The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-01
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THAT DANGEROUS MANTRAP
THOMAS r. STEVENsONS LIFE LOST
At HARLEN BRIDGE


Dashed into the River with hts Arms Full of
Christmns Gins-Taken from the Water
stin ClinzIng TO Them with ley Fingers
On Christmas Eve, at an early hour,
Thomas +. Stevenson was hurrying across
Harlem Bridge to his home in 141st street He
was n salesman for A. T. Stewart & Co.. and had
the handling OF fine fabrics. In his hands he
carried some bundles Of toys and other Christ
mas gifts for his six children. Tho air was full
OF frost A piercing wind swept the bridge.
The tide was setting up the river. The night
was dark. When he neared the draw he saw
that it had been opened for tuRboat that was
steaminR through. He stepped close up to the
gate at the end Of the stationary part Of the
bridge and waited for the end OF the draw to
come around 1t was coming into place. swing
ing down the river. and he was standing on the
lower side Of the bridge. Several other per-
sons came up behind him. and others we're on
the walk at the upper side OF the driveway. He
heard the clash Of the iron bars as the gates
were folded. and not noticing that the draw
had not come into place. he started forward.
There was nothing to prevent him from walk
ing into the opening. He fell into the water.
the rail OF the moving draw striking him ON his
side as he fell.
The cry OF Man overboardr' was quickly
answered by a shout from the drowning man
calling for help. He had risen to the surfrce Of
the tce-culd water. and was struggling with the
eddies that had carried him under the bridge.
Oilieer kayanngh ran TO the Harlem end OF the
bridge and down the right-hand steps 10 where
he exparted to find boat, hut tho boat WIS
gone. The officer then hastened to the boat
house at the upper side OF the bridge. burst the
door, and. with the assistance Of Others got
two boate into the water Meantime the voice
Of the chilled and drowning man could be
heard by those on the bridge imploring them
to make haste. for he pOull kppp himself onout
but moment longer. When the boats reached
the spot the man had censed calling. In the
darkness an Object was diinly seen ut n little
distance. which was thought To- he his hat. hut
which proved To be the top OF his head. floating
Just at the surface OF the writer. II was dragged
out AMI taken to restaurant on tho Harlem
side, where he lay unconscious. while some ono
ran for physician. II was about five minutes
from the time he fell into the water to the time
the first boat was showed off, and only a few
minutes more TO the time when he was taken
out; yet after twenty minutes working over
him. he was for some unexplained reason pro.
nounced past resusctation. and the efforts &c
revive him were abandoned. After he was taken
from the river, he held in his hands the Christ.
mas presents he had bought for the children,
who were at that moment waiting for him ut
home and wondering why he did not come. At
81 in the evening the mother and children were
An inquest was held yesterday by Coroner
Croker. at which the facts rs related above were
Margaret A. Stevenson. his wife. testified that
he did not use any kind OF Intoxicating LIQUOR:
he was not near-sighted. nor did he have any
defect in his vision though he used spectacles
when examining the threads Of line fabrics.
Daniel Daly testified that he had been bridge
tender about two years. His duty was TO be on
the lookout for vessels approaching the draw.
to warn persons when the draw was about 10 b8
opened and to assist In the management OF the
draw and the gates designed to prevent persons
from attempting 70 step on to the draw while It
IS in motion. When Stevenson was drowned,
DAILY had just come TO the Harlem end OF the
draw. His son wns at the other end. When the
witness was about twenty feet from the
gate. and when the draw was within Ave or six
feet OF being closed. he saw the gate open and
almost Immediately heard the cry OF Man
overheard. He did not know who opened the
gate. and did not see the man fall into the water
n has orders not tQ open the gate until the
draw is closed, and he never violates such
orders. There are no boats nor lines nor any
other liie-saving apparatus provided Tor use
" there mad been a boat ready for use Stevenson
might hive been rescued
John Kavanagh testified that he Is a police
officer. and that his beat extends from l25lh
street to the Mott Haven end Of the draw. lie
went on TO the bridge just before Stevenson fell
into the water. The witness was standing in
the carriage way, close 10 the western or upper
section OF the gate. He opened that section Of
the gate. and when he opened II the draw was
not closed. II was not his duty to inter-
lrge upep Tn TSimnses 10 Sats; 3 9ut Ne nS io9k
given for him to open it, lie had often opened
the gate without orders. On this occasion he
saw DAILY not more than TWO feet awny from the
gnte, standing on the draw. DAILY must hnve
seen him. DAILY took hold on the eastern sec.
ton of tue gate when the witness took hold OF
the western section 10 open il. Witness saw the
man step through the gate after il had been
opened. and fall into the water. He told how
the man was recovered. md expressed the he
lief that with proper lif-sHving apparatus the
mans life might have been saved.
Andrew Richie testified that he stood about
one foot behind Stevenson when the latter
walked of from the bridge. He saw an officer
there. HI never on any other occasion saw the
gate opened before the draw WIS closed. II
there had been n boat or rope nj hand when
Stevenson fell in he might have been saved.
Dr.. William L.. Tuttle testified that he was
called 10 attend the man. His pulse was beat
ing feebly and he was unconscious. After
working over him few minutes he thought he
could detect respiration. hut IL WIS very feeble.
The man was given mp Tor dead in about
twenty minutes after DIR. Tuttle arrived. The
witness said that. in hls opinion. the man was
drowned and did not die OF the shock caused
by falling into the cold water.
The iury's verdict WIS that Daniel DAILY WIS
70 blame the premature opening OF the gate.
The verdict also recommends that there be a
man az all times at either gate. and that the
gltes be- provided with locks and that urouer
life saving apparatus be procured and had
always on hand.
Coroner Croker hold DAILY in 81 900 bail.