and one of Roosevelt's strongest
supporters In the middle west, was re
eelved and remained in the eolotwfs
room for half an hour. When she left
the hospital Mrs. Longworth accom
panied her. and the two were driven to
the MeCormiek home in an automo
bile. Mrs. Longworth will spend the
night there.
Secretary E. E. Martin received the
r,A\rspaper men in behalf of the former
president, and announced "that, as far
?s The surgeons could determine, there
had been no change in the. location of
the bullet. The patient's fever had in
creased * fraction of a degree, due to
the visit of his daughter and Mrs. Mc-
Cormick.
ENJOYS FIRST lIi:\RTV MEM,
After the departure of the visitors
Colonel Roosevelt was allowed his first
hearty meal since the shooting. Toast,
egps and tea comprised the meal, with
a fresh peach. He ate ravenously and
would have ordered a second serving
but for the watchfulness of the nurse.
Quiet is the watchword <>f the hos
pital, and private physicians invariably
obey the rule. Swarms of personal
friends flocked to the hospital during
the morning to offer their sympathies
to the former president and extend
whatever aid they might be able to
give. None was admitted and those
who gave their cards were, told that
the, pasteboards would be presented to
colonel Roosevelt as soon as his con
dition warranted.
The wound, the surgeons say la not
a mere flesh scar, but a serious wound
in the chest and the enforced <}uiet is
absolutely necessary. Roosevelt's
friends were, asked through the news
papers to abstain from attempting to
visit him or communicate with him.
MRJi. ROOSEVELT DIE TODAY
Tho monotony of the colonel's stay
will be broken by the arrival of Mrs.
Roosevelt and Miss Helen, the Colonel's
daughter. Refusing to be reassured by
reports, the progressive candidate's
wife and daughter insisted on com
ing to the colonel's bedside at once,
and it is said they will arrive, tomor
row. With them will come Dr. Alexan
der Lambert, the Roosevelt family
physician.
The. colonel eagerly anticipated the
arrival of his wife and daughter, he
asserted, so that he might personally
assure them that he is not mortally
wounded.
Upon his arrival at the hospital this
morning the colonel walked into the
X-ray room of the hospital without as
sistance. He was reading a message
is he walked, and, having finished
glancing over the sheet, lie looked up
and joked with those near him about
his pajamas having been forgotten in
his trip from the specia; train which
bore him to Chicago. He evinced much
interest in the preparations for the
radiograph and was inclined to be
talkative while the photograph was
being taken. While waiting for the
treatment he read in a number of
magazines. Several photographs were
made.
The doctors made it known, also,
as soon as Colonel Roosevelt's
<ondit,on warranted the transfer, he
would be removed to his home in
O' -tor Bay.
PHYSICIANS SAY
* SERIOUS WOUND
Bullet Lies Near Breast
Bone, on Righf Side,
Below Clavicle
'B.v tbe Associated Tress)
'l! it'AGO. O't. 15.—Theodore Roose
"> elt was not merely superficially
wounded by ttie bullet fired into his
i>reast last night in Milwaukee by
John Schrank. After an all day exami
nation and consultat'on. the physicians
tonight definitely described the injury
as "a serious wound in the chest," and
not a "mere flesh wound."
A late bulletin, which prohibited
• ommunication between the colonel and
persona other than those who arc at
tending him. announced that "quietude
-ulutely essential."
The physicians asserted, however,
that it was not now necessary to probe
for or remove the bullet. Even this
action was thought undesirable, and i
the patient probably will be kept as!
■ aim as his nature will allow for a
few days.
.JOKES WITH NEWSPAPER MEX
Finally, learning that the corre
spondents accompanying him on his
speaking tour, who had left him after
Uie assault in Milwaukee to file their
stories, had rejoined his entourage at
•ospital. Colonel Roosevelt in
sisted that the edict of his physicians
against communication with him be
ignored for the time.
Tie received the newspaper men with
a;i apology for not arising, jested with
ihem about his condition and told
them, "I'll hurry up and get out of
BO I can keep you busy again."
His doctors, however, did not feel
inclined today to allow him to leave
inside of 10 days, so that they might
have no break in their minute by min
ute watch for possible infection from
the bullet.
Unofficially it was made known to
day that the physicians do not con
sider it necessary to probe for or op
erate to remove the bullet. It
lies, as shown by the X-ray
photographs brought from Mil
waukee by Dr. J. R. Jansson
J Mercy hospital, not far from the breast
hone, on the right fide, and probably
Inches below the collarbone. The.
missile did not get inside «he ribs, but
plowed upward and inward for five
inches. The flesh along the course of
the bullet showed no discoloration to
day and there appeared to the physi
cians no cause for concern.
LMouel Roosevelt, anxious |hat his
friends. and particularly members of
his family, who were en route to Chi
cago, should not be unduly apprehen
sive, protested against the edict
barring callers from his room, but ac
ceded when all the consulting physi
cians indorsed the plan.
He was anxious to greet members
of his family. His concern, all day, ap
parently, was not for himself, but for
those who he believed were likely to
be too fearful of his condition.
He read all of the hundreds of tele
grams that poured into the hospital
and was particularly delighted with
several from men of note he met while
abroad. k
Outside the hospital grounds a
curious crowd hung all day. asking
for news from all the usual callers
who left the institution. Each was
hailed as he left with an appeal for
"inside information." but none was
available besides the posted bulletins.
All of Colonel Roosevelt's speaking
dates were canceled today, save one
tomorrow night a* Louisville. To the
Kentucky city, former Senator Bever
idge of Indiana was sent after a con
ference with the colonel today, with
a message the colonel insisted be read
th^re.
FITIRE PLANS PROBLEMATICAL
No announcement regarding future
plans of Roosevelt, was made, all such
action depending upon the length of
time demanded of him by the phys
icians.
Until th» ultimatum of the doctors
against callers was Issued, the corridor
outside Colonel Roosevelt's room was
filled with those coming or going, and
with those who sought to extend any
aid that might be useful. After the
order was issued the corridor became
as usual on ordinary days.
His room is on the third floor, in the
southwest corner of the building, and
at the south end of the corridor. It is
No. ;: 14. and that next to it. No. 312,
serves as an anteroom and consulting
room. No. 310 is occupied by Dr. L.
Terrell, the colonel's personal physi
cian, and by J. W. McGrath, Roosevelt's
secretary.
Out in the corridor all afternoon
watch was kept by Patrolman J. A.
Tomney, and here the small band of
attendants gathered, and from the dis
cussion light was thrown on the
actum] story of the assault.
It-was disclosed that Elbert K. Mar
tin, the secretary who seized the as
sailant, saw the pistol before the shot
was fired and that the weapon was dis
charged just as he flung himself upon
£c blank.
SCH RATV X ALMOST STRANGLED
Powerful of build, he was forcing
Schrank'a neck back till the assailant
was gasping for breath. Henry Co
chems, who had arisen from his seat
in the automobile, shouted several
times:
"Don't kill him, John; don't kill him,
John:"
Martin, wresting the pistol from
Schrank and holding the assailant in
a grip fast rendering him unconscious,
shouted back resentfully:
"My name's not John!"
The colonel laughed at the incident
and recalled It today.
The patient was interested in the
| mottoes hanging on the wall of his
| room, which he inspected when he
I walked to and from the room in which
[an X-ray photograph was taken of
i him. He gazed long and earnestly at
j a verse from Adelaide A. Proctor's
"Railor Boy." which ornamented his
anteroom. It read:
Judge not the workings of his brain
And of his beart thou canst not tee;
What looks to thy dim eyes a stain
In God's pure light may only he
A MBr, brought from some well known field
Where thou woultist only faint and yield.
Sisters passing quietly along the
hallway, crossed themselves and mur
mured prayers when passing a framed
apostolic benediction signed by Pope
Pius, asking divine favor on Dr. J.
B. Murphy, chief physician at the
colonel's bedside, and "any patients he
might have within these walls."
LOADS OF FLOWERS RECEIVED
Flowers were sent in loads to the
colonel's anteroom, and the enjoyment
the patient took in deeply exhaling the
odor laden air became lessened by the
pain the exertion caused, and he di
rected that part of the gifts should
be taken to the rooms of other pa
tients, which was done.
Colonel Roosevelt talked little today
of the attack. Most of that discussion
was in jests with those who called
on him. When the physicians turned
back the covers of tlie bed- the bet
ter to examine his wound. Colonel,
Roosevelt exclaimed, forgetful of his
condition: »
"Doift lose my place, doctor; don't
lose my place."
Tie referred to a book the physi
cian had laid to one side, and which,
containing the essays by Macauley, -had
furnished him' an interested hour.
lie asked seriously how his wound
looked and leaned his head forward
from his half sitting posture and sur
veyed it himself.
"That doesn't look bad, doctor," he
said, "what do yon think?"
WARNED TO KEEP <fcl'IET
"That, as it is, doesn't bother us."
responded Doctor Murphy, nodding to
his fellow doctors, Arthur Dean Bevan
and Doctor Terrel.. who accompanied
him: "it's what you do to it."
The patient raised his eyebrows in
terrogatively and was informed that
the doctors, by way of precaution, felt
he had better see no one, so that the
rest would remove further any possi
bility of a setback. He was disap
pointed for a few minutes, but the
examination being over and a pint of
buttermilk having been ordered, he,
reached again for his books and smiled
"all right.''
An hour's sleep kept his good spirits
at flood tide and he said It had been
the most refreshing rest he had en
joyed for a week.
"This will give me a good rest up.
anyway." he said, "and if I must stay
here, I suppose I might as well make
the most of it."
DEACE OFFICER
r TERRIBLY HURT
Collides With Train While
Speeding on Motorcycle
to Meet Roosevelt
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
CHICAGO, Oct. 15.—While hurrying
to me<>r the train carrying Colonel
Roosevelt to Chicago, Austin Fitch, a
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 16, 1912.
The two principal surgeons who are attending Theodore Roosevelt in a Chicago hospital.
road and Nortli Kedsle avenue.
Fitch had received orders from Ser
geant Joseph Dnebach, head of the
motorcycle squad, t" report at the
Northwestern station to meet the
Roosevelt special. Fearing that he
would be unable to reach, the depot
on time. Fitch sped his machine at the
rate of a mile a minute. At Blooming
dale road, not seeing a passing freight
train in time, he crashed into one of
the cars.
Members of the crew, hearing the
collision, stopped the train. They pulled
Fitch from beneath the car unconscious.
By a lucky chance he was not run over,
as he was hurled directly under the car
and no part of his was covering
the track.
It was found that both of his legs
were broken and he was suffering in
ternal injuries. Fitch is Z2 years of
age.
Hoy Huffier, also of the motorcycle
squad, was riding on the tandem at-1
tachment to Fitch's motorcycle at the
time of the accident. He was thrown
off to one side of the tracks and
bruised. . He was able to proceed to
the depot and join the colonel's
mounted escort.
rOLONEL TURNED
AS BULLET SPED
This Movement Saved Him
From Being Shot
in Heart
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
<TTTCAGO. Oct. 15.—A simple inci
dent saved the life of Colonel Roose
velt and another saved the life of the
assailant, according to Prof. Charles
EL Merriam, who was with the colonel
at the time he was shot.
The story of the shooting was told
by Professor Merriam at the weekly
meeting of the Hawkeye Fellowship
club in the Auditorium hotel today.
"Schrank was standing on the curb
not 10 feet from the colonel," said
Professor Merriam. "The colonel was
laughing and chatting with Henry
Cochems, Colonel Cecil Lyon and others
of-his party. As he got in front of
Schrank the colonel turned slightly to
answer some question just as the bul
let was fired.
"Had it not been for that slight
turning the bullet certainly would have
entered his heart."
LYON
SE|S ASSASSIN
Schrank Admits to Texan
Newspaper Articles In
flamed Him
[Special Dispatch to The Call] •
CHICAGO, Oct. 15.—Colonel Cecil
Lyon of Texas, who was with Colonsl
Roosevelt in Milwaukee last night, said
tonight:
I went over to the police station
In Milwaukee to identify Colonel
Roosevelt's assailant and to get
what information I could from
him. It developed that Schrank.
the wouldbe assassin, was a former
saloon keeper in New York.
When asked for his motive in In
tending to kill Colonel Roosevelt,
he said he was incited to the act
by a dream he had had, and also
that his attention had been espe
cially and repeatedly called by
articles appearing In the New York
Herald, which, lie said, never re
ferred to Theodore Roosevelt by
name, but always called him the
"third termer," and that the New
York World further had aroused
him by its-violent articles In oppo
sition to a third term.
When I asked him about his poli
tics, he said: "Of course I am a
democrat and a Tammany man or
1 could not have run a saloon in
New York."
Schrank denied that he was a
member of any secret societies,
but said that he had from time to
time belonged to various social
clubs, and was vehement in his de
nial that he was ever a socialist
or an anarchist.
He very frankly said he had
gone south for the express pur
pose of killing Colonel Roosevelt
and was In Atlanta and Chatta
nooga when the colonel was in
these places, but that the move
ment of the colonel's party pre
vented him from attempting assas
sination at cither of those places. t
His statement concerning the
movements of the party Is correct. '
because at both places we arrived
late and had to hurry. He also
stated that he visited tbe Coliseum
last Saturday night, but had no
opportunity to g p t near enough to
the colonel to attempt assassina
tion.
1 regard the man as absolutely
sane. unless, perhaps, ha is a
. paranoiac on the subject of a third
term, and- this should teach all
papers and persons the cowardice
and Incitement to anarchy of such
attacks as have been made upon
Colonel Roosevelt lately.
rHICAGO POLICE
Protection ; Given Former
i : President in , "Windy City ;
Saved Him From Murder
-
1 [Special Dispatch foThe Call]
\: CHICAGO/ Oct. 15.—How Theodore
Roosevelt was saved from an .* attack
by the assassin, Schrank, in " Chicago
■by i police vigHanc'* was related g today
by : Herman ,*; assistant
i: . ■'■£.- I ,Ji-i«-yi^W(Htait*''v<i;'-''-'--'i;-."-.*;.V,
superintendent -pf JseiT^e. •■ , .-*.<
! "We must ourselves
when .?, we hear from the " assailant's
own lips thalf he tried to reach ? : Colonel
; Roosevelt in Chicago and * failed." said
the assistant chief. "Colonel Roose
velt was saved here by the police pre
caution in escorting him through the
alleyway to the Coliseum mass meeting
Saturday night. 1 Had an attempt been
i made to push the colonel through the
; crowd the assassin would have had
his chance and perhaps his evil design
would f have met with other conse
quences.,' : ! '.j'-\Xl* *><:•':':'Z*'.*.~ : -'\'\ ■■'■' :: .K
1 "I do not think l | that It is impossible
for a t shooting "of^T; this kind /tor occur
in Chicago, but it is i lest likely here
than i elsewhere. Chicago X has the po
lice and the police machinery < for the
handling of great crowds. I have had
a: police lesson from 7 the : assassination
of Lincoln. ;; Garfield "■'.. and ' McKinley.
Safety means to keep crowdjs away
from the president. It may seem un
democratic i and unreasonable lin | a re
public, but it is the only way to assure
absolute safety. Avoid direct • contacts.
It has been my practice in Chicago to
surround the noted visitor with as
many police, motorcars and motor
cycles as possible. It helps to add
distance between the crowds and J their
guests. hen \'.the^' crowds must be
sprinkled with plain rlothes and secret
service men. It is a difficult task in a
great ' city. When Ojlonel "i Roosevelt
was in > Chicago every precaution was
taken to insure his personal safety.
Wherever he went he was accompanied
by mounted policemen and detectives."
t;Schuettler detailed 5 eight detectives
from the - central r station to prevent
any annoyance to Colonel ,§ Roosevelt
during his stay at i the Mercy hospital.
-~, ..-■■... , - ■ - • . :: ■ . •
DEVERIDGE WILL
DsOUND LAST CALL
Indiana Man Chosen to Give
Roosevelt's Final Cam
paign Message
CHICAGO, Oct. 15.—Colonel Roose
velt's final message in this campaign,
summing up the developments of one
of the greatest presidential contests in
the republic's history and setting forth
what he hopes to achlev© as president
of the United States, will be delivered
la Louisville. Ky., tomorrow night.
Former Senator Albert J. Beverldge
of Indiana will be the means by which
the colonel will give this message to
the people, and he is in Chicago tonight
learning from tha colonel just what it
is which he wishes to put before the
voters of the United States.
Colonel Roosevelt's Itinerary, which.
of course, has been abandoned, called
for addresses in Indianapolis tonight
and In Louisville tomorrow night.
When he was Informed by the sur
geons in attendance that he probably
would not. be able to take a further
personal part in the campaign, he de
cided that the Kentucky city should
be the place from which his battle call
should be sounded.
Beveridge was reached by wire and
the circumstances explained to him. He
at once started for Chicago, but before
doing so waived any claims he might
have had on the progressive party
leaders for his own contest and offered
to go into the neighboring state as the
bearer of the colonel's message.
DEST WELCOMED
BY THE^ PATIENT
Prepares Early for Com
fortable Night and Shaves
Himself in Bed
CHICAGO. Oct. I"..—Colonel Roose
velt bade the last of .his callers good j
i
night at S o'clock and prepared for a
comfortable night, which was to be
spent In part in reading. He said he
felt fine and told Dr. John F. Golden,
who is keeping watch over him to
night, that unless the final Injection
of the tetanus antitoxin interfered, he
would have the "first real comfortable
evening" to himself he had enjoyed in
'many days.
On his bed <oionel Roosevelt had
piled several copies of the writings of
Ma'caulay, several back numbers of
magazines, and the bible. His tele
, grams he. had read and answered, leav
ing those coming after 8 p. m. to be
answered tomorrow.
With his spectacles comfortably ad- j
justed, all his books within reach, his j
pillows replaced by cushions, of curled j
hair, he {old Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, ;•
the night nurse assigned to his room, j
that all lie wanted was within his I
reach and that no one need worry j
about him until he began Worrying '
for them. i
Within five minutes the Crowds had ;
gone and the hospital gave no lndica- I
tion that it housed an Injured former ;
president. Colonel Roosevelt laid aside j
his book a few minutes after 9 and
switched off his reading light- He soon I
was fast asleep. Dr. Murphy went Into j
the colonel's room at 9:30 and found j
him sound asleep.
The patient's pulse was 86 when j
taken before he dropped to sleep. This i
is two points higher than It was last J
night after the shooting and 14 above j
normal. His temperature was three
fifths of a degree above normal.
After having had several short naps. ;
Colonel Roosevelt awakened at 10:30
p. m. and .called for hot water to shave
himself. He sat up In bed, with a hand
mirror against his knees, and shaved
and then was given a sponge bath and
an alcohol rubdown by his nurse. After
the bath his clinical record was taken. I
It read:
Temperature. 98.8; pulse. 88.
He turned on his night light and be
gan to read again, saying tn'at he would !
continue until he got sleepy.
Colonel Roosevelt told his nurse, as
he picked up his book for a second spell
of reading about 11 o'clock, that he:
was going home to Oyster Bay Sunday. \
He ordered his breakfast for 7 o'clock, j
and said:
"Mind, I'll want a good one; I'll be
hungry."
He left directions about his clothes
and his room, to everything In
readiness to see Mrs. Roosevelt in the
morning.
"The colonel acts very eager to see
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The Central California Traction It is located only 40 minutes j
lands are selling low from the center of Sacra- \
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throughout the property is
But the land is rich—a now 1
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• —water is plentiful The terms are as easy, as the
Climate aids the fertile prices are low—but you
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a suburb equal to such climate anywhere else I
a big city. in the state. / \
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Gunn Realty Company, 402 12th Street, Oakland S S ,••«••. I
f. M. Parkins. l«0l Telegraph Avetjue, Oakland ' * . «#
Beveridge Will Give
Roosevelt's Last Word
Stricken Candidate Has Message He
Wishes to Give the Nation as
His Final Word
••—? —'
Mrs. Roosevelt." Nurse Fitzgerald said.
"He talks about it quite a bit, and Is
very particular about naving every
thing ready to be pleasant for her."
PARTY LEADERS
f DISCUSS ATTACK
Of No Political Significance
in the National Cam
paign
[Special Ditpakh'lo The Call]
tTHICAGO, Oct. 15.—With expressions
of sympathy for Colonel Roosevelt and
the usual headquarters routine, politi
cal activities In practically all the na
tional headquarters located in Chicago
ceased today. The one topic of con
versation among the leaders of all par
ties' was the attempt upon Roosevelt's
life and with one accord regret was
voiced over the sssault and congratula
tion extended that Roosevelt's wound
apparently was not a serious one. From
a political point of view no weight was
attached to the assault upon Roose
velt. The party leaders of all sides
agreed that there was no political sig
nificance to the assatllt beyond the
crazed motive that Inspired it.
As affecttng the Issues of the politi
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an invitation to every man to visit us and personally ac
quaint himself with the advantage of our Fall Suits at
$25. The garments will speak for themselves with far
greater emphasis than we v..ight attempt here.
Others $20 to $40
ROBERT S. ATKINS
168 Sutter Street
Near Kearny
cal campaign, the leaders were today
In accord In saying that theere would
be substantially no change ia the cam
paign plans already agreed upon.
The republican national headquarters
canceled the speaking dates of John
It. HarJan and J. Adam Bede», who were
scheduled to address a meeting in Mil
waukee tonight, following Roosevelt s
visit.
Martin J. Wade, the ranking national
committeeman at the democratic na
tional headquarters todaj*. said:
"Every true American must feel the
deepest regret for the murdeous at
tack made upon Colonel Roosevelt. It
is awful to know that tbe prominent
public men are always fen danger of
attack by the poor dememted fellow=.
who, brooding over fancjied wrongs,
adopt murder as their remedy. J
"It is a great consolation that
Colonel Roosevelt was not more seri
ously injured. Of course, it will have
no effect one way or the other in
the election. Sympathy will be aroused
for Colonel Roosevelt, but no one will
be foolish enough to give to the at
tack any political significance what
ever. Public men canrtot be too care
ful in guarding themselves against
cranks and lunatics, and those in au
thority cannot be too careful in ap
prehending and confiding all men of
such mental condition as to be a
danger to society." _^