Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-12
MELANCHOLY c
A well known New Orleans Mer-
chant the FeI0 De Sc.
He Jumps Overheard rOmthe Steam.
er Indiana and is Killed by
the PaddIewheeI.

Saturday evening last, as the steam
er Indiana was leaving the levee in
New Orleans, a gentleman came on
board and booked himself for Louis
vile. He seemed very quiet when
he first came on, but after the boat
was out five or six hours he began to
drink very heavily, and attaching
himself to a fellow passenger he con-
fided to him the fact that he was on
his way to Frankfort, KY, to see his
relatives, and that he was in great
mental trouble about family affairs.
He gave his name On registering as
Alonzo Gaines, and seemed to be a
man ofconsiderable means. Saturday
night, before he became drunk, he
gave his watch and money to the
clerk of the boat and had them locked
up in the safe.
On Sunday he continued his spree,
drinking at intervals of every few
minutes, and on Monday morning ev-
ident signs of manic a pOtU were appa-
rent. During the day, on Monday,
he tried to borrow a pistol from sew
eral fellow passengers, but every one
to whom he applied, seeing the condi-
ton that he was in, and suspect
ing the use he wished to make
of it, refused to lend a weapont to him.
Yesterday, as the Indiana left Com
merce, a landing on the Arkansas side,
about fifty miles below the city, at or
near y o'clock, Gaines went to the
gangway leading to the water closet
on the larbOard side of the boat, and
n flor lnnl-fn a, rnrrnA har, H-sTII,- g.,
moment sprang over the railing into
the river, leaping almost straight
down and clearing the guards only a
few feet. In a second he was lost to
sight in the boiling, surging worthless
around the paddle boxes, which were
almost instantly reversed, but in a
very short time his body r~eappeared
a hundred yards or so down stream.
The yawl was manned and lowered
almost instantly, and in a few mo-
ments it was brought long side the
inanimate remains, and they were
hauled aboard.
II On examination it was found that
the body had been drawn under the
wheel, a blow from which had caused
instant death, and being inflated with
liquor, or from other causes, the corpse
would not sink.
On searching the pockets of his
clothing a few business cards, a pen
knife and small change were
found. 1t being necessary to dress
ham decently for interment, the
Captain of the Indiana and some of
the passengers opened his trunk and
took out a suit of clothes. There they
found papers to show that the deceased
was named as he had stated, Alonzo
Gaines, and that he was a partner of
the wealthy house of Blanc, Gaines &
Blanton, of New Orleans. Among
other papers found in his trunk was a
balance sheet Of that firm showing
S24,771 II to his credit. The body,
after being decently dressed, was put
in a cool place, and brought to this city.
As soon as the boat reached the
levee, Mr.. MofIet, a passenger on the
steamer, came up and notified the
Coroner, who went down to the
steamer and held an inquest. Nh.
Hoist, the undertaken, was also noti-
fed, and after the inquest, Cat which a
verdict in accordance with the above
facts, was returned) he took charge of
the body, awaiting the action of the
friends and relatives of the unhappy
deceased who were notified of his un-
timely end by telegraph.