The New York herald., 1878-12-02
SUICIDE OF DAVID VAN DUZER.

AN OLD FRIEND AND CONNECTION OF CoMMos
DoRE VANDERBILT HANGS HIMSELF IN FIT
OF MELANcHoLIA.
Abraham Van Duzer, old employs of the Staten
Island Ferry Company. committed suicide by hanging
himself in q woodhouse attached to his residence
early yesterday morning. He had been in depressed
spirits for some days. but going to bed Saturday
night said to his wife that he felt unusually well.
She awakened several times through the night,
and remembers that he was asleep at her side when
she awoke between two and three o'clock IN
the morning. She was again awakened about
six O'Clock, and not finding her husband,
called her son John. II hal been Van Duzer's Gus
tom to light the fires in the kitchen and in the front
room ut about six o'clock John went to the kitchen
and saw the fire lighted and the lamp burning on the
table, but his father nowhere about. He then
thought of the woodhouse and there found his
father hanging by the neck. He had thrown clothes
line over the rafter and secured IL to beam. He
then stood a chair and pliced the slipknot Over
his head and kicked the chair from under him. The
son cut the rope and immediately summoned DR.. W
C. Anderson. whose house is opposite the Van Duzeg
residence. The Doctor said tnat the old man had
been dead some hours.
VAN pUzER's CAREER.
When the fact of the suicide was made known in
Staten Island the old residents would not at first be
lieve IL. Mr.. Van Duzcr had been associated with
the ferry for thirty and people could NOT
realize that old ABE had taken his own life. He
had been baker and was engaged with his father in
business on Van Duzer street. The old Van Duzcr
homestead now fronts on Bay street and Richmond
avenue, and was occupied by an uncle of Abraham
Vanderbilt started the ferry to Staten Island
some thirty-six years ago III, in opposition
Abraham to leave the baking business and act
fireman tine steamer Wave He did The Com
modore in him faithful and capable man, and
asked him TO leave divers employ and take the po
sition OF engineer on the Champion, then running
up the Sound to New Haven. He afterward
transferred to the Traveller In making out the
North star tour. the old Commoodore wished Abra-
man to go out as assistant engineer. His wife
wished him to refuse and he did The
Commodore then asked him to go out
in the Vanderbilt; but all these offers he
persistentiy declined. For twenty-seven years he
had been associated with the ferry company and
his wife did not wish him to leave their employ.
OF the ferry company, and he was assigned 10 the
ferry WestHcld. On the day OF her explosion he
had been excused from duty to attend the funeral
OF his brothers child. He was engineer on tho West.
field up To Friday last
Commodore Vanderbilt not only manifested an in.
tcrest in Van Dnzer on account OF his caPabty a.
Duzcr) had married two of the Commodores sisters,
and he himself had married daughter of the Com.
CAUSE OF THE SUICIDE.
Mr. Van Duzers youngest brother, David, who was
summoned yesterday from Brooklyn, said that he
could not account for .Abc's" suicide. Old folks ON
the island last night recalled the fact that the old
mans grandfather, Daniel Van Duzer committed
suicide by shooting himself morning. thirty years
ago, in the old homestead. DIR. Anderson said yes
terday that he WAS summoned to attend Abrahas 2
Van Duzer some six years ago, when ]
had ht of melancholia He had continu,
i'm that state for year and hal
and he had time suggested that he n
immured in an asylum; but his family and Superi
tendcnt Thomson Of the ferry were opposed to it, ]
recovered then but seemed to be about TO lall into
his old condition last week The doctor believed that
hi