Blairsville, Pa., Dec. 21. - Rev. Dr. Robert E. McClure, for 22 years pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church here and for 18 years president of the Indiana County Anti-Saloon League, owes his life to the Bible he was carrying under his arm when shot while returning to his home last night. The bullet pierced the Bible, but stopped when part way through, the force of the bullet almost knocking Dr. McClure from his feet. Dr. McClure whet to the office of Dr. George Hunter, in Walnut street near Campbell street, last night, for a physical examination in connection with the issuing of a life insurance policy. He left the doctor's office about 10 o'clock to go to his home, 306 Morewood avenue, about 12 blocks distant. Dr. McClure's congregation has been holding services in a hall above the First National Bank of Blairsville and last night Dr. McClure went to the hall to procure his Bible. There was some trouble with the machinery in the plant of the light company, and the town was in darkness. Dr. McClure got the Bible and started home. In crossing Stewart street to turn into Wynn street he saw a man with a slouch hat pulled down over his ears and partly concealing his face. Dr. McClure bade him a good evening. The man grunted a reply.

Whistle the Signal.

Dr. McClure passed down the right side of Wynn street and as he was crossing East lane the man he had passed gave a shrill whistle and instantly a shot rang out. Dr. McClure was almost knocked down by the impact of the bullet against the Bible which he was carrying under his right arm on a level with his breast. Finding he was uninjured he started after the would-be assassin, whom he saw in the alley. The man ran a short distance and stumbling over some object in the alley, fell. He regained his feet and once more fired at Dr. McClure, the bullet striking a barn in the rear of Dr. McClure's home. The assailant ran again with Dr. McClure in pursuit, but the man was soon lost in the darkness of the alley. Harry and Orrin McMillen, brothers living nearby, heard the shot and were soon at Dr. McClure's side. Burgess M.E. Brown was notified and he detailed Chief of Police Isaiah Kimmel and Policeman John Mangan on the case. With Dr. McClure and the two McMillens, the police searched the alley. They found nothing except a derby hat, supposed to have fallen from the head of the would-be assassin when he stumbled. It is said there were initials in the hat.

Bible Is Puctured.

When Dr. McClure examined the puctured Bible, which had been his weapon while pursuing the gunman, he found that the bullet had flattened against the following passage in the sixth chapter of the fourth book of Moses, called Numbers: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them: When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord. He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes or dried." Blairsville has been "dry" for 40 years. For many years, it is alleged, intoxicating liquors have been dispensed illegally in so-called clubs and drug stores. Recently under the direction of Dr. McClure the Indiana County Anti-Saloon League has been conducting a vigorous campaign against these "speakeasies"

Closed Many Bars.

In their campaign the members of the Anti-Saloon League have closed the bars in the club houses of the Eagles, Elks, Moose and Owls, in Blairsville; the Belgium Club, in South Blairsville, and the Rod and Gun Club, in Bairdstown. Besides these many proprietors of drug stores have been brought to justice for selling intoxicating liquor for other than medicinal purposes. In an interview tonight Dr. McClure directly charged his enemies made in his campaign with the attack on him last night. He said: "Of course, I have made enemies in my work against the liquor traffic. No other idea has entered my mind than that these enemies are back of the attempt to assassinate me last night. I have notified Burgess Brown of the affair and have told him all I know of it. He has assured me that I will receive every aid in his power to run down the men who attempted to end my life. Many clergymen and others of the town have offered their assistance in the pursuit of the men." Dr. McClure was reluctant about disclosing descriptions of the two men implicated in the shooting and intimated he knows who they are. He stated he will continue the hunt himself.

Burgess' Statement.

Burgess Brown made the following statement tonight: "I haven't any doubt that this dastardly attempt at the life of Rev. McClure can be traced to the illegal sellers of liquor in Blairsville. Every facility of this office has been placed at the disposal of those seeking to run down the culprits. I think Blairsville would be much better if it were a licensed town. I can take you to the court house and show you by the court dockets that more persons are arrested for drunkenness in Blairsville than in any other town around us which has a liscense. Almost every day wagon loads of liquor are dumped in Blairsville from Latrobe, a licensed town. The office of the burgess is going to do everything possible to run down the would-be assassin of Rev. McClure. We have expected this. We have warned Rev. McClure that is life was in danger. It came a little differently than we expected. We told him that we feared that his enemies among the liquor dealers might attempt to burn or dynamite his home."