Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-08
TERRIBLE AFFAIR.
Melancholy Suicide and Accidental
Drowning
Linked Togethsr---xysteriOus Disappear
anee Of Rebeeea Stewart---Drown-
ing Of John McMaster While
Graphing for the
Body.


yesterday creating decided sensation and
leaving part of the affair enveloped in com
plete mystery. The family OF William
Stewart, living at No. I'll Main street, is
wen known throughout the city. Until yes
terday II consisted of VIM. Stewart, his sis
ter Rebecca, and bis niecs, also named Re-
beCca, the orphan daughter Of his brother
Mr.. Stewart and his sister, both unmarried,
have long since pas sl the noon Of ife's
day, while the niece, also unmarried, was
about As years of age. Some three months
ago, Miss Mary, another sister Of Mr. Stew
art, died suddenly at the family home. The
niece was warmly attached to this aunt
which feeling was reciprocal and since that
time, with grief, the mind of the niece has
been unsettled. Insomnia also troubled
her, but depression was believed to
have been the cause Of. her trouble. On
Saturday night she retired at the usual
hour, Mr.. Stewart attending, as usual, to
securing the doors, all OF which he had
locked. Yesterday morning he arose first,
as was his wont, and on going down stairs
found the rear door unlocked. He emptied
bucket OF ashes in the rear of the prem
ises and then, going up stairs, found his
niece was not in her room. He aroused his
sister, who said she had heard her in the
hall few moments before, and supposed
she had gone down stairs. Her absence
now alarmed the family, and Mr.. Stewart
woke Mr. Carl Mayors, next door, who join
ed in the search. David Arndt, Officer
Heller and Charlie Welty were soon after
ward enlisted and later Col. A. j. Sweeney
volunteered his services. The house is on
the west side of Main street and the rear
abuts on the railroad, and the front door
was locked; the conclusion that Rebecca
had gone down to the railroad was ineyita-
BILE The belief was at once accepted that
in her unsoGnd mental condition she had
wandered off aimlessly. 1t was supposed
she might have gone toward Greenwood
Cemetery where her aunt's body is inferred,
but the strictest search In that direction
failed to yield the slightest trace There
Vas but one course left and that was
TO THE RIVERS EDGE.
A party of searchers headed By Col
Sweeney made close examination Of the
bank of the river, but could find nothing ia
the line of clew. They then scrutinized
the brink OF the water, and on the soft sand
found the print of lady's shoe pointing to
the water. No return track could be found
and the conclusion was forced that the I'M
fortunate woman had thrown herself into
the muddy current. The only thing to
throw doubt on this was the fact that
Rebecca had taken her bonnet and shawl;
but there seemed no other alternative.
By this time quite crowd had assembled
and among them was John McMaster,
friend of the family, who resided at No. I
Kentucky street, and was a muck weigher
at the Aetna mill He brought his wife
and infant child and left them at Mr.
Stewards while he joined the searching
party. 1t had become almost conceded
that beneath the dark waters of the river
the BODY of the unfortunate woman lay,
and two boats were procured for use
in graphing. One of these skifs
was managed by Charlie Welty and two
others, while David Arndt and John Nc
Master we're in the others. McMaster man
aged the line and grapnel hook, while
Arndt did the rowing. The skif belonged
to the water works and the stern set low in
the water. By grave error, too, the crap
ping line was made fast to the stern. The
boat was started about fifty yards above the
water works and pulled down below it, with
the hope of finding the body lodged in the
eddy. About o'clock, Arndt was pulling
the skiff when the hook caught fast on q
rock; the effect was to drag the stern OF the
boat under water and in an instant the swift
current swept over it and washed both men
out.
DIREFUL CATASTROPHE.
Arndt could swim, and succeeded barely
in getting ashore, but McMaSter could not
He made a desperate struggle, and then,
with hopeless cry, sank. The crowd on
the bank heard the shrek, the agony of
which sent chill to their hearts. The men
in the other boat heard it, and made vain
effort, with two pairs Of oars, to reach the
drowning man. Arndt heard it, but had he
been better swimmer, he was po8erless
The body Of the unfortunate man had disap.
pesred completely, and nothing but his hat
remained to tell the tale.
The crowd was fairly paralyzed by the
accident, and no one had the heart to cor.
tinue the work. In few moments they
had deserted the river, leaving the over
turned boat swinging idly by its disastrous
anchor Rev. DR.. Nee lure broke the news
as gently as possible to the wife of Mr.. Nc.
Master, whose grief was intense and wild,
and added to the misery of the already
heartbrOken Stewart family.
No CLUE YET.
At this writing there has been no further
Clue 10 the missing lady, and nothing has
been heard of the body of McMsster A
full description of both is appended and anv
information will be kindly sent to this Office
as quickly as received.
Miss Rebecca Stewart, about 5 feet in
height; slender person; slim face: hair
dark brown. 1t is likely she had on her
night clothes, black cashmere dress over
night clothes, gaiter shoes about No. 81.
heavy plaid shawl Think she had black
straw bonnet with white ruche. Had on Left
hand plain gold rings Aged about Is.
John McMaSter, feet 9 or 10 inches
high; hair black; black moustache; small
side whiskers; black caSsimer pants; black
small figured coat anSvest; silver watch,
gold chain and locket; cuffs, sleeve buttons;
aged about 80 years. Weigher at Etna
mill
WEAP lpcka'S nvo r,ota - IN H..