The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-09
Suicide Epidemic Among United States
TrOOus.

Troops.
From the st. Louis Republican, August L..
A recruiting officer lately spent few days in
Memphis FOR professional purposes and the result of
his labors WAS nine able-bodied neil, who were in.
duced to enter Uncle Sans service for want Of more
lucrative employment. These new recruits were
shipped board the steamer National, for Jefferson
Barracks. Soon after they had started up the river
one Of them evinced disposition to commit suicide
and accordingly threw himself overheard. He was
with some difficulty, and apparently very much
against his will rescued from watery grave by the
prompt action of the boats crew; but Selling IA
vorable opportunity, lie repeated the same game
and was again taken into the yawl and brought on
board.
1t seems. however that he was not spared to per-
ish noby the battlefield covered with glory, for
he deserted the boat at Hickman-at least he again
disappeared while the National was lying at that
place, and it IS possible he either put an end
to prolong it by not trusting to the pain
full uncertainties OF an active military life
or the slow corr0ding rust of barracks At any
rate he went and returned not TO the post OF honor
After his disappearance, another of the recruits
seized with sudden fancy TO lquidate the debt he
owed to nature, by dipping deeply into the aquatic
element In other words, he too, jumped overheard,
with the confessed purpose Of drowning.
The philanthropic crew Of the National succeeded
in saving the second man. although he tried very
hard to hide from his generous preservers, by duck
with the yawl. 1t would not do--he would not
drown, account Of its being difficult to breathe
freely under water, and Mr. Recruit was taken into
the yawl and placed aboard again to recruit his
health. The effects OF the hydropathic treatment
disappeared, and he also felt inclined to take
another bath.
Again he was preserved from his eagerly sought
cool bunk with the catfish in the bed of the river
doubtless for some wise purpose, and this man was
securely tied with a rope on deck, to prevent him
from executing his fell purpose. Some time during
Monday night after the boat left Cape Girardeau, the
lad was missing, and as nothing was seen or heard
OF him, the yawl was not again called into requsi-
ton, and he was left "alone in his glory"
1t is supposed by the officers and crew that he
committed suicide from the larboard side with the
desperate hope of resurrecting himself on the Mis-
souri, SIDE Setting jokes aside, he, too, went either
in swimming or sinking condition, rs the case
may be to the woods or to the shades
Three more Of the recruits managed to absent
themselves from the boat before she arrived at the
barracks, and no satisfactory account is given of
their mysterious disappearance. Four were landed
safely in the banack room, and will doubtless make
soldiers, provided they are not allowed to 60 on ex-
cusions by the river and with the further provision
that knives, pistols swords guns, arsenic and other
suicidal instruments kept out of their hands. 1t
is said that the two who persisted by drowning were
suffering from derium tremens, and the remaining
three who are missing are supposed to have been
spirited away.
Captain McManus, Mr.. Champlin and other officers
of the National. say that the next time they carry
recruits an orderly must be along to take charge
of them, or they will not be responsible for delivering
one Of them safely to their destination.