The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-07
BRIDGE INTO THE MIssIs-
SIPPI RIVER.


Last night about ii o'clock Geo. p.
Paddock, residing at No. 200, Sixth street,
between Main and Harrison streets, Dayen-
port, committed suicide by jumping from
Pier No of Rock Island bridge. He
was accompanied on the bridge by small
black dog. After he had jumped from
the pier into the water he foated on his
back nearly block and whistled for his
dog. There were several young men
standing on the bridge at the time who
witnessed him jump, and they made all
haste to procure skiff and save the man,
but when the boat approached him he
turned over and sank to rise no more.
He was a splendid swimmer, and If he
had tried or wanted to save himself he
could have done so.
This morning reporter for this paper
called at his late residence and learned the
following facts in regard to the deceased
and his family
He was born in Rome, n. Y, and was
45 years of age last March; had lived in
Davenport % years; he was generally en-
ployed as a foreman of construction on
railroads and had been working in that Ca
pacity on the Rock Island 4 Mercer Co. r..
r, but had told his wife that John Reynolds
had discharged him on Saturday. He
married Miss Leona Mcclure daughter of
James McGuire, in Davenport, % years
ago. and his wife, A. years of age, and
three children, are now liying-the chill
dren, Mary E., aged 10; J. Frank, aged
II, and Nonia c., aged 10. He has one
sister, Mrs. Martha Seymour, living in
Tampico, this state; two brothers, married,
and sister, Mrs. Hill, living in Rome, NY.
His father and mother are both dead, but
he has a step-mother, and half sister, and
"a half-brother living in California, and mum
erous other relatives living near Proph
etstown, this state, He was connected with
no church, but frequently attended the
Presbyterian, as his parents were o
that denomination. His wife and children
are Catholics and attend St, Anthony
church, in Davenport His neighbors sa!
he was always jolly, good natured man
and provided we'll for his family
He drank, occasionally, and would some
times take too much, but was neve
; quarrelsome and never had any trouble Il
} his family.
He had loaned some money lately an,
t appeared to think he would not get
, back. This, together with the loss of hi
! situation, are, it is believed, the onl
: reasons he could have had for committing
, the rash act-but he did not appear t
, worry about anything. His wife had bee
on visit to his rela tives in Tampico an
: only returned home Saturday evening
He frequently expressed the wish, durin
her absence, that she would return immeG
lately, and when she did arrive he al
peared to be quite happy. All day YESTERDAY
> according to the statements Of the family
= he was in the best humor, but remarke C
u once, that he wished Frank, his son. no1
i at work on the new railroad back of Milan
" was home, and that he wanted him to be
= good boy. About o'clock last evepin
I he asked his wife to take walk with hin
but owing to a sprained ankle she W;
u unable to do so. He went out, bidding Il
y family good by, but saying he would I
Il back before long That is the last tin
: his bereaved family saw him. Where /
: went to between that time and IL oclocl
}, when be jumped off the pier, is not know
but he met several of his acquaintance
II babe them good-by and said he had -
c good notion to drown himself" The resu
y is known
He leaves no property, but the fam
IF can support hemselves-lJ1ank being oil
enough to work, and Mary is fine mus
teacher
- The family is well known in this eli
= and Davenport, and the home is throngc
> with symptathizing friends, to-day, WI
IF offer assistance to the stricken family.
The body had not been recovered wht
:. this paper went to press, although frient
|. are dragging the river for the remains.