New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-14
Sr,irInE OLE ~ AHNUITECT.

SUICIDE OF An ARCHITECT.
CHARLES p. GAMBa!IL SHOOTS HIMSELF IN HIS
CFfiCN AT so. - BRoADWAY- OVLEWoRK SAID
10 81 IHF CAUSE Of his ACT.
Charles II. GambIil, member OF the nm OF
architects Gambrll ~ FIckcn, shot himself through
the head yesterday afternoon IN has of'e On tie
fourth 4 ,or "a No 81 Broadway. ID 'ath followed
almost Instantly. O,cr"ork and consequent h2i-
yousreSs, producing temporary insanity, ara as
cribcd rs the causes that lei 20 the act Nj. Gam
bnll hal for several weeks suffered from melan-
cholia that grew day by day and resisted al
attempts OF ms partner and friends TO disperSe 1t.
He appeared Ia brood heavily over something That
gave him great concern. Mr.. FIckeD, HIS partner,
saw these signs with concern but sought IN vain to
gain his confidence; there was no apparent
reason for dependency; business was more
fourshlng than ever; the NcehaW Hen
Ferry House had just been completed, and
the firm bad gained great credit Tor tins latest work
Mr.. GambTill was not known to have any fanny
trouble. From some remarks accidentally dropped
by him. the Inference was made that he had suffered
losses of some kind that troubled him. bn' unable
10 fathom the mystery, his friends aScrDed his
melancholy 1T last 10 oyerwork and failing health.
and endea vorcd i'll vain TO persuade him to take n
vacation. Mr.. Gambrill stoutiy resisted tins
proposition however ana day by day his mental DIS
tress increased.
Yesterday Mr.. Gambriil went to hls oiiice early.
MI Fickeu, meeting HIM there. noticed that he
seemed even more dovncast than ever and tried
TO cheer him. but without success Mr. Gambrili
went about his work. and at 3 o'clock
in tie afternoon came in from visit
10 some work that were in progress
Howent straight to his private Office and sat down
AT the desk. Leaning his head on one hand
lao took small pistol from the desk,
and, raising it 10 his right temple, fired.
The bullet went straight through the brain.
Nj. Gamtiill sank back in his chair dead. So he
was found by the clerks and MI. Ficken,
W. instantly ran TO lis assistance "A mes
seDcer who was hurgiedly dispatched III search
of a play stefan, returned with Or. Shine, who was
tho. Il Broadway al the time. Bat ms skill was
nseless. The bullet, having passed clear through
the Lraln, was found under the skin OF the ieit
temple. Death had been instantaneous.
Dr. shine reported the matter III person at the
Coroner Office, and obtained permit 10 nave 'he
body removed to No. 90 Clinton place, the late
home of,Mr Cambria Ihither il was taken at night.
a dispatch was sent to MIS- Cambria, VINO was al
Now-R ochell. asking hen t. 1ctdn 20 The city, AID
she was expected back in the carly morning
ms FRIENDS GREATLY SHOCKED.
Mcssg- Mead & White, architects, doing bus-
ness on the floor below Nh. Ginbrilrs Office, at No.
III Broadway. were seen ~ lBlBUNE reporter
late last evening When asked for particulars Ie-
gardne Nir. Gambrls suicide they were both
dumfound d. and could badly be induced 10 be-
heye that their friend WIS dead
ais possible that poor G4mbr,l has killed him
sell 7" exca.ned MI Mead, and yet lie was just
the man to do it."-ihen correcting himself he
added q" do not know Wnat could have prompted
tine decd after all everything has been going Oh
SO smoothly wI,h him O. LAKE."
Mr.. White said: Il have known Gambrl thee
to, vpars ard q hrtter man than h never existed.
worked IN his Office Long tme and know him
like book. That he should deprive himself OF
his existence Is iucOnceiyable TO me, for
not only was bis bushes tlOuTshlnc,
but his family ties OF the closest and dearest.
know that he was by 10 means a sangulne man,
and that he worried greatly when business did not
come il regularly; but yet he would never have
committed suicide on that account"
Tie young who rams the elevator at No. 81
Broadway told the reporter that Mr. Gambnll had
talked with him ten minutes before the fatal shot
was fired. He even jOked about the bad weather.,
sand tie man, " and can hardly convince myself
that ne committed suicide. Perhaps II ali an
accident, the clerk informed me when he came
rushing out of the office ASKING Tor a DOCTOR
SKETCH OF his LIFE.
Charles Dexter Cambria was born in Mas~achn-
sets and his carly life was speut at Boston. lie
was graduated at Harvard College in 1854, and lie
then began at Boston the study OF architecture lie
soon aitcIT ard IcIuOScI TO th4S Guy, Whclc
he has since lived lie was forty
seven years old. Mr. Gaubrll was connected in
business first with George Post, and togo her they
designed many well-kuOwn buildings. AftcrWard
he formed a partnership With slr. Richardson, the
Boston architect, which continued until about two
wears and half ago. An Jng the prominent build
sngs planned by them was Trinity Church, Of the
Rev Dr. Brooks, at Boston. After that firm WAS
dissolved, Mg Cambria pracused his profession
alone Tor some months but about eighteen mo- tbs
ago he associated with himself II. /. FicEcn, Of
this city.
Mr. GambIips work in New-lork was confined
manly to private dwellings, and many fine houses
have been designed by him. lie was. however. the
srchliect Of the lion Pier at Coney Island and OF
the Hoboken fcrry-houecs. lie also planned ihe
alterations OF tie -. German Hotel, now the Cum
berand. at Broadway aud Fith-ayc. aud Twenty
eecOnd-st. IT Cambria was WCuIDen'
in social cIC.cs. lie Was one Oh the
o!dcst members OF the Century CluD
and w:.> secret .ry Of Tie COMMITTEES Or Al s7ios
lie WAS formerly mCmb OF the Umoa League
Club. HIo Vile survives hiW.
Nj. Gaab:lh hto been iI and wax ltr a long
time. ilc uJ. Dc.n 'tYlaE thi- summer "t AtN-
Rochelle. ,,c devoted hIsseit to his Wofn Win M
spaTiuY r.tIeN. lie nCU seemed recently 10 DIS
1Ticg.- 90 ue so pIostfatcd bt oYfrWUrN tIat ine\
Gre.a BIS. to seek recreation. lhcy 0tuIoute JIe
taking "I lis bic 70 TINS complete DcTT Jas pros
lratIol.
lh-fs more immediate friends OF the family. last
evening. were very rcIceAt abou, Mr. G3mDuila
death Rev all declared that las act Mns, have
bee coin.i ted while Ne Wa ont If his mind; ana
la hc mad sui red IRON orr.WOik
TRYING TO KILL His MOTHER
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