The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-06-03
IN WATERY GRAVES.
General q. Il. BabcOck, Colonel T.. p.
Luchey and MIR. Suter. Of This city,

1uNatJ tahh NhEs DNttEs VI hhth OAAI .
Drowned Off the Coast OF Florida.
Arumor was current at the White House
and about tho Departments this morning that
General o. e. Babcock, Hon. Levi p. Luckey
and Mr.. Benjamin P. Suter, OF this city, were
drowned somewhere In Florida.
The rumor was soon tho talk OF the town,
but no one could give details, At the White
House Major Pruden was seen by CRITIC re-
porter. He said he had no positive knowledge
ofthe matter, but had heard It second handed.
Secretary Lincoln and his military secre.
tary, Colonel Barr, were shocked whom THE
CRITIC reporter asked them II they had any
Information on the subject.
The reporter next went to the drug store OF
S;D. Gilman, where Mr.. suter had been en-
ceived there by Mr.. ]. d. Franzoni:
"DAYToNA, VIA ASTORIA, FLA, June 3.-Gen-
eral Babcock, Suter and Levi p. Luckey were
drowned here to-day. Suffers and Luckey's
bodies have not yet been recovered
The dispatch was from George D. Benjamin,
brother in.law Of Mr.. Luckey's.
This was all that was stated IN tho dispatch,
but the Inference is that tho parties were out
yachting and were caught In n gale, capsiZod
and drowned.
General Babcock has for several years past
been In charge Of the Fifth and Sixth Light.
house districts, with headquarters at Baltl.
more. Mr.. Levi p. Luckey was his chief
Florida. General Babcock, Mr.. Luckey and
Mr.. Suter left hero about the LIST OF May for q
trip to Florida. The latter was In pursuit OF
health.
A sketch OF General Babcock.
Colonel orville e. Babcock ives born IN Yer.
mont and was appointed to the Military
Academy at West Point from that State, grad
uating in 1861 as second lieutenant OF en-.
glneers. He was promoted to first lieutenant
OF engineers November IL, 1861, and served
with tho Army OF the Potomac until 1868.
january ], 1868, he became Northumberland
Corps during tho siege Of vlcksburg,
and at the siege of Knoxville by
General Longstreet, where he was breveted
meritorious service. He was ohief Engineer
OF tho Department OF 0hie in 1864, aud later
In the same year became member OF General
Grants stan In the Richmond campaign. He
was breveted lieutenant colonel May O, 1861,
for gallant services at the battle OF tho Wilder.
ness; colonel, March 10, 1865, for gallant and
and sS%s s sao sS S
gallant services in the field.
He was promoted mhjor OF engineers on March
~, 1857, an, and renal, remained on General Grants
dency, when no was made the Presidents
miiitary secretary and put in charge of public
buildings, with the rank Of colonel OF engl-
neers. In 1877 he was assigned TO the Fifth
and Sixth Lighthouse districts.
HIS troubiess on account OF the St. Louis
whisky ring, from completely In which he was
bitter trial, are fresh In the minds OF all.
Sketch OF Mr.. Suter.
MIR. Benjamin p. Suter was born In New
Jersey, but came here about twenty years ago.
He was In the nelghborhood OF 45 years old.
For the past fifteen years no was connected
with the drug store OF Y. d. Gilman. He was
popular and universally respected by all who
knew him. Deceased had been for many years
the bosom, personal friend OF General Bah.
cock.
Up to o'clock not word had boon received
here about the drowning except the dispatch
10 Mr.. FranZoni. This gentleman refused TO
nllOW tho rnDOrtnra To the dfapatrh. hiIf for
what reason no ono knows.
Late this afternoon Adjutant- General Drum
sonvile to ascertain the facts In the case of the
drowning.