New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-31
THE DEATH OF SENIOR BARCA.
NO MOTIVE FOR HIS SUICIDE KNOWN.
HIS FRIENDS THINK THAT HE WAS oyEhWokhEp-
NO FINANCIAL TROUBLE.

NO FINANCIAL TROUBLE.
Unwonted Quiet reigned in the Albemarle Hotel
yesterday, and as the guests passed room NO oi
they ightened their tread and lowered their VoiceS
into whispers, for they heard sounds OF weeping
which claimed respect. Sonora Barca ana nei
daughter were passing the first sad hours OF mourn
ing beside the dead Minister'S remains. WIN 'he
exception of Senior de LONE they were alone anu
denied themselves to all visitors who came TO offer
sympathy. They had recovered from the ut'er
helplessness of grief of the previous night Ihey
had begun TO look upon their loss with reason and
accent il as the inevitable. The letters which
Senior Barca had written to his friends
and which had been given TO his wire
on Sunday night, were still in her Keep
ing She had not yet acquired strength enough
70 receivc what were to her the last words anu
charges of her husband. Finally. Senior de LONE
called her attention to them, and received the QUO
addressed to him. 1t was short, and told MN ous-
ness of the legation that would require his attention
as the representative of his Government. In eN-
planning the reason of his suicide Senior Barca Wroe
that he had unconsciousy become embarrassed IN
money matters and he did not know what to do. lie
could not endure the thoughts of his careiesSness
and he did what he thought the best lie had
never been poor before and he dreaded the posi-
bity of being deprived of those things in his life
that had become necessary TO It, He asked that the
news OF his death should be told as gently as posi-
bic to his wife and daughter
There were two letters to Sonora Barca In them
the dead man begged her to forgive him for taxing
his life and asked that she and her daughter
should pray for the repose OF his soul. lie
gave number of instructions concerning
his daughter and concluded by again beseechng his
wiles forgiveness Besides these three letters there
was only one other which was addressed to any one
in this city. II was TO Jose de Navarro After
Sonora Barca had read her letters she seemed to gain
sufficient courage to face her msiortunes ana re-
ceiyed the attentions of her daughter and maid with
apparent thankfulness.
EMBALAIING TIE MINISTER'S BODY.
1t was few minutes aften 10 o'clock when the
embalner arrived and the process Of preparing the
body for its voyage to Spain was begun. The re-
mains will be accompanied by Senora Barca and her
daughter to Madrid the steamship Normandie
tomorrow. Letters and kilograms containing eX-
pressions of sympathy received from the repre-
sentatves of the legations Of the various countries
at Washington, Secretary of State FreinghuySen.
and host of personal friends. The Mexican Con-
sul Juala Navarro was one of the first 10 call be
was followed by all the consuls or VICE
consus who we're in the CITY and had received
the first intelligence of Senior Barcas death
from the newspapers Before noon Srnor de Lone
eign Affairs at Madrid giving him authority to rep
resent Spain at Washington. TIE remainder OF the
day was passed by the widow Of the Minister and
her daughter beside the dead. Sehor de LONE
assumed control of the legation and soon became
TOO deeply occupied with his official duties 10 permit
interruption.
TALK WITH sESoE De LONE.
Although SenOr Barca gave financial troubles rs
an excuse for his suicide his friends do not accept
his explanation without adding that bis work as
Minister had been too great for him to bear. rs ho
regarded the entire business Of the legation as his
own particular duIy refusing III great measure all
assistance from ms su5ordna,es. and in reality
oyertaxing his mind by the mass OF routine work
Senor de LONE in speaking Of him sid that he was
a man of intensely nervous temperament and was
quickly made respondent. 1t may be.
he continued" that his embArrass-
mcnts serious. but am led
TO believe Otherwise Senior Barca was a wealthy
man and had everything that money and the love
of his family could contribute 10 mako man
happy The condition of his affairs will not be ac
curately known until his family arrives in Spain
Then, perhaps the mystery mas be cleared away.
| saw him for the last time on Jaly y, and he
then seemed to be perfectly content. We made ar
rangements 10 visit Niagara Falls aud Canada to-
rether. after Sonora Barca and her daughter had
sailed for Europe He seemed to regard this trip
one that promised great pleasure"
WHAT CoNsUL-GENEEAL srAIFZ SAYS.
Senior Suarez the Spanish Consul-Gcneral, said
that while the cause Of the suicide was in all prCba
bility the fear that Senior Barca's property was
seriously embarrassed be was sure that the Minister
had never specualed in this country. The idea of
his losing money in Wall Street is preposerous" said
Senior Snarez THE fact that he the Minister
ShO he inf IN hot
how impossible such thing would be 10 a man Of
honor | was aware that Senior Barca wealthy
only from rumor He never spoke Of money to me.
Whatever relations may have had with him have
been of a purely business nature His life was. |
believe devoted entirely to politics, and If he ever
attended to business 1t was only TO draw his
managed entirely by his agents. Senior Barca met
Professor SuareZ who acted as his interpreter, in
this Office He employed here, and he attracted
the Minister'S notice because Of his ability TO speak
excellent English He was, however. not person
whom Senior Barca would have maize friend or
conGdant. | took charge OF the Minister'S effects
until his family arrived. as Spanish Official and
the officer of the highest rank that was IN the city
at the time of the suicide"
NO Proof OF FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENT.
jose +. de Navarro, at whose country house at
Seabrght the wife and daughter of the Spanish
Minister have been visiting, said that he had
formed an acquaintance with Senior Barca only
since his arrival in this country about two years
ago. His suicide is utterly unaccountable," he
added 81 have just been looking into his affairs, in
company with his secretary and VIC can find no
proof that he was financially embarrassed. So far
as we can learn, he owes no one. There are, |
SUPPOSE few triding debts, such as any one
is likely to have, but these cannot
have led him 10 take his life. His
accounts with his Government are absolutely cor
rect in every respect. that he cannot have
been in want of money He certainty never gave me
the slightest hint that he needed aid should have
loaned him 81 5000, if he had wanted it, at the |
merest suggestion. think that Senior Barca has |
been overwOrked. he has spent much time In |
the last two years in the settlement Of Cuban |
claims, and in this work he would permit no assist