Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-24
Over the Falls at NIagara-A Deliberate
Suicide.
The Niagara Falls Telegraph gives
the following account of the recent sui
pida of that nlaoa.

piiO AOliONlllE dONOullb VI llt IttGub SUI
eide at that place: ---.
George w. Knapp of Utica, committed
suicide here last night by leaping into the rap
ids. He made his preparations in the most
careful manner even going 80 far as to pro-
cure q pistol, with which he evidently intend-
ed to shoot any one who should interfere with
han. Knapp arrived here at 80 last night, on
the train from Buffalo, and after sending q
telegraph message went to the International
Hotel, where he had supper. What he did
during the remainder of tho evening until ne
took his frightful leap ia a mystery. Mr.. Q. z,
Nusener, of DrummOndsVille, Ont, and hfS
cousin, Miss Florence NJ. Evart, who had been
viewing the falls Il ON Prospect Park, went to
Iugby's bazar, just south of the bridge which
spans the rapids to Goat Island. The young
lady sVt down on a long seat on the balcony
which extends along the side of the bazar
and over the rapids, and her companion went
inside and entered into conversation with a
young attendant Very soon after this, Knapp
came along, and what followed was told by
Miss Evart TO your correspondent, as follows;
"Mr. Nusener, with whose family am at
present visiting across the river, and myself
came over to the American side of the river,
and after spending short time in Prospect
Park we went to Tugbys bazar He and 1
sat down on tho seat along the balcony, and
my cousin went into the bazar, and stood in
! the door with his back toward me. engaged in
conversation with Miss Mary Haney. / sat
there about three minutes, when the man
came along. IL was rather dark at the time
and didn't take particular notice of him.
However, should say that he was a tall and
rather stout man of middle age, and wore a
dark suit of clothes. He wore a full beard
| which seemed to be slightly tinged with gray.
lie sat down ten feet away from me, and an.
| peared TO be In deep thought. He sat there
| about three minutes, and then went to the
! extreme corner of the balcony, ten feet fur
ther away. He sat down, pulled out a diary,
hastily soribbled "a few words, then tore out the
leaf and pinned the note inside of his coat, on
the right side. He then removed the garment
| and took of his vest. He did not seem to be
excited, and thought that probably he had
been walking, and, being heated, was trying
nNn NH II aFW,uV II.
him. He stopped a moment, as though hold
ing communion with himself, ami then re-
moved his cuffs. He laid his bat on top of the
| clothes and, mounting the railing stood there
minute. Then, drawing a pistol he raised
! both hands above his head and fired a shot
with one. just as he did this he bent his knees
! and gave the frigEtful leap into the rapids. l
turned just then, so frightened that L knew
not what to do. just managed to yell, and
Charley end others came instantly up"
Those who ran out on the balcony say that
the man was drowned before he reached the
awful precipice, eighty rods away, and thGa
the body shot into the darkness and down the
seething abyss like a ball shot from a cannon.
No cry was heard from the suicide who so
deliberately and determinedly ended his ca
reer. crowd soon gathered around. Po-
ltceman Ralph Bailey took possession OF the
dead mans effects, which were found neatly
folded and piled upon the seat The note
pinned on the coat read:
Please express these to Z. +. Emery, 20 John
street Utica. G. w. KNAPP.
The signature was in plain. bold hand. In
dNtSJ poCheI WIS lOuuO Il pl0ln BOlQ EnglSn
lever watch, and elsewhere were a memoran-
dunn book, containing bills and SS4 in mon
ey, counterfeit trade dollar, eyeglasses, knife,
and match and tobacco boxes The cuffs were
found In a coat pocket. On bunch of keys
was plate marked knapp, residence 10
Cooper street, Utica"
The cause of the suicide is a mystery. Just
after the suicide telegraph boy ran down to
deliver the answer 10 the message Knapp sent
earlier in the evening and which was about
business matters.
knapp was evidently sane and went aho,it
the bus ness Of ending his life with GOODNESS
and de.iberation. Nobody knows anything
now being made along the banks of the river
below the falls, has not yet been found, and
probably will never be recovered.
I he last suicide here was that of "Pipus"
Walker, boatman, who, full OF liquor got in
small boat and went over the falls. His bodA'
was never recovered.