The Portland daily press., 1883-07-30
A SAD SUICIDE.
The Spanish Minister Shoots Him.
self in q New York Hotel.
Dependency From Financial Difficulties
the Cause.

WASHINGTON, July 29.-A dispatch received
at the State Department to-day, announces
that Senior Barca, Spanish minister TO the
United States, committed suicide by shooting
himself this morning at the Albermarle Hotel,
New York city. Senior Barca leaves a widow
and one daughter who were with him in New
York and one daughter in Europe.
NEW YORK, July 29-Senor Barca, Spanish
enuoy and minister plenipotentiary to the uui-
ted States, committed suicide at an early hour
this morning in his room in the Albemarle
hotel by shooting himself in the head with a
revolver. He arrived in this city from WASH
ington on the Goth inst Senior Barca was
about tc return to Europe with his wife and
daughter the two latter intending to visit his
eldest daughter In Paris and 10 remain with
her while Senior Barca went on to Madrid and
return to this country alone. In converse ion
with the Spanish consul general yesterday, he
syoke pleasantly of his approaching visit to
Europe and OF the meeting OF old friends and
associates there. Returning to the hotel in
the afternoon he busted himself writing letters
and dined in mis- room alone. About seven
O'Clock he descended to the office and gave his
4ey to the clerk, at the same time saying
something to him in French. The clerk did
not understand what he what he said, but he
noticed he looked pale and agitated and that
his hand trembled. Shortly after leaving the
hotel Senior Barca returned, carrying a pack
age under his arm. A little later Senior Man
uel Suarez, Spanish commission merchant,
called upon the minister by request and re-
manned with hiE in his room until 2 o'clock
in the morning. Senior Barca conver sed pleas
antly during the evening and urged upon
Senior Suarez the Importance of selling the
three horses, the carriages and other personal
affects which he had brought on from Wash
ington and which he wished to dispose of be-
fore his departure for Europe. When Senior
Suarez was about TO leave, however,
Senior Barca betrayed much agitation
and walking up and down the floor
nervously and permitting his emotion TO Il nd
vent even in tears. In reply to question by
Senior Suarez, he said that his emotion was
caused by his approaching separation from his
family and from friends he loved AT last he
expressed desire to go TO early mass at the
cathedral, and asked his friend to come for
him and accompany him. Senior tSuarez
promised to call for him at o'clock in the
morning, and then bade him good night. At
the hour named he returned TO the hotel and
assembled to Senior Barca's room. He found
the door closed, but not locked. Entering, he
perceived that the gas was still burning dimly.
Passing into the bedroom he was Mortified TO
see Senior Barca kneeling beside bis bed, his
head dropping on his right arm. which rested
on the bed aud supported it, his face and
clothes covered with blood while blood also
stained the bed clothes and had formed a pool
on the floor. In the right temple was large
bullet hole, through which the brains slowly
oozed. On the bed lay large Colts revolver,
had been discharged. Senior Barca was al
ready 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
botel. The police and coroner were then noti-
fed and dispatches were sent to Sonora Barca
at Seabright, N. j.; and to the first Secretary
of Legation at WASHINGTON. On the table in
the sitting room were twenty letters addressed
to members of Senior Barcas family and to his
friends These are supposed TO be the letters
he was engaged in writing yesterday. One of
them, addressed to the consul general, stated
that he intended 30 kill himself because his
troubles were more than he could bear. He
also asked him to take charge OF his effects
and to look after his wife and daughtef.
The letter gave no details as to the nature of
the troubles referred to. 1t is believed, how
ever, that they were of financial nature. 1t
is said that he had been living beyond his
means and that in striving to extricate himself
from his difficulties by speculation in Wall
street he became plunged in deeper ones. His
friends assert the belief that these troubles
preyed on his mind until he became temporar-
lily insane.
Late this evening Sonora Barcas and her
daughter arrived in this city in company with
the Brazilian minister. Senor Barcas was 81
years old. He was native OF Puerta Realm,
province of Cadz He was lawyer by pre-
fession. He was Under Secretary of the Into
rior at the time of his appointment as minister
to this country, February, 1881.