The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-08-04
SENIOR BARCA'S SUICIDE.
DEATH IN NEW YoRY OF THE sPANIsE
MINISTER PLENIPoTENTIAHY.

|
Francisco Barca, Spanish envoy anG
minister plenipotentiary to the United
States committed suicide at an early
| hour on Sunday morning in his room in
the Albemarle IIote! New York by
shooting himself in the head with a re-
volver. lie arrived in that city from
Washington on the Goth instant and
went to the Albemarle Hotel There he
occupied room 81, fronting on Broadway,
with bedroom and dressing room at.
tached. His wife and younger daughter
were the guests of oenor Jose Navarro,
at Seabright. n. j., and during his stay
here Senior Barca visited them there
several times. Yesterday he called at
the Spanish consulate and conversed for
some time with Consul General Miguel
| Suarez. Senior Barca was about to re-
turn to Europe with his wife and daugh-
ter, the two latter intending to visit his
elder daughter, the wife of NJ. ID. Allah
dola Salla, a wealthy landowner, resid-
ing in Paris, and to remain with her
while Senior Barca went on to Madrid
and returned to this country alone. In
conversation with the consul general yes
terday he spoke pleasantly of his APP
preaching visit to Europe and of meet.
ing old friends and associates there.
Senior Manuel s. Suarez, Spanish
commission merchant, called upon the
minister by request, and remained with
Lin in his room until 9 o'clock this
morning. When Senior SuareZ was
about to leave, however, Senior Barca
| betrayed much agitation. He said that
his emotion was caused by his approach
ing separation from his family and from
friends he loved. At last he expressed
desire to go to early mass at the Cath
edral, and asked his friend to call for
him and accompany him. Senior Suarez
promised to call for him at 5 o'clock in
the morning. and then babe him good
night. At the hour named he returned
to the hote: and assembled to Senior
Barca' S room. lie found the doc: closed
but not locked. Passing into the bed
room, he was Mortified to see Senior
Barca kneeliEg beside his bed, his head
dropping on his right arm, which rested
on the bed and supported it, his face and
clothes covered with blood. while blood
also stained the bed clothes and had
formed pool on the floor.
On the bed lay a large Colts revolver
OF Al calibre, with six chambers, one of
which had been discharged. Senior Barca
was already dead and his body was cold.
Without informing any one in the hotel,
Senior Suarez proceeded at once to notify
the consul general, who returned with
him to the hotel. The police and the
coroner were then notified, and dis
patches were sent to Sonora Barca at
Seabright, ard to the first secretary of
| legation at Washington. On 4 table in
the slttlngroom were twenty letters
| addressed to members of Senior Barca $
family and to his friends. One of them,
addressed to the consul general. stated
| that he intended to kill himself because
his troubles We're more than he cou Id
bear. The letter gave no details as to the
nature Of the troubles referred to. 1t
is believed however, that they were of a
| financial character. 1t is said that he
had been living beyond his means, and
his difficulties by speculations in Wall
street he became plunged in deeper ones
His friends assert the belief that these
troubles preyed on his mind until he be
came temporarily insane Late this
evening Sonora Barca and her daughter
arrived i'll this city in company with the
brazilian minister They had not been
told of the minister's death, and when
they learned of it they suffered the
greatest anguish and are much pros
trated.
Senior Barca was - years old, of medi.
| um height, stout built and with gray
ish mustache. He was native of Puerto
Real, in the province of Cadiz. lie was a
lawyer by profession.