The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-27
A STRANGER COMMITS SUICIDE.
Singular Affair.

At about half past six this morning 9Th
q stranger entered the Sherman Soloon'
John Ohweier proprietor, on Washington
street, and asked for glass Of whiskey.-
He was accommodated, but on drinking one
glass, no remarked in German that he was
very dry for whiskey, this morning, ana
drained another. He gave John u doIlar
bill, and on being handed eighty cents IN
change, refused to take it, saying that he
had plenty of money, and did not want 1t.
He then asked for pen, ink, and writing pa
per, On receiving them, he leaned against
tbo counter and commenced scribbliug, Jot'
| ting down three or four lines. John bythis
time began to suspect from the mans ae-
ton. that something was wrong, and glanc
| cd at what be WAS writing, but found that 1t
was merely a tumble Of words without mean
ing. After scribbllng away for few mo
ments the stranger asked for an envelope,
which was given him. He then asked per-
mission to carry the pen, ink, and paper oil
with him, saying that he wanted to write a
farewell address. John acceded, and he
went out.
lie then went down to the ferry boat,
which lay at its moorlngs, and hating on
the wharf boat, seemed occupied in writing
on sheet Of paper which he held in his
| Al al
himself. His conduct attracted the atten
ton of the employees Of the boat, but as he
paid no attention to what was going or
around him, he was not mo!ested, In
short time afterwards, he was heard TO plunge
} from the outside of the boat into the water
He did not sink, however, but struck Gu
like an experienced swimmer, and made to
ward the middle of the river. AS suicide
almost invariably do, he had taken off hi
1 hat and laid it down, before jumping in.
boat was instantly manned, which started II
s pursuit, and soon overlook him. lie wa
taken ashore near the old ferry dock below
Goodman's fish market. A number Of per
e sons collected on shore as the party came IN
Trusting that they would take care Of hin
the ferrymen pulled back to the boat, an
locked up the skif. In a few moments q
forwards, the ferry started for Davenport, 1
4 about which time the stranger plunged
- for the second time, swan out nearly tw
hundred yards into the river, and with
N bubblng cry, sank to rise no more. Til
r. individuals on shore who permitted him
20 in the second time, are certainly deser'
ing of censure, as no doubt exists but thu
he was insane.
Mr. John Ohlweiler thinks he WAS Swis
man, although be spoke German moderate
n ly well. lie was about five feet six inche
} in height, heavy set, had light beard eu
IS mustache, wore his hair cropped short, ha
J. on pair Of new linen pantaloons, re
: flannel shirt, grey blouse, and q blac
T. SLOUGH hat which is now at the ferry wha
10 boat. He also had in his possession GOO
- silver watch, with q chain attached. Il
was somewhere between twenty-five an
thirty.fve, and seemed to have once been
= rather intelligent man,
u No one who saw him recollects even ha
ing seen him before. He was undoubted
- stranger here. No effort was made to l
W ~ cover his body, as the depth Of the wat
a and the strength of the current where
81 went under, would have rendered any {
% tempts of the kind unavailing. The old W
% dict of"suicide while laboring under tel
o porary alteration of mind must be writ,
as his fate.