The New York herald., 1877-03-20
A FEARFUL DEATH.

While playing In q deep railroad cut on tho north
side OF the Hariem River, Sunday afternoon little
child found tho dead body Of man. sixty years
old, lying between the two raroad tricks which passed
through the gorge Tho right side Of the head had
been entirely smashed in that OF the eyes was
gone and bloody particles OF BRAIN matter were
oozing out between the fractures OF the skull.
The neatly dressed in a black suit,
KID gloves had a black silk hat.
II was evident from the position IN which the body
was found that tho man had either faen been
thrown from the rocks above Strange TO say, his SILK
hat still on his bead and, stranger STILL both his
shoes, which wero small gaitcrs, slit down the Sides
were lying several feet away though knocked from
his eet by the iorcc VI tho blow received falling
to the ground The child informed Mr. Teronce White
of what he had seem and the latter reported the facts
TO the police OF the Thirty dfth precinct.
No Glow could be found To the mans Identity His
pockets wore empty anu no only carried with him u
stick TO aid his feeblo footsteps He was recognzcu
by several citizens who had seen him around Kings
bridge and Spuyten Duyv for two three days pro-
vous to his death. An oilccr OF the Thirty-second
precinct SAID that the man had slept one or
two nights In barn belonging to Mr..
Keerhouse. Manhattan Island, Just across
the bridge. The deceased appears to been very
ommunicative. Ills name Was unknown to those
with whom hc talked ltwas learned however that
hc had been carpenter, and had lived in New York
with his children lilo did not 1.-Two very pcacoaby
with them. and had concluded to leave them 1t was
many years ho had visited Kingsbridge us was
eVlueut IrOu Inc Ihct ue inquired ABOUT tho
dton OF mill, the ruined walls OF which have been
the only vestgcs OF II LETT lor over nineteen years
Is said that he several times inquired Tor Mr. Curtis
but no one could tell whom he meant.
Tho scene Of his death was visited yesterday Ivy
HERALD reporter. A passage for the HUDSON River
Railroad has been blasted through rocky hill at that
point leaving tho sides OF tho Chasm unprotected by
any fence railing On the north SIDE the distauce
to the bottom or tho gully is ninety iect while
south II must be over eighty. just before this s'cutn
s reached q little iron bridge the railroad
track. On one OF tho stones supporting this bridge
the deceased was seen by Officer Seeck last
Sunday afternoon about hufpast ono He
was eating . peco Iof dry bread that
some one had gwen him and appeared be per.
fectly sobcr About quarter Of hour aftcrward he
stopped ut the house VI Mr.. Henry Dandon, near by
and asked for glass Of water. This given him
and he then inquired the way 10 the city. Alter bong
informed ho left tho house aud stood by the rail-
road track. The two O'Clock truin rushing by
near To him that some little boys playing thero
train. Then Mr.. William Martin saw him ascend
the hill on the south OF the cut until he
was lost to vieW About q quarter Of an
hour alerward hts liieess body found as already
described Mr. Martin and others traced hts stops In
tho snow up tho HILL At place It evident that
he had stopped near the edge OF the ravine. few
steps further no had apparently seated himself at
the summit OF the ht with his legs dangling over tho
terrible prccipce Hero the marks the snow ceased
Tho rUCgn wooden stick that no carried with him was
found there. II was evident that The had either
pushed himself from the cliff slipped off accident.
ally. The former theory, under the circumstances,
appears 10 be more probable. Coroner Elnger was
notified and will make q diiigent investigation.