Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-11-24
Suicide OF Preston King, Collector OF
the Port OF New York.


From the N \. Tribune, 18th.
The authentic report of the suicide of
the Hon. Preston King, Collector of
this Port, in the Hudson River on Mon
day, created an intense sensation thro-
out all parts of the city, and caused
general feeling of sadness at the melan-
choly event. Very little business was
transacted during the earlier part of
yesterday ut the Custom House, the an
nouncement of Mr.. Kings rash death
being so sudden and startling, and for
a time that model of u we'll regulated
business establishment was in complete
disorder and confusion. Knots of the
attaches were gathered together by the
! tragic deed, some engaged in discussing
the news, and others specializing upon
the probable reason the deceased had in
destroying his life. All were deeply
panied and regretful that such catas-
trophy should have occurred. Flags
were at half-mast on the Custom-House
and Assay Office, and also on other pub
lie buildings in the city, out of respect
to the memory of the late Collector,
while several vessels in the Harbor
were similarly arrayed in mourning.
! Strenuous efforts were made yester-
| day by the friends Of the unfortunate
man to CLEAN further Information of his
sad and untimely end, and at this they
were successful to q certain extent. As
the particulars of the tragedy were
printed in full in the morning papers
they were necessarily read by many
persons, and among Others by the very
party who was cogniZant of the fact
that q man had leapcd overheard from
the Hoboken fcrry-boat before it had
been made public. The person in qres-
ton is a gentleman doing business in
Sixth-ave., and the father of the chill
dren who witnessed Mr.. King throw
himself into the river. His name is
that a man had been drowned in the
river, he had not the slightest mistrust
who that person was Or his station I'M
til yesterday morning. immediately
after seeing an account of the affair in
! print he called at the Custom House,
and there saw Mr.. Terwilliger and 9TH
! er gentlemen To whom he related all
that his children new of the drowning.
! His version of the affair is that they
! (the children) were particularly struck
with the appearance of Mr.. King when
| he first came on the boat, and that they
spoke OF him as "the funny-t looking
man." The boat had hardly got beyond
the dock when they noticed him quiet
deck, then blow his nose, and walk
toward the edge of the vessel. He I'M
fastened the chain and passed by it, re-
fastened it, and Immediately after, cast
himself into the river, feet downward.
No one else being on the aft deck with
Mr.. King, except the children, they
were the only witnesses of his act, and
when it had taken place, both of them
gave the information to tho other pas
sengers. The boat was quickly stopped
but no trace of the body could be found.
Mr.. 0. j. Brown, keeping a gun store
at No. 1870 West-st., also called at the
Custom-House and gave further import
ant information. He stated that gen
tleman, answering exactly to the de-
scription of the deceased, called at his
place of business Between and 0 o'clock
on Monday morning, and made pur-
chase of Is pounds of shot done up in a
bag. The porter offered to carry the
shot where he wished, but Mr.. King
declined putting him to the trouble of
doing so, and desired the porter to fast
en- strong cord to the bag, so that he
could carry it around his neck, where
it would be hid by his overcoat. The
porter complied with Mr.. Kings in
structions and he then left the store
with the bag suspended from his neck,
and then took the cars going uptown.
The parties in the gun store did not
suspect of anything being the matter
with Mr.. King at the time, his man
ners being pleasant and his CONVERSE
ton cheerful.
Suitable measures were taken yester-
day by the Surveyor of the Port for
finding the body OF Mr.. King. Several
dredging machines will be engaged for
securing the bottom of the river, and if
his body is anywhere in the vicinity of
the locality where he jumped overheard
it will probably be recovered. Until
sufficient time has elapsed for the recov-
cry of his body, no official action will
be taken to commemorate his memory
at least this is the understanding at
the Custom House.
Considerable anxiety and interest is
felt by the responsible merchants of the
city in regard to the vacancy in the
Collectorship made by the death of Mr.
King. They are opposed to having
any mere politician fill the place, but
require good business man who un-
derstands his duties and will perform
them faithfully. In the meantime,
while the position is untitled, Mr.. Chas.
P. Clinch will act as Collector, in accord
ance with the order received by tele-
graph from Washington.
----~
We understand that General Logan
has concluded to decline the mission to
4. n