The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-09-24
Over the Falls ut Niagara-A Deliberate
Suicide.

The Niagara Falls Telegraph gives
the following account of the recent sui
eide at that place:
George w. Knapp. Of Utica, committed
ids. He made his preparations in the most
careful manner, even soing 30 far as to pro
cure pistol, with which he evidently intend
ed to shoot any one Tso should st rl!n
the train from Buffalo, and after sending
telegraph message, went to the lnternatlonai
Hotel, where he had supper. what ne d.o
during the remainder of the evening until ne
took his frightful leap is mystery. Mr.. =.
Nusener, Of Drummondsville, Ont, and his
cousin, Miss Florence N. Evart, who had 0een
Tugby's bazaar. Just south of the bridge which
spans the rapids to Goat Island. The young
lady sat down on long seat on the balcony
and over the rapids, and her companion went
inside and entered into conversation with
young attendant Very soon after this. Knapp
came along. and what followed was tod Dy
Miss Evart to your correspondent, rs follows:
'Mr. Nusener, with whose family l 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 Tugby's bazaar. He and
sat down on the seat along the balcony, and
my cousin went into the bazaar, and stood in
conversation with Miss Mary .Haney. sat
there about three minutes, when the man
came along. It was rather dark at the time
and didn't take particular notice OF him;
rather stout man OF middle age, and wore q
dark suit of clothes. He wore full beard,
which seemed to be slightly tinged with gray.
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
sssy Mcrds S
leaf and pinned the note inside OF his coat, on
the right side. He then removed the garment
and took of bis vest. He did not seem to &c
been walking, and, being heated. was trying
to cool OF. However, I continued to watch
him. He stopped moment, as though hold
moved bis cuffs. He laid his hat on. top of the
clothes, and, mounting the railing, stood there
minute. Then, drawing a pistol. he raised
both hands above his head and fred shot
with one. Just as he did this he bent his knees
and gave the frightful leap into the rapids. l
turned just then, SO frightened that knew
not what to do; I just managed to yell, and
Those who ran out on the balcony say that
the man was drowned before he reached the
awful precipice, eighty rods away. and that
the body slot into the DARKNESS s and down the
No cry was heard from the suicide who SO
deliberately and determinedly ended his ca
reer. A crowd soon gathered around. Po-
liceman Ralph Bailey took possession OF the
dead mans effects, which were found neatly
folded and piled upon the seat. The note
Please express these to E. F. Emery. g John
street, Utica. G. w. KNAPP.
The signature was in plain. bold hand. In
avest pocket was found a plain gold English
lever watch, and elsewhere were memOran-
dunn book, containing bills and $S4. Is In mon
ey. a counterfeit trade dollar, eyeglasses. knife,
an: match and tobacco boxes. The CUTS were
found in q coat pocket. On bunch OF keys
was plate marked knapp, residence III
Cooper street, Utica.
The cause Of the suicide is a mystery. Just
after the suicide a telegraph boy ran down to
deliver the answer to the message Knapp sent
earlier in the evening and which was about
business matters.
Knapp was evidently sane. and went about
the bus. ness Of ending his life with GOODNESS
and deliberatiOn. Nobody knows anything
about the man. The body, for which search is
now being made along the banks of the river
below the falls, has not yet been found, and
probably will never be recovered.
The last suicide here was that of "Pipus :"
Walker, boatman. who. full OF liquor, got in
q small boat and went over the falls. His body
was never recovered.